Hi, this is my first post. Recently, my truck broke down and I replaced the battery. The very next day, it broke down again, so I figured it must be the alternator. I towed it to a car dealership. It was only a block away from where my truck broke down.

It was on Sunday, so I decided to park it at car place and drop off my keys there. Monday, I came in, and got a price quote, which was $465. I did some googling, and couldn't find a concrete answer on what it should cost. Price ranges from $230 to $658 for replacing alternator. The quote had to be adjusted since I also needed a new belt. Old belt cracked.

When the service department called, they told me my truck was fixed and they had to replace my broken alternator with refurbished alternator.

I would think that brand new alternator would run around $120. But the thing is this remanufactured alternator from the dealership cost me $232.40. I told him, that new ones run for around $120. He said that it is OEM part.

I paid $232.40 for remanufactured alternator, $42 for serp belt, and $179.15 for body electric repair. Total, including tax came to be $497.37.

I'm asking if you think I paid a fair price, or did I get ripped off? The truck does run great after repairs. At least they did give me a free truck wash. It does look nice, but I'm not sure about the price.

Thanks.

 

OEM Motorcraft parts are pretty much always going to be more expensive than what you can find in aftermarket stores. Their are also usually of better quality though I think. As far as price, that actually doesn't sound too outlandish to me. I am from Canada though, so I am not sure of prices of in the States.

 

Hi bduke23,

I think you're right about OEM parts. Thank you for your response. I'll wait and see what others think.

Cheers.

 

Replaced mine a week ago on my 2001 v6.
Middle of the line rebuilt 130 amp @ Autozone was $150 + $35 core. Bought new tensioner pully too. I already put a new Gates belt on 1 month ago. Took me 3 hours total (ok im slow).

OEM parts are more expensive & dealers charge the highest hourly rate + they charge for 'shop supplies' too.

 

If you got a long term guarantee with the OEM, that would help. I have had good luck with aftermarket stuff, but some of the alternators / water pumps/ etc that is "rebuilt" has premataure failures, some last a long time... IT all in the guarantee.

 

Labor seems a little high, I did mine in less than an hour.

 

Local 4X4 garage in town put mine on for $40. I bought the parts. The alternator had a life time warrnty on it. Got it at Advanced don't remember what I payed for it.

 

Thanks for responses. Next time that sort of thing happens, I'll try to do it myself, or get a friend who knows this stuff to help out. It's very rare that I do auto work myself. I usually only do battery replacements, and occasional oil change.

OEM part is covered by warranty, so that kind of takes the sting out a bit on price.

Have a ... on me.

Cheers.

 

The dealer will always charge waaay too much for anything they do. I replaced mine with a O'Rielly's rebuild last year for about $120. Did it myself in my garage...took a few hours. No biggie.