Alternator- repair or replace?

G'day all!

I have a 1990 TD42 Wagon, with just about 300k on the clock. I recently had a guy look over the electrics for overall health, and I asked him to check the output of my alternator.

He was adamant me it has just about had it (the alternator), and suggested at $600 to have a new one fitted. If I was to buy a new one, is it worth sticking to the orginal 70aH or upgrade to a 90/120 while in the middle of the it all? Am aware of the need of the vaccuum seal, right mounts etc.

I use the car for just a Engel fridge full time, the odd phone charge and lighting at night.

Hope someone can shed some light on this! Appreciate it fellas =)

Go the 90 or 120 if you have the cash mate. Much Much better i think. ask him for a fit only price and how much for the New Alternator? give Patrol-a-part a call as they sell the big ones and are a straight bolt on. You will probably save $100 or more buying it and supplying it to him.

I might do so! We depend on the car for all our needs, so doesn't seem a bad idea.

What difference does the bigger unit make? In terms of faster charging of batteries, more ability to run things off the car etc...

Thanks heaps for the reply!

Hey mate that price is really high. I bought a 120A output one for $230 and fitted myself (very straight forward job). A mate of mine had to replace the one on his GU last week and bought the replacement one from repco and it was only $370 and we all know how well repco can rip you off at times. Shop around mate you should be able to do the job for half that price. Where are you located?

X 2 with Newby sounds very high, new/reco ones are reasonably priced now. Look around a bit more and up grade to the 120 job.

Located in Perth. The Patrolapart website looks great, they know what they are talking about. Here are the prices to buy without fitting (from patrol-a-part)

70aH= $295 (on sale down from 350)
90aH= $375
120aH= $475

You can use the prices to get local blokes to compete a little in price and possibly try and get a better price. I would fit yourself its a very easy job.

Awesome tips fellas, thanks heaps for all your 2 cent-ers! I think I'm going to go the 90aH, it's an upgrade without going all out on the 120aH. We have gotten by fine the last 6 months on the road with the stocky 60/70aH.

With the installation, I've got some tools and 20/20 vision but thats my complete mechanical expertise haha. How easy of a job is it? Do I need any further materials like belts, hoses, etc.?

While your at it, you may as well replace all of your belts as well. (Keep the old ones as spares) and check the pulleys at the same time while you are there too.

Cheers,

Rob

I would change the belts while your at it as above ^^^. Should only need a flat blade screw driver and 12 and 14mm spanners/sockets.

Thanks heaps guys. Will haggle some of the local stores to get the best price, and report back how I went! Cheers again =)

I replaced my alternator with 90A from Patrolapart few days before OP. There are not many options around when you require the vaccuum pump on the TD42. A few 70A alternatives, all pricey, with the only higher capacity ones I could locate being from Patrolapart.

Note the Hitachi alternators produce nearly no current at idle. This was a surprise to me and explains the suspected lack of result the few times i've let the engine idle a while to charge the battery!

Two alternatives to the vaccuum pump which I gave up as being too much trouble.
1. Locate a front/rear timing cover off a GU motor, and the vaccuum pump to go with it (locates under fuel pump)
2. An electric vaccuum pump designed for boosting/replacing vaccuum in modded cars. (hard to locate, >2004 volvo's have a boost pump, but wreckers want more $ than new from usa (with >1mth shipping)
The attraction of doing this would be freeing up the vac requirement, and fitting a Bosch alternator instead. I was considering a 160A universal road train type. Bosch units have heavier duty rectifiers according to my local auto elec, and produce around 25% rated output at idle.

I changed belts at same time as suggested earlier. Take the belts with you, and ensure proper matchup, apparently there were a lot of different size combinations, store catalogues often indicate the wrong ones. "Gates" brand belts are supposed to last well.

id be saying no more than 250 now for a new alt should be a wholesaler somewhere around you there should be someone in your area who can get you trade price

On the patrolapart website the 120ah alternator says for GQ. Is this the same alternator as the GU or are theydiffetent designs?

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Originally Posted by snewin

On the patrolapart website the 120ah alternator says for GQ. Is this the same alternator as the GU or are theydiffetent designs?

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Different. The GQ model has a vaccuum pump on the back.
GU (and apparently some of the last of the GQ's) has a separate vac pump, so you can use any other alternator you can get to fit.

Most alternatives will require fiddling with mounting brackets, well worth the trouble tho for a heavier duty alternator, especially if you'd like it to produce a decent current at idle. I liked the look of "12V 160A Bosch Universal BX525085 " for $300 on ebay, but alternate vac source for my GQ was too much hassle. Apparently theres one around 95A that the mounts off a holden(wreckers) suit, but I didn't look into that further.

Thanks to all who chipped in!

Went the 70aH from Patrolapart, as it's ready to go with vacuum pump. Set me back 280 (inc. postage across states) so not too bad. Getting a mate to help me install, otherwsie I was quoted at $120 to get done by a mechanic. Definately saved a few quid from the original $650 unit/fit i was quoted!

Cheers again =)