It usually takes two to three hours to replace an alternator. Depending on the mechanic’s hourly fee, that’s about $200 in labor costs. If you use OEM parts, you can expect to pay between $200 and $350 for a new alternator. If you don’t mind using aftermarket parts, you could pay between $100 to $200 for a new part.
How much should I pay for an alternator?
Alternator prices vary due to different brands, sizes, and amps that various vehicles need. If you have an awesome audio system, odds are you’ll need a more expensive alternator that puts out more amperage for your car’s electrical needs. In general, expect $130 to $250 for a quality alternator.
Can I drive with a faulty alternator?
While you can technically still drive with a bad alternator, it is not advised. This is especially true in newer vehicle models. This is because there is more electricity involved compared to an older model.
Is it worth replacing an alternator?
It’s usually a better idea to replace the alternator entirely if it is malfunctioning. While new ones can be spendy, they are usually a better choice than remanufactured or rebuilt options. Those probably won’t last as long as a new one since the mechanical parts have miles on them already.
How much does it cost to replace a car alternator? – Related Questions
Do I need a new battery after replacing alternator?
While you have to disconnect the battery from the engine, you do not have to replace the battery when replacing the alternator. Alternators typically have a lifespan between seven and ten years, while batteries last between three and four.
How long should an alternator last?
How Long Does an Alternator Last? Alternators have an impressive lifespan of seven years–or between 80,000 to 150,000 miles. But be careful that you are not wearing it out prematurely!
How long does it take for a mechanic to replace an alternator?
Replacing an alternator will take a professional about two hours. However, that doesn’t mean your car will only be at the shop for two hours—there may be a wait before a mechanic can address your ride. Plus, if the shop needs to get parts delivered, it will take even longer.
How often do you need to replace an alternator?
The average longevity of an alternator is seven years or about 150,000 miles. Several factors can impact the lifespan of your alternator, including the quality of the part, the overall condition of the vehicle, and how many electronics are being used.
What kills an alternator?
Running in full charge mode continuously can kill an alternator, so trying to have your new alternator try and charge your dead battery can result in immediate alternator failure.
Do alternators fail suddenly?
When your alternator begins to fail it can cause a variety of different electrical problems in your car, and eventually cause a breakdown. Alternators can go bad suddenly, or slowly over time.
What can burn out an alternator?
The most likely route to actually burning out an alternator would be to load it very hard in a hot engine compartment. If the airflow through it is hampered by a build up of belt dust that will contribute too.
Why do car alternators fail?
Alternators have moving parts, get dirty and are subject to stress from heat and cold. As a result, the internal parts gradually wear out. One of the most common failures is bearing failure. The needle bearings that allow the rotor to spin freely inside the stator can break down from dirt and heat.
How do you tell if its your alternator or your battery?
Jumpstart your car. If you can turn the engine on, but it dies shortly thereafter, your car alternator likely isn’t able to charge the battery. On the other hand, if you jumpstart the car and later on it fails to start on its own, it’s likely a dead battery.
How can I test if my alternator is working?
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- Get a multimeter.
- Set your multimeter to DCV (DC Volts) above 15.
- Make sure your alternator’s positive and negative terminals are clean.
- Put the multimeter’s black cable to the negative terminal and the red cable to the positive terminal.
- Look for an ideal alternator reading of around 12.6.
What are signs that your alternator is going out?
Some of the things to look for are no-starting and trouble starting, dimming lights and problems with stereo system output. If your car starts but stalls when you’re underway, your battery is probably not being recharged due to a faulty alternator.
Do Halfords test alternators?
Alternator problems
Head to your local Halfords and we’ll be more than happy to check if it’s the alternator that’s causing issues.
Can an alternator drain a battery?
A corroded or defective alternator diode will faultily continue charging the circuit even when the car off. This, in turn, will drain your car battery and cause the car not to start.
What can drain a car battery when car is off?
What may drain a car battery when it’s off are things such as interior lights, door lights, or even bad relays. While your engine runs, the alternator recharges the battery — which is why you typically don’t have to worry about the battery dying while you’re blasting the radio on your drive to work!
Can alternator be repaired?
Alternators are simple machines & can certainly be repaired. You need to ask them exactly what part of that alternator has failed and that part can be replaced. For e.g. the alt may be mechanically sound but the brushes are worn out or the rectifier, regulator may have failed.
What kills a car battery?
Some of the most common reasons for a car battery to die repeatedly include loose or corroded battery connections, persistent electrical drains, charging problems, constantly demanding more power than the alternator can provide, and even extreme weather.