Life span of Alternators

Yep! Lost one in Rapid City, made three or four drops, drove to Gillette, swapped it out and the truck easily started without a jump.

 

Your situation may be different than mine. Places like northern Ontario don't have much of anything. Alternators don't weigh much.

There's much more that can go wrong with an alternator than just low voltage. You can even have decent voltage but one diode goes out, and therefore it doesn't charge your battery. I've seen pulleys fail, bearings blow, and alternators catch on fire. Your gauges have nothing to do with that.

Seldom replaced? Mine are usually changed every 2 years, they have a hard life. I shut my truck off in winter up here and it can hit -30. The other parts you mention are silly because you wouldn't be changing those on the side of the road anyways. I suppose you don't carry coolant either right, or spare hoses? Or any sort of fluid?

Instead of driving a few hours and killing my batteries, just change it right there and save yourself the headache and labor charges.

Up here in Canada most shops are closed Sundays too.

 

My truck had over 700,000 miles before the alternator went. I just can't justify taking up valuable space in my tool box for something that probably won't be needed for another 6 or 7 years.

 

You're probably very easy on alternators. I'm not. Plus add in the Canadian roads and winters, that means my equipment needs to be taken care of a little differently compared to a southern operation.

Not only that, you get a replacement alternator at some shop in the middle of nowhere, what good is the warranty? How do you know you didn't get a garbage rebuild where they just replaced one diode? Parts changed on the road always cost more and are of less quality.

 

Often, but not always.

 

I guess it's more my philosophy. I've had wheel bearings blow($3000+ for new spindle/hub/tow etc..), incorrect cross shafts installed (on a Volvo where the tranny has to be pulled to replace), cross shafts not greased, air bags blown up due to using oxy, bad brake jobs (chinese drums), trailer harnesses rubbing through after a couple years, etc..

It's to the point I don't want mechanics even changing a bulb on my truck. As soon as I started doing all of my own work, my 10 year old equipment is 100% reliable.

 

Consider what you replacing with, my truck came w/ Delco 28SI 160 amp, went to their web site and found the authorized service center here in Dallas TX.
They sell the 200 amp version for less than any reman you might find at this dealers.
They are open frame to cope with the heath of these egr engines, salt spray get them corroded real bad, I will try the 36SI next time.
Just my .02 cents

 

Only you will take care of your equipment / repairs.. I do my own repairs as long as i understand what I'm doing.... If not i stand right by whoever is working on it and watch them

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2