The other day I was on my way home from a cruise in Atlanta with my car club. It is nighttime and my alternator fails. I pull into an O'reilys and buy a remanuactured alternator so I could get home that night. We swap it in the parking lot but I keep my original alternator instead of turning it in for a core (still has Chrysler ID tag on it). The remanufactured alternator I have now sucks. It won't charge at all below 1000 RPM but does fine going down the road. My old alternator did way better than that before it died suddenly. Is there anything that I can do to make this remanufactured alternator charge better or do I return it and get my old one professionally rebuilt?

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

Yes, "remanufactured" alternators suck.

You will be setting yourself up for disappointment if you try to have the "reman" fixed. Once they've been 'remanned', they're pretty much spoiled.

You've got the original alternator? Great! Find a reliable local auto electrical house, take the alternator there, and have them rebuild it. Make it very clear that you require top-quality components, and that they are not to exchange your unit for a bench rebuild.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Out of curiosity, which one did you buy: one year or lifetime warranty?

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Used to own:
'82 Dodge D150
Erson 270 Cam, O/S valves, mild port work, ~9.5:1 compression

Currently fighting with an '85 VW Cabriolet

My other passion

Like it matters

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I already have a very good local electrical house. They did a great job on my starter.

The old alternator has a little round green tag on the front of it. Is that the ID tag.

I hope O'Reily's gives me my money back instead of trying to give me another one of their crappy parts. I should known better than buy a part that has "Ultima" on the box.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

Well, it's been my experience that the lifetime units are superior to the one year, I was just wondering which his was. (Ultima is lifetime.)

Some advice for when you take it back: (I worked there and know how to manipulate the system.)

When you take it back they'll probably test it on their primitive machine that they aren't properly trained to use and probably tell you it's good. If you can't get them to take it back as faulty there is a "customer satisfaction" option on the warranty claim tag, and they /do/ have the authority to use that as basis for a warranty claim, regardless of how many times they will tell you that they don't. If you force the issue hard enough, you'll be able to talk them into it.

Another thing worth knowing is that while they will balk severely, the warranty does carry a cash back option instead of exchange. Don't let them convince you otherwise.

Finally, you'll probably have the best luck if you go in a few hours (but not 10 minutes) before close. It's been my experience you'll also have better luck talking to a younger guy than older.

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Used to own:
'82 Dodge D150
Erson 270 Cam, O/S valves, mild port work, ~9.5:1 compression

Currently fighting with an '85 VW Cabriolet

My other passion

Terrific! Go there!
Yep.
I will be really surprised if they give you your money back.

Good for you for not turning in your old unit as a "core"!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I can go along with that, if by "superior" we mean "marginally less pathetic".


Which smells superior, poodle poo or dachshund poo, I wonder?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

ROFLMA my 3 dachshunds would say dachshund poo of course

I have a poodle but I never smell her poo.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2