Followup to my Amazon Bosch Alternator Warranty Issue
#1
Followup to my Amazon Bosch Alternator Warranty Issue
Background: On December 26, I posted a thread “I'm out of town in Austin and battery light is coming on intermittently.” There were some very good suggestions from FTE members. Some quick answers to these suggestions: I do believe it was the regulator in the alternator that failed, I did have the batteries load tested when I got home and they were at 100% and although I didn’t check all the grounds on the engine to frame, I will do that when the weather gets warmer. The alternator was a Bosch AL7606N purchased from Amazon with a lifetime guarantee. I carry a spare OEM remanufactured Ford 110A and I installed that and everything worked perfectly. Today my son is coming up to Double Oak and we will install a new replacement Bosch AL7606N tomorrow.
The Warranty Process: As soon as I got home, I called Customer Service at Amazon and was told by a customer service agent that Amazon only handles warranty claims and returns for 30 days after the sale and that I needed to contact Bosch directly and they gave me a wrong phone number. I called back and talked to another customer service agent and getting the same answer, I asked for a supervisor and again got the same answer.
I then made several calls to various numbers at Bosch and was finally told that the automotive warranty department was off until after the new year. The number I called for the Supervisor of the Warranty Department, Raymond Nowicki, was 708-786-3504. There is another number for the department which is 708-786-3540, the number for a contract call center and they have no knowledge but they will forward your call.
Raymond Nowicki told me the following:
· Bosch does warrant the alternator for life.
· It is the responsibility of the seller to handle the warranty interface with the customer and then return the unit to Bosch for credit.
· How to deal with Amazon.
· That the warranty is only good if the seller is an authorized distributor for Bosch. Amazon is an authorized distributor.
· I asked him about NAPA and he said yes. I asked him about Rock Auto. They are not an authorized distributor but he would talk to anyone who had bought from them.
The Amazon Process: Mr. Nowicki told me to call Amazon customer Service at 888-280-4331 and I did. The customer service agent gave me the same 30 day return answer so I asked for the supervisor and I got the same answer. I then asked to be transferred to “Leadership” and I talked to a “Leader” in Kentucky. He knew exactly what I was talking about and said that this was a special program with Bosch and that most customer agents don’t know how to handle this special program. He then shipped me a replacement that arrived the next afternoon and sent me a return UPS sticker to return the original which I did at their expense.
Lessons Learned and my 2 cents:
· When you buy locally rather than online, you will probably pay more but you get service locally on your problems. In other words, make your choice and pay your money.
· When dealing with Amazon just keep elevating your call until you reach a “Leader” preferably in the United States or Canada.
· Based on my experience of replacing alternators for about 50 years, it is a foregone conclusion that they will eventually break and based on my experience, it is usually the internal regulator.
· If you use your truck mostly locally, it probably doesn’t matter whether you carry a spare or have a warranty source close at hand. You can always walk home.
· If you are a traveler like me and you are mostly going long distances, either carry a spare with you or buy one from a national retailer like NAPA or O’Reilly. They are national so you can get warranty service nationally.
I think Bosch is a first class company but you can be assured that their products, like everybody else's, will eventually break.
The Warranty Process: As soon as I got home, I called Customer Service at Amazon and was told by a customer service agent that Amazon only handles warranty claims and returns for 30 days after the sale and that I needed to contact Bosch directly and they gave me a wrong phone number. I called back and talked to another customer service agent and getting the same answer, I asked for a supervisor and again got the same answer.
I then made several calls to various numbers at Bosch and was finally told that the automotive warranty department was off until after the new year. The number I called for the Supervisor of the Warranty Department, Raymond Nowicki, was 708-786-3504. There is another number for the department which is 708-786-3540, the number for a contract call center and they have no knowledge but they will forward your call.
Raymond Nowicki told me the following:
· Bosch does warrant the alternator for life.
· It is the responsibility of the seller to handle the warranty interface with the customer and then return the unit to Bosch for credit.
· How to deal with Amazon.
· That the warranty is only good if the seller is an authorized distributor for Bosch. Amazon is an authorized distributor.
· I asked him about NAPA and he said yes. I asked him about Rock Auto. They are not an authorized distributor but he would talk to anyone who had bought from them.
The Amazon Process: Mr. Nowicki told me to call Amazon customer Service at 888-280-4331 and I did. The customer service agent gave me the same 30 day return answer so I asked for the supervisor and I got the same answer. I then asked to be transferred to “Leadership” and I talked to a “Leader” in Kentucky. He knew exactly what I was talking about and said that this was a special program with Bosch and that most customer agents don’t know how to handle this special program. He then shipped me a replacement that arrived the next afternoon and sent me a return UPS sticker to return the original which I did at their expense.
Lessons Learned and my 2 cents:
· When you buy locally rather than online, you will probably pay more but you get service locally on your problems. In other words, make your choice and pay your money.
· When dealing with Amazon just keep elevating your call until you reach a “Leader” preferably in the United States or Canada.
· Based on my experience of replacing alternators for about 50 years, it is a foregone conclusion that they will eventually break and based on my experience, it is usually the internal regulator.
· If you use your truck mostly locally, it probably doesn’t matter whether you carry a spare or have a warranty source close at hand. You can always walk home.
· If you are a traveler like me and you are mostly going long distances, either carry a spare with you or buy one from a national retailer like NAPA or O’Reilly. They are national so you can get warranty service nationally.
I think Bosch is a first class company but you can be assured that their products, like everybody else's, will eventually break.
#2
......
I then made several calls to various numbers at Bosch and was finally told that the automotive warranty department was off until after the new year. The number I called for the Supervisor of the Warranty Department, Raymond Nowicki, was 708-786-3504. There is another number for the department which is 708-786-3540, the number for a contract call center and they have no knowledge but they will forward your call.
Raymond Nowicki told me the following:
· Bosch does warrant the alternator for life.
· It is the responsibility of the seller to handle the warranty interface with the customer and then return the unit to Bosch for credit.
· How to deal with Amazon.
· That the warranty is only good if the seller is an authorized distributor for Bosch. Amazon is an authorized distributor.
· I asked him about NAPA and he said yes. I asked him about Rock Auto. They are not an authorized distributor but he would talk to anyone who had bought from them.
........
I then made several calls to various numbers at Bosch and was finally told that the automotive warranty department was off until after the new year. The number I called for the Supervisor of the Warranty Department, Raymond Nowicki, was 708-786-3504. There is another number for the department which is 708-786-3540, the number for a contract call center and they have no knowledge but they will forward your call.
Raymond Nowicki told me the following:
· Bosch does warrant the alternator for life.
· It is the responsibility of the seller to handle the warranty interface with the customer and then return the unit to Bosch for credit.
· How to deal with Amazon.
· That the warranty is only good if the seller is an authorized distributor for Bosch. Amazon is an authorized distributor.
· I asked him about NAPA and he said yes. I asked him about Rock Auto. They are not an authorized distributor but he would talk to anyone who had bought from them.
........
Thanks for posting the followup for anyone who has issues. Maybe Fuzpuss can get a resolution as well.
I believe along with NAPA that Advance Auto also sells NEW versions of this alternator. They also sell remans.
Somewhere I have a copy of the warranty card that comes with the unit that states a lifetime warranty if you send in the card unless my sleep deprivation is screwing with that memory too.
Yeah, it shouldn't be this hard.
#3
#4
#5
The reason I carry the Advance Auto for a spare is it's the third warranty replacement in under 4 years. I ran it long enough to see that it would work and put it back in the box for a spare. The Bosch has been rock solid.
#6
250k on the original one in my 91 Honda Civic, it wore through the slip rings on the rotor. It used to be that you could find a rebuild shop in most major cities and get it rebuilt with quality parts. Now it's hit and miss with remans. I just ante'd up and spent the money on the L-N when I got the truck, I went through the list of all the "mods/updates/reliability" things and did all of them at once. Outside of having a 6mo old thermostat fail, the truck has been rock solid.
#7
Originally Posted by markw365
250k on the original one in my 91 Honda Civic, it wore through the slip rings on the rotor. It used to be that you could find a rebuild shop in most major cities and get it rebuilt with quality parts. Now it's hit and miss with remans. I just ante'd up and spent the money on the L-N when I got the truck, I went through the list of all the "mods/updates/reliability" things and did all of them at once. Outside of having a 6mo old thermostat fail, the truck has been rock solid.
I also got quoted a horrendous price from them to repair the 50-year-old tractor dynamo, so old stuff gets covered as well. The tractor's a worker not a restoration project so I bought a replacement with twice the amperage for one third the price - a whole 22A!
Trending Topics
#8
Texas Bob,
Thank you for posting that info! I wonder, did Bosch ask what vehicle you installed the alternator in? As you may or may not know from my recent thread, Rock Auto flat-out refused to honor the warranty on my AL7606N because my truck is not on Bosch's list of compatible vehicles. Same thing with Amazon's "make sure it fits" menu, though apparently, it doesn't matter to them.
Anyway, I called Bosch four times and left messages with the call center for the warranty department and never got a return call. I guess I'll give Raymond a try on Monday. Will update with results.
Thank you for posting that info! I wonder, did Bosch ask what vehicle you installed the alternator in? As you may or may not know from my recent thread, Rock Auto flat-out refused to honor the warranty on my AL7606N because my truck is not on Bosch's list of compatible vehicles. Same thing with Amazon's "make sure it fits" menu, though apparently, it doesn't matter to them.
Anyway, I called Bosch four times and left messages with the call center for the warranty department and never got a return call. I guess I'll give Raymond a try on Monday. Will update with results.
#9
Chris,
Sorry you are having problems getting through to Bosch. Try the direct number for Mr. Nowicki. He has a voice mail on the line. I don't remember if we discussed on what vehicle I was using the alternator. I did not discuss it with Amazon. Monday is a holiday so best to try on Tuesday. Good luck.
Sorry you are having problems getting through to Bosch. Try the direct number for Mr. Nowicki. He has a voice mail on the line. I don't remember if we discussed on what vehicle I was using the alternator. I did not discuss it with Amazon. Monday is a holiday so best to try on Tuesday. Good luck.
#10
I finally connected with Ray Nowicki. He said if you buy from an unlicensed distributor, like Rock Auto, you have to resolve the problem with said distributor. I told him why RA delcined to replace the alternator, and he said Bosch wouldn't warranty it either because it isn't listed for use on my truck. Nuts!
#11
Thanks for keeping us up on this.
My opinion is when it came time for a replacement it was either the LN or the highest output that Advance Auto offered and order it online with a promo code for 20-30% off. Then its covered at any of their nationwide stores. I went with the LN and am counting on the reliability.
My opinion is when it came time for a replacement it was either the LN or the highest output that Advance Auto offered and order it online with a promo code for 20-30% off. Then its covered at any of their nationwide stores. I went with the LN and am counting on the reliability.
#12
You can get these through Advance and NAPA, NAPA is expensive. Not that anyone would want to at this point.
For me it brings up a new perspective about RockAuto, and what else is not warranted purchased through them. Motorcraft parts? Other brand names?
I also don't get this with Bosch. This alternator is listed for the 2005 and up E450 and E550 with the 6.0L. Not exactly a lighter duty application, and the stock pickups are a breeze in comparison.
Looks like my Advance Auto account is going to get busier.
For me it brings up a new perspective about RockAuto, and what else is not warranted purchased through them. Motorcraft parts? Other brand names?
I also don't get this with Bosch. This alternator is listed for the 2005 and up E450 and E550 with the 6.0L. Not exactly a lighter duty application, and the stock pickups are a breeze in comparison.
Looks like my Advance Auto account is going to get busier.
#13
You can get these through Advance and NAPA, NAPA is expensive. Not that anyone would want to at this point.
For me it brings up a new perspective about RockAuto, and what else is not warranted purchased through them. Motorcraft parts? Other brand names?
I also don't get this with Bosch. This alternator is listed for the 2005 and up E450 and E550 with the 6.0L. Not exactly a lighter duty application, and the stock pickups are a breeze in comparison.
Looks like my Advance Auto account is going to get busier.
For me it brings up a new perspective about RockAuto, and what else is not warranted purchased through them. Motorcraft parts? Other brand names?
I also don't get this with Bosch. This alternator is listed for the 2005 and up E450 and E550 with the 6.0L. Not exactly a lighter duty application, and the stock pickups are a breeze in comparison.
Looks like my Advance Auto account is going to get busier.
#14
My neighbor across the street is a volunteer EMS and our station is a quick walk down the street, I go past it on 'hood walks. It's where I first saw the Bosch on a van 6.0 and they never had issues. I don't know if it was a replacement or what the body builder put on. A Ford FSE who I'm friends with is who turned me onto the L-N 230a, it's what was being put on the EMS F-450/550 used in NYC. He said they were going through alts prior, but he said those vehicles run 24/7.
#15
At this point, we are probably beating a dead horse about the application of the Bosch AL 7606N to our trucks. But i do remember that in 2014 there was a simple application chart on the Bosch site and it indicated that this alternator was a correct application for the 2003 Ford F250 with a 6.0 engine. And I further remember talking to a Bosch technical person as to the applicability of the AL 7606N to my Ford. With the information on the chart and the corroboration of the Bosch technical person, I purchased the alternator.
I have Googled application information for the Al 7606N and in all but one site, I could not find any information that would indicate that the AL 7606N was appropriate for our trucks. However, on this site, https://www.bcdiesel.ca/en/bosch-alt...w-ford-2003-07 , it does indicate in the application table that it is appropriate for our trucks. You will also notice that is no longer available. Go figure. I would not recommend the AL 7606N for a long term solution.
I have Googled application information for the Al 7606N and in all but one site, I could not find any information that would indicate that the AL 7606N was appropriate for our trucks. However, on this site, https://www.bcdiesel.ca/en/bosch-alt...w-ford-2003-07 , it does indicate in the application table that it is appropriate for our trucks. You will also notice that is no longer available. Go figure. I would not recommend the AL 7606N for a long term solution.