Alternator taking a crap, time to replace!
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From: Des Moines, IA
Alternator taking a crap, time to replace!
So, the alternator in my truck is taking a **** slowly and I need to replace it. I know that the DC Power alternators are popular but they are quite expensive not to mention they're on backorder. My other thought is if it craps the truck is down. I see that I can get a 140 amp alternator from the local parts store for 150 dollars with a lifetime warranty. I'm thinking of going this route just because it's easily replaced if it goes bad and it's 30 more amps than stock. Thoughts?
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I had the same exact thought and went with a Lifetime replacement from Advance Auto yesterday. I purchased a new alternator for $159.99. It was originally $179.99 but they sent me a coupon for $20 for spending more than $100 in the store. Worked out perfect. I have a 110 Amp on my truck, but I upgraded to the 140 Amp and put my old one back in the box for their $12 core charge.
Took me a whole 10 minutes to swap it out and I'm back in business. Luckily I caught mine in time. I was only getting 12 volts at full charge.
The other reason I went with the $160 instead of $299 was DC Power is on backorder and approx ship date was 2 to 3 weeks. I needed it ASAP and I liked the Lifetime vs the 2 year warranty. I mean, what do you do if the DC Power Alternator fails? How many days are you down while waiting on another? Those were my thoughts.
Took me a whole 10 minutes to swap it out and I'm back in business. Luckily I caught mine in time. I was only getting 12 volts at full charge.
The other reason I went with the $160 instead of $299 was DC Power is on backorder and approx ship date was 2 to 3 weeks. I needed it ASAP and I liked the Lifetime vs the 2 year warranty. I mean, what do you do if the DC Power Alternator fails? How many days are you down while waiting on another? Those were my thoughts.
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From: Des Moines, IA
That's my thoughts as well. The local parts store stocks those things and they have a lifetime warranty and they're half the cost of the DC Power one. My concern is if the DC Power one goes bad then I'm down and will be down until I could get another one and they seem to be consistently on backorder. The 2 year warranty on the DC Power alternator kind of sucks as well, especially if you're spending that kind of money on one. I've had great luck with the Ultima alternators from O'Reilly's, but really they're the same alternator from all the big brand stores, just repackaged.
Josh, besides the pigtail is there any other things required to run that alternator? Any specific reason to run that one over the 140 amp 6G? They're both a large case alternator (better cooling?). I'm not understanding how the 130 amp 3G can put out more amperage than the 140 amp 6G.
Josh, besides the pigtail is there any other things required to run that alternator? Any specific reason to run that one over the 140 amp 6G? They're both a large case alternator (better cooling?). I'm not understanding how the 130 amp 3G can put out more amperage than the 140 amp 6G.
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The large case 3G was underrated and the 6G is overrated a touch.
The 130 amp 3G is really more a 165-175 amp alternator.
Josh
The 130 amp 3G is really more a 165-175 amp alternator.
Josh
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Josh
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From: Des Moines, IA
Perfect. I wonder if I could just make my own pigtail for it. You have a picture by chance so I can see what I'm working with?
EDIT: You sure that isn't a 7768 number?
EDIT 2: Apparently the hot ticket is the 3G large case 130 amp alternator. Apparently better cooling and better output than our 6G large case 140 amp.
EDIT: You sure that isn't a 7768 number?
EDIT 2: Apparently the hot ticket is the 3G large case 130 amp alternator. Apparently better cooling and better output than our 6G large case 140 amp.
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Same boat.
I'm in the same boat, my alt is going out. I was thinking about local rebuild shop, but wasn't sure due to these alts have a bad rep. Will rebuilding it fix the problems, or is it better to buy a new one?