DB Alternator - lasted 4 months - normal?
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster, Pa.
. Nice info to know about DB. If anything does go i,m looking to upgrade, do it right and be done with it, DB will be my choice, hope the bugs are worked out of the units before I purchase mine though.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,286
Likes: 263
From: North of Greenville
I expect they've probably already gotten everything purged at this point. As it is, the OP's alternator purchase correlates with the timeline DB gave me perfectly.
As far as I'm concerned, I'll be going with DB for alternators and starters as well. The one Hi-Torque starter on my truck has been running for several months without a single glitch, and I'm thinking I'll be putting one on my new '03 Excursion pretty soon as well, but I'm holding out for now.
As far as I'm concerned, I'll be going with DB for alternators and starters as well. The one Hi-Torque starter on my truck has been running for several months without a single glitch, and I'm thinking I'll be putting one on my new '03 Excursion pretty soon as well, but I'm holding out for now.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster, Pa.
I expect they've probably already gotten everything purged at this point. As it is, the OP's alternator purchase correlates with the timeline DB gave me perfectly.
As far as I'm concerned, I'll be going with DB for alternators and starters as well. The one Hi-Torque starter on my truck has been running for several months without a single glitch, and I'm thinking I'll be putting one on my new '03 Excursion pretty soon as well, but I'm holding out for now.
As far as I'm concerned, I'll be going with DB for alternators and starters as well. The one Hi-Torque starter on my truck has been running for several months without a single glitch, and I'm thinking I'll be putting one on my new '03 Excursion pretty soon as well, but I'm holding out for now.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,298
Likes: 25
From: Damon (South East Texas)
I'm keeping my eyes open on this issue, too. I might even do a little investigative work to see what I can discover.
EDIT>>> UPDATE>>>>
I just got off the phone with Robbie at DB Electrical, nad he confirmed what I suspected and what Chase and Costa proposed... about four months ago they got in a batch of bad regulators which they abviously did not discover completely until some of hte alternators hit the streets. Robbie assured me that the problem has been taken care of with their supplier, and that he will continue to take care of any customer issue the way they always have.
This info makes me feel better about continuing to recommend them because they have demonstrated honesty in what happened and also a continued committment to take care of customer needs when things don't work out perfectly.
Bad batches of product will eventually get out with any business, and I'm pleased to have discovered DB's responsiveness.
I'll continue to recommend them.
EDIT>>> UPDATE>>>>
I just got off the phone with Robbie at DB Electrical, nad he confirmed what I suspected and what Chase and Costa proposed... about four months ago they got in a batch of bad regulators which they abviously did not discover completely until some of hte alternators hit the streets. Robbie assured me that the problem has been taken care of with their supplier, and that he will continue to take care of any customer issue the way they always have.
This info makes me feel better about continuing to recommend them because they have demonstrated honesty in what happened and also a continued committment to take care of customer needs when things don't work out perfectly.
Bad batches of product will eventually get out with any business, and I'm pleased to have discovered DB's responsiveness.
I'll continue to recommend them.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Here's another option, if y'all are interested. I'm going with one of these when my AutoZoo alt lets go. But so far, so good on mine. Over 2 years on it now.
http://www.alternatorparts.com/Ford_...ke_Diesel.html
http://www.alternatorparts.com/Ford_...ke_Diesel.html
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Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,286
Likes: 263
From: North of Greenville
Thanks, Joe. That's the link I had captured quite a while back but had lost, and when the DB options came up, I had thought that I had just mis-remembered what the first link had looked like. I've heard several others give high reviews for the alternators at the Quick Start link. It's now back in my list again as another excellent option.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 790
Likes: 35
From: Austin
real customer service
Thanks for the feedback. While its nice that DB is sending me a replacement alternator, I am still out the cost of 2 batteries that the alternator killed.
If they knew they had a bad bunch of regulators, they could have contacted me, via my phone and email on file with them, and let me know to have the alternator checked.
That's pro-active customer service. Replacing an alternator that they knew to be suspect, after it fails, and causes more trouble for me does not qualify them for 'exemplary customer service' in my book.
If they knew they had a bad bunch of regulators, they could have contacted me, via my phone and email on file with them, and let me know to have the alternator checked.
That's pro-active customer service. Replacing an alternator that they knew to be suspect, after it fails, and causes more trouble for me does not qualify them for 'exemplary customer service' in my book.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Thanks for the feedback. While its nice that DB is sending me a replacement alternator, I am still out the cost of 2 batteries that the alternator killed.
If they knew they had a bad bunch of regulators, they could have contacted me, via my phone and email on file with them, and let me know to have the alternator checked.
That's pro-active customer service. Replacing an alternator that they knew to be suspect, after it fails, and causes more trouble for me does not qualify them for 'exemplary customer service' in my book.
If they knew they had a bad bunch of regulators, they could have contacted me, via my phone and email on file with them, and let me know to have the alternator checked.
That's pro-active customer service. Replacing an alternator that they knew to be suspect, after it fails, and causes more trouble for me does not qualify them for 'exemplary customer service' in my book.
I suspect that there's a "business model" in there somewhere, providing ultra-reliable automobile parts and the personalized follow-up contact, but I'd be willing to bet it would be bankrupt within months. Though I prefer high-reliability, I wouldn't pay the extreme premium for it. I suspect even fire departments wouldn't.
Though the alternator allowed your batteries to go flat, how did it "kill" them? If they couldn't take a complete re-charge, there was something else, like time, that killed them.
I believe you're being a bit hard on DB, and no, I have absolutely no interest in them, nor do I use their products.
Yet.
Pop
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,374
Likes: 46
From: Palm Bay, Florida
I think that when mine dies providing I'm near home I will take it off and take it to my local home-town rebuilder and let them rebuild it and put it back on, I don't need anything fancy or expensive as I don't run any high power stuff.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
The best lubricant in the best-quality bearings.
A high-quality regulator/brush assembly (and there are some cheap-o's out there).
A well-balanced rotor with good commutator rings.
Diodes, unless you've abused the alternator, don't normally fail, and can be re-used if they check OK.
If the rebuilder pays attention to this stuff, you'll get a good one. Unfortunately, custom rebuilders are becoming like buggy-whip manufacturers.
Most are high-volume shops that use cheap labor and cheap parts. It's why a LOT of the parts-house rebuilds have a considerably-lower MTBF.
Pop
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8,098
Likes: 10
From: Westford, MA
Here's a link over to our alternator section too as an option. All of our alternators are new not rebuilts with nocore charge to deal with.
Ford Truck Alternator
Ford Truck Alternator
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