"Stephen H" <hansensw@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:2t6kg.27208$mF2.13106@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:

>
>>
>> No, not necessarily. ISTM the labor it takes to do just the brushes
>> can approach the total cost of replacing the whole alternator.
>>
>> Other parts go bad on alternators, just not as often.
>>
>> ISTM a car kept 20 years should need at least one alternator
>> replacement in the course of those 20 years.
>>
>> If one is a do-it-yourselfer and has the time, then doing just the
>> brushes makes sense. This is not so for someone who doesn't work much
>> on cars and wants a repair that will (1) last; (2) not lead to
>> throwing good money after bad.
>>
>> This is my rough impression, based on only one personal alternator
>> experience, a little exploration on brushes, and a lot of reading. I
>> am really not sure how often independent shops are willing to do
>> 'just the brushes.' Look for others' thoughts on this. Tegger,
>> Socalmike, Michael Pardee, JT, Curly (among other regulars)?
>>
> I tried brushes once on my POV; lasted 6 months,



I replaced my brushes too. I even did it by unsoldering the old ones from
the holder and soldering in new ones from a local rebuilders ($5). At the
time I didn't know you could just buy a whole new brush holder from the
dealer.

My soldering skills aren't great, but the new brushes lasted three years,
and would surely have gone a lot longer, except the stator finally rusted
to the commutator and locked the alternator up. 14 years of Canadian
winters will do that...

Ain't nothin' wrong with replacing the brushes on an ND alternator. Their
bearings last nearly forever if the belt is properly tightened, and the
electrics last similarly if the alt has not been abused.


--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

 

Elle wrote:
> "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote
>
>>Elle wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>the alternator has brobably never been replaced. I looked
>>>>through my old invoices & couldn't find anyting, but as I
>>>>said, there's only 62,000 miles on it, so probably the
>>>>brushes haven't been replaced
>>>>I'll call them tomorrow am and ask about all this. If
>>>>they do say I need a new Alternator, do you think that's
>>>>a rip off?
>>>
>>>
>>>No, not necessarily. ISTM the labor it takes to do just
>>>the brushes can approach the total cost of replacing the
>>>whole alternator.
>>
>>How do you figure? Labor to re&re the alternator either
>>is the same either way... new brushes are about $5 and
>>should take about 15 minutes to swap in...
>
>
> I was thinking (1) the dealership for one will charge the
> book rate, which may assume the alternator has to be pulled
> off to replace the brushes; and (2) from reading here, not
> all brushes can be replaced with the alternator in place.

Even so - the labor to take out one alternator and put in a new one is
exactly the same as the labor to remove the alt and then put it back in
with new brushes... so the only difference there is the cost of the
brushes themselves and the labor to install them.

If you get JUST the bare brushes and solder them into the holder
yourself (easy enough for me), it's $5 plus about 15-20 minutes' labor
(in addition to the re&re); if you get the complete brushes with holder,
it's $20 plus 5-10 minutes to swap them into the alt.

Either way, you're talking re&re labor plus maybe $40, vs. re&re labor
plus the cost of a new alt (I've been quoted from $180 for a reman to
$350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord).

Slight difference there

> I agree this will vary from model to model and maybe one
> year to another year.

If brushes are all that are bad, replacing them SHOULD be FAR cheaper
than replacing the whole alt, regardless of year and model. (I wouldn't
be surprised if there were exceptions with some British or Italian cars,
who knows what kinds of strange things those bastards put in their
vehicles).

 

Elle wrote:
> "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote
>
>>Elle wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>the alternator has brobably never been replaced. I looked
>>>>through my old invoices & couldn't find anyting, but as I
>>>>said, there's only 62,000 miles on it, so probably the
>>>>brushes haven't been replaced
>>>>I'll call them tomorrow am and ask about all this. If
>>>>they do say I need a new Alternator, do you think that's
>>>>a rip off?
>>>
>>>
>>>No, not necessarily. ISTM the labor it takes to do just
>>>the brushes can approach the total cost of replacing the
>>>whole alternator.
>>
>>How do you figure? Labor to re&re the alternator either
>>is the same either way... new brushes are about $5 and
>>should take about 15 minutes to swap in...
>
>
> I was thinking (1) the dealership for one will charge the
> book rate, which may assume the alternator has to be pulled
> off to replace the brushes; and (2) from reading here, not
> all brushes can be replaced with the alternator in place.

Even so - the labor to take out one alternator and put in a new one is
exactly the same as the labor to remove the alt and then put it back in
with new brushes... so the only difference there is the cost of the
brushes themselves and the labor to install them.

If you get JUST the bare brushes and solder them into the holder
yourself (easy enough for me), it's $5 plus about 15-20 minutes' labor
(in addition to the re&re); if you get the complete brushes with holder,
it's $20 plus 5-10 minutes to swap them into the alt.

Either way, you're talking re&re labor plus maybe $40, vs. re&re labor
plus the cost of a new alt (I've been quoted from $180 for a reman to
$350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord).

Slight difference there

> I agree this will vary from model to model and maybe one
> year to another year.

If brushes are all that are bad, replacing them SHOULD be FAR cheaper
than replacing the whole alt, regardless of year and model. (I wouldn't
be surprised if there were exceptions with some British or Italian cars,
who knows what kinds of strange things those bastards put in their
vehicles).

 

Elle wrote:
> "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote
>
>>Elle wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>the alternator has brobably never been replaced. I looked
>>>>through my old invoices & couldn't find anyting, but as I
>>>>said, there's only 62,000 miles on it, so probably the
>>>>brushes haven't been replaced
>>>>I'll call them tomorrow am and ask about all this. If
>>>>they do say I need a new Alternator, do you think that's
>>>>a rip off?
>>>
>>>
>>>No, not necessarily. ISTM the labor it takes to do just
>>>the brushes can approach the total cost of replacing the
>>>whole alternator.
>>
>>How do you figure? Labor to re&re the alternator either
>>is the same either way... new brushes are about $5 and
>>should take about 15 minutes to swap in...
>
>
> I was thinking (1) the dealership for one will charge the
> book rate, which may assume the alternator has to be pulled
> off to replace the brushes; and (2) from reading here, not
> all brushes can be replaced with the alternator in place.

Even so - the labor to take out one alternator and put in a new one is
exactly the same as the labor to remove the alt and then put it back in
with new brushes... so the only difference there is the cost of the
brushes themselves and the labor to install them.

If you get JUST the bare brushes and solder them into the holder
yourself (easy enough for me), it's $5 plus about 15-20 minutes' labor
(in addition to the re&re); if you get the complete brushes with holder,
it's $20 plus 5-10 minutes to swap them into the alt.

Either way, you're talking re&re labor plus maybe $40, vs. re&re labor
plus the cost of a new alt (I've been quoted from $180 for a reman to
$350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord).

Slight difference there

> I agree this will vary from model to model and maybe one
> year to another year.

If brushes are all that are bad, replacing them SHOULD be FAR cheaper
than replacing the whole alt, regardless of year and model. (I wouldn't
be surprised if there were exceptions with some British or Italian cars,
who knows what kinds of strange things those bastards put in their
vehicles).

 

TeGGeR® wrote:

> I replaced my brushes too. I even did it by unsoldering the old ones from
> the holder and soldering in new ones from a local rebuilders ($5). At the
> time I didn't know you could just buy a whole new brush holder from the
> dealer.

Bah... takes me about 10 minutes to swap the raw brushes into an
existing holder. :P

> My soldering skills aren't great, but the new brushes lasted three years,
> and would surely have gone a lot longer, except the stator finally rusted
> to the commutator and locked the alternator up. 14 years of Canadian
> winters will do that...

Bring it out to Vancouver... I think we had maybe 10 days that actually
got below freezing this past winter

> Ain't nothin' wrong with replacing the brushes on an ND alternator. Their
> bearings last nearly forever if the belt is properly tightened, and the
> electrics last similarly if the alt has not been abused.

Yeah, like mine was with the hood-prop rod flopping over against the
positive battery post... that was nasty. Burnt one of the brushes to a
little carbonized crisp!

 

TeGGeR® wrote:

> I replaced my brushes too. I even did it by unsoldering the old ones from
> the holder and soldering in new ones from a local rebuilders ($5). At the
> time I didn't know you could just buy a whole new brush holder from the
> dealer.

Bah... takes me about 10 minutes to swap the raw brushes into an
existing holder. :P

> My soldering skills aren't great, but the new brushes lasted three years,
> and would surely have gone a lot longer, except the stator finally rusted
> to the commutator and locked the alternator up. 14 years of Canadian
> winters will do that...

Bring it out to Vancouver... I think we had maybe 10 days that actually
got below freezing this past winter

> Ain't nothin' wrong with replacing the brushes on an ND alternator. Their
> bearings last nearly forever if the belt is properly tightened, and the
> electrics last similarly if the alt has not been abused.

Yeah, like mine was with the hood-prop rod flopping over against the
positive battery post... that was nasty. Burnt one of the brushes to a
little carbonized crisp!

 

TeGGeR® wrote:

> I replaced my brushes too. I even did it by unsoldering the old ones from
> the holder and soldering in new ones from a local rebuilders ($5). At the
> time I didn't know you could just buy a whole new brush holder from the
> dealer.

Bah... takes me about 10 minutes to swap the raw brushes into an
existing holder. :P

> My soldering skills aren't great, but the new brushes lasted three years,
> and would surely have gone a lot longer, except the stator finally rusted
> to the commutator and locked the alternator up. 14 years of Canadian
> winters will do that...

Bring it out to Vancouver... I think we had maybe 10 days that actually
got below freezing this past winter

> Ain't nothin' wrong with replacing the brushes on an ND alternator. Their
> bearings last nearly forever if the belt is properly tightened, and the
> electrics last similarly if the alt has not been abused.

Yeah, like mine was with the hood-prop rod flopping over against the
positive battery post... that was nasty. Burnt one of the brushes to a
little carbonized crisp!

 

"Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote
> Elle wrote:
>> "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote
>>
>>>Elle wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>>the alternator has brobably never been replaced. I
>>>>>looked through my old invoices & couldn't find anyting,
>>>>>but as I said, there's only 62,000 miles on it, so
>>>>>probably the brushes haven't been replaced
>>>>>I'll call them tomorrow am and ask about all this. If
>>>>>they do say I need a new Alternator, do you think
>>>>>that's a rip off?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>No, not necessarily. ISTM the labor it takes to do just
>>>>the brushes can approach the total cost of replacing the
>>>>whole alternator.
>>>
>>>How do you figure? Labor to re&re the alternator either
>>>is the same either way... new brushes are about $5 and
>>>should take about 15 minutes to swap in...
>>
>>
>> I was thinking (1) the dealership for one will charge the
>> book rate, which may assume the alternator has to be
>> pulled off to replace the brushes; and (2) from reading
>> here, not all brushes can be replaced with the alternator
>> in place.
>
> Even so - the labor to take out one alternator and put in
> a new one is exactly the same as the labor to remove the
> alt and then put it back in with new brushes...

If it is the brushes that are the problem, and assuming the
consumer has told the technician to perform no diagnosis but
instead just replace the brushes.

> so the only difference there is the cost of the brushes
> themselves and the labor to install them.
>
> If you get JUST the bare brushes and solder them into the
> holder yourself (easy enough for me), it's $5 plus about
> 15-20 minutes' labor (in addition to the re&re); if you
> get the complete brushes with holder, it's $20 plus 5-10
> minutes to swap them into the alt.

We're not talking about someone do-it-yourselfing here. The
consumer has to go find a technician who will do exactly as
you describe.

> Either way, you're talking re&re labor plus maybe $40, vs.
> re&re labor plus the cost of a new alt (I've been quoted
> from $180 for a reman to $350 for a factory new ND alt for
> my '87 Accord).

Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order
the shop to replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not
100% sure it is the brushes.

I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go
with an old alternator, though. The bearings could go soon.
The consumer gets to make another trip. S/he does not
necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the shop to
diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda
saved you money and time if we'd just slapped a new
alternator in the first time.

IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping
a whole new alternator in place in an older car with the
original alternator.

I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic
outlooks on this matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the
guy/gal that just wants a reliable ride at a reasonable
cost.

At the next sign of trouble with my 91 Civic's (second)
alternator, I am going to do a little of my own diagnosis
and most likely end up just replacing the brushes and the
bearings. But in hindsight, I don't think I was messed over
when several years ago the dealer installed a whole new
alternator. Back then, I did not have the time to be messing
with my car.

 

"Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote
> Elle wrote:
>> "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote
>>
>>>Elle wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>>the alternator has brobably never been replaced. I
>>>>>looked through my old invoices & couldn't find anyting,
>>>>>but as I said, there's only 62,000 miles on it, so
>>>>>probably the brushes haven't been replaced
>>>>>I'll call them tomorrow am and ask about all this. If
>>>>>they do say I need a new Alternator, do you think
>>>>>that's a rip off?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>No, not necessarily. ISTM the labor it takes to do just
>>>>the brushes can approach the total cost of replacing the
>>>>whole alternator.
>>>
>>>How do you figure? Labor to re&re the alternator either
>>>is the same either way... new brushes are about $5 and
>>>should take about 15 minutes to swap in...
>>
>>
>> I was thinking (1) the dealership for one will charge the
>> book rate, which may assume the alternator has to be
>> pulled off to replace the brushes; and (2) from reading
>> here, not all brushes can be replaced with the alternator
>> in place.
>
> Even so - the labor to take out one alternator and put in
> a new one is exactly the same as the labor to remove the
> alt and then put it back in with new brushes...

If it is the brushes that are the problem, and assuming the
consumer has told the technician to perform no diagnosis but
instead just replace the brushes.

> so the only difference there is the cost of the brushes
> themselves and the labor to install them.
>
> If you get JUST the bare brushes and solder them into the
> holder yourself (easy enough for me), it's $5 plus about
> 15-20 minutes' labor (in addition to the re&re); if you
> get the complete brushes with holder, it's $20 plus 5-10
> minutes to swap them into the alt.

We're not talking about someone do-it-yourselfing here. The
consumer has to go find a technician who will do exactly as
you describe.

> Either way, you're talking re&re labor plus maybe $40, vs.
> re&re labor plus the cost of a new alt (I've been quoted
> from $180 for a reman to $350 for a factory new ND alt for
> my '87 Accord).

Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order
the shop to replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not
100% sure it is the brushes.

I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go
with an old alternator, though. The bearings could go soon.
The consumer gets to make another trip. S/he does not
necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the shop to
diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda
saved you money and time if we'd just slapped a new
alternator in the first time.

IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping
a whole new alternator in place in an older car with the
original alternator.

I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic
outlooks on this matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the
guy/gal that just wants a reliable ride at a reasonable
cost.

At the next sign of trouble with my 91 Civic's (second)
alternator, I am going to do a little of my own diagnosis
and most likely end up just replacing the brushes and the
bearings. But in hindsight, I don't think I was messed over
when several years ago the dealer installed a whole new
alternator. Back then, I did not have the time to be messing
with my car.

 

"Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote
> Elle wrote:
>> "Matt Ion" <soundy@moltenimage.com> wrote
>>
>>>Elle wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>>the alternator has brobably never been replaced. I
>>>>>looked through my old invoices & couldn't find anyting,
>>>>>but as I said, there's only 62,000 miles on it, so
>>>>>probably the brushes haven't been replaced
>>>>>I'll call them tomorrow am and ask about all this. If
>>>>>they do say I need a new Alternator, do you think
>>>>>that's a rip off?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>No, not necessarily. ISTM the labor it takes to do just
>>>>the brushes can approach the total cost of replacing the
>>>>whole alternator.
>>>
>>>How do you figure? Labor to re&re the alternator either
>>>is the same either way... new brushes are about $5 and
>>>should take about 15 minutes to swap in...
>>
>>
>> I was thinking (1) the dealership for one will charge the
>> book rate, which may assume the alternator has to be
>> pulled off to replace the brushes; and (2) from reading
>> here, not all brushes can be replaced with the alternator
>> in place.
>
> Even so - the labor to take out one alternator and put in
> a new one is exactly the same as the labor to remove the
> alt and then put it back in with new brushes...

If it is the brushes that are the problem, and assuming the
consumer has told the technician to perform no diagnosis but
instead just replace the brushes.

> so the only difference there is the cost of the brushes
> themselves and the labor to install them.
>
> If you get JUST the bare brushes and solder them into the
> holder yourself (easy enough for me), it's $5 plus about
> 15-20 minutes' labor (in addition to the re&re); if you
> get the complete brushes with holder, it's $20 plus 5-10
> minutes to swap them into the alt.

We're not talking about someone do-it-yourselfing here. The
consumer has to go find a technician who will do exactly as
you describe.

> Either way, you're talking re&re labor plus maybe $40, vs.
> re&re labor plus the cost of a new alt (I've been quoted
> from $180 for a reman to $350 for a factory new ND alt for
> my '87 Accord).

Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order
the shop to replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not
100% sure it is the brushes.

I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go
with an old alternator, though. The bearings could go soon.
The consumer gets to make another trip. S/he does not
necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the shop to
diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda
saved you money and time if we'd just slapped a new
alternator in the first time.

IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping
a whole new alternator in place in an older car with the
original alternator.

I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic
outlooks on this matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the
guy/gal that just wants a reliable ride at a reasonable
cost.

At the next sign of trouble with my 91 Civic's (second)
alternator, I am going to do a little of my own diagnosis
and most likely end up just replacing the brushes and the
bearings. But in hindsight, I don't think I was messed over
when several years ago the dealer installed a whole new
alternator. Back then, I did not have the time to be messing
with my car.

 

"Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:W8Ckg.6619$o4.2731@newsread2.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
> If it is the brushes that are the problem, and assuming the consumer has
> told the technician to perform no diagnosis but instead just replace the
> brushes.
>
>
> We're not talking about someone do-it-yourselfing here. The consumer has
> to go find a technician who will do exactly as you describe.
>
>> Either way, you're talking re&re labor plus maybe $40, vs. re&re labor
>> plus the cost of a new alt (I've been quoted from $180 for a reman to
>> $350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord).
>
> Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order the shop to
> replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not 100% sure it is the
> brushes.
>
> I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go with an old
> alternator, though. The bearings could go soon. The consumer gets to make
> another trip. S/he does not necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the
> shop to diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda saved
> you money and time if we'd just slapped a new alternator in the first
> time.
>
> IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping a whole new
> alternator in place in an older car with the original alternator.
>
> I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic outlooks on this
> matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the guy/gal that just wants a reliable
> ride at a reasonable cost.
>
Right on the money, Elle. A shop that replaces only the brushes is risking
having to hassle over who pays for a whole alternator when the inevitable
callback happens (not on every one, but enough to hurt). Shops don't like to
replace subassemblies when they can have a vendor assume the risks on full
assemblies.

Mike

 

"Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:W8Ckg.6619$o4.2731@newsread2.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
> If it is the brushes that are the problem, and assuming the consumer has
> told the technician to perform no diagnosis but instead just replace the
> brushes.
>
>
> We're not talking about someone do-it-yourselfing here. The consumer has
> to go find a technician who will do exactly as you describe.
>
>> Either way, you're talking re&re labor plus maybe $40, vs. re&re labor
>> plus the cost of a new alt (I've been quoted from $180 for a reman to
>> $350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord).
>
> Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order the shop to
> replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not 100% sure it is the
> brushes.
>
> I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go with an old
> alternator, though. The bearings could go soon. The consumer gets to make
> another trip. S/he does not necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the
> shop to diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda saved
> you money and time if we'd just slapped a new alternator in the first
> time.
>
> IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping a whole new
> alternator in place in an older car with the original alternator.
>
> I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic outlooks on this
> matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the guy/gal that just wants a reliable
> ride at a reasonable cost.
>
Right on the money, Elle. A shop that replaces only the brushes is risking
having to hassle over who pays for a whole alternator when the inevitable
callback happens (not on every one, but enough to hurt). Shops don't like to
replace subassemblies when they can have a vendor assume the risks on full
assemblies.

Mike

 

"Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:W8Ckg.6619$o4.2731@newsread2.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
> If it is the brushes that are the problem, and assuming the consumer has
> told the technician to perform no diagnosis but instead just replace the
> brushes.
>
>
> We're not talking about someone do-it-yourselfing here. The consumer has
> to go find a technician who will do exactly as you describe.
>
>> Either way, you're talking re&re labor plus maybe $40, vs. re&re labor
>> plus the cost of a new alt (I've been quoted from $180 for a reman to
>> $350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord).
>
> Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order the shop to
> replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not 100% sure it is the
> brushes.
>
> I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go with an old
> alternator, though. The bearings could go soon. The consumer gets to make
> another trip. S/he does not necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the
> shop to diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda saved
> you money and time if we'd just slapped a new alternator in the first
> time.
>
> IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping a whole new
> alternator in place in an older car with the original alternator.
>
> I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic outlooks on this
> matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the guy/gal that just wants a reliable
> ride at a reasonable cost.
>
Right on the money, Elle. A shop that replaces only the brushes is risking
having to hassle over who pays for a whole alternator when the inevitable
callback happens (not on every one, but enough to hurt). Shops don't like to
replace subassemblies when they can have a vendor assume the risks on full
assemblies.

Mike

 

"Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in message
news:Mumdnb1B3_PMYQ_ZnZ2dnUVZ_rSdnZ2d@sedona.net.. .
> "Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:W8Ckg.6619$o4.2731@newsread2.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
>> If it is the brushes that are the problem, and assuming the consumer has
>> told the technician to perform no diagnosis but instead just replace the
>> brushes.
>>
>>
>> We're not talking about someone do-it-yourselfing here. The consumer has
>> to go find a technician who will do exactly as you describe.
>>
>>> Either way, you're talking re&re labor plus maybe $40, vs. re&re labor
>>> plus the cost of a new alt (I've been quoted from $180 for a reman to
>>> $350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord).
>>
>> Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order the shop to
>> replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not 100% sure it is the
>> brushes.
>>
>> I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go with an old
>> alternator, though. The bearings could go soon. The consumer gets to make
>> another trip. S/he does not necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the
>> shop to diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda
>> saved you money and time if we'd just slapped a new alternator in the
>> first time.
>>
>> IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping a whole new
>> alternator in place in an older car with the original alternator.
>>
>> I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic outlooks on this
>> matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the guy/gal that just wants a
>> reliable ride at a reasonable cost.
>>
> Right on the money, Elle. A shop that replaces only the brushes is risking
> having to hassle over who pays for a whole alternator when the inevitable
> callback happens (not on every one, but enough to hurt). Shops don't like
> to replace subassemblies when they can have a vendor assume the risks on
> full assemblies.
>
> Mike

Hi Mike, Elle and all
Yup I opted for the new alternator-=-even with low mileage, the age of the
car would have necessitated a new alt. sooner or later--and a new complete
alt kinda gave me piece of mind .
Thanks for everybody's input!
loner
>
>

 

"Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in message
news:Mumdnb1B3_PMYQ_ZnZ2dnUVZ_rSdnZ2d@sedona.net.. .
> "Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:W8Ckg.6619$o4.2731@newsread2.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
>> If it is the brushes that are the problem, and assuming the consumer has
>> told the technician to perform no diagnosis but instead just replace the
>> brushes.
>>
>>
>> We're not talking about someone do-it-yourselfing here. The consumer has
>> to go find a technician who will do exactly as you describe.
>>
>>> Either way, you're talking re&re labor plus maybe $40, vs. re&re labor
>>> plus the cost of a new alt (I've been quoted from $180 for a reman to
>>> $350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord).
>>
>> Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order the shop to
>> replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not 100% sure it is the
>> brushes.
>>
>> I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go with an old
>> alternator, though. The bearings could go soon. The consumer gets to make
>> another trip. S/he does not necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the
>> shop to diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda
>> saved you money and time if we'd just slapped a new alternator in the
>> first time.
>>
>> IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping a whole new
>> alternator in place in an older car with the original alternator.
>>
>> I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic outlooks on this
>> matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the guy/gal that just wants a
>> reliable ride at a reasonable cost.
>>
> Right on the money, Elle. A shop that replaces only the brushes is risking
> having to hassle over who pays for a whole alternator when the inevitable
> callback happens (not on every one, but enough to hurt). Shops don't like
> to replace subassemblies when they can have a vendor assume the risks on
> full assemblies.
>
> Mike

Hi Mike, Elle and all
Yup I opted for the new alternator-=-even with low mileage, the age of the
car would have necessitated a new alt. sooner or later--and a new complete
alt kinda gave me piece of mind .
Thanks for everybody's input!
loner
>
>