jbDC9
Well Known Member
Not to re-ignite any debate on the pros/cons of auto store alternators vs Plane Power or B&C alternators, but I thought I'd share a funny story regarding my recent AutoZone experience.
My original alternator was the stock Vans 60a unit; it lasted almost 2 years and 350 hours when it went belly up in 2008. I replaced it with a 14684 model from AutoZone; the price was $96 with a $50 core charge, so including tax/core I was out the door for around 104 bucks. Fast forward to 3 weeks ago; was out in a 3 ship gaggle with the Weiser guys headed to get some "cheap" gas at Brazoria County when the BRL (Big Red Light) came on. Low voltage, oops. I couldn't get the alternator back online, so I did a U-turn and headed back to the hangar to yank the offending alternator; I really can't get too irritated about it, it lasted 5 years, 702 hrs and part of that time had a little nose case oil leak getting it wet!
So, I pull it and head to the nearest AutoZone hoping that their "lifetime warranty" will actually hold up. They didn't have a 14684 in stock, but with a transfer from a store across town the new one was in hand by 2pm and yes, the warranty was still good. The best part was the price; the price on this thing has dropped a bit over the last 5 years, the current price being $82 with a $20 core charge. I would have been happy enough to hand 'em the bad unit and get a new (reman) unit in it's place, but wait, the guy at the counter says "I owe you some money"... I hadn't done the math in my head and was thinking I might get 5 bucks back, but he starts counting up cash out of the register and hands me 47 dollars. "Huh?" says I. "Yep" is his reply. "Really?" "Yep." I figured at this point I'll just shut up, take my new alternator and my $47 and head for the door before he wises up and takes his money back...
I know some will say that these alternators are junk, but I'm okay with 5 yrs/700 hrs on this one and their warranty coverage just blew me away. Perhaps with the new unit I'll run it 6-700 hrs and then take it to an auto electric shop for a preemptive overhaul... I'll hopefully have a couple of years to figure that part out.
My original alternator was the stock Vans 60a unit; it lasted almost 2 years and 350 hours when it went belly up in 2008. I replaced it with a 14684 model from AutoZone; the price was $96 with a $50 core charge, so including tax/core I was out the door for around 104 bucks. Fast forward to 3 weeks ago; was out in a 3 ship gaggle with the Weiser guys headed to get some "cheap" gas at Brazoria County when the BRL (Big Red Light) came on. Low voltage, oops. I couldn't get the alternator back online, so I did a U-turn and headed back to the hangar to yank the offending alternator; I really can't get too irritated about it, it lasted 5 years, 702 hrs and part of that time had a little nose case oil leak getting it wet!
So, I pull it and head to the nearest AutoZone hoping that their "lifetime warranty" will actually hold up. They didn't have a 14684 in stock, but with a transfer from a store across town the new one was in hand by 2pm and yes, the warranty was still good. The best part was the price; the price on this thing has dropped a bit over the last 5 years, the current price being $82 with a $20 core charge. I would have been happy enough to hand 'em the bad unit and get a new (reman) unit in it's place, but wait, the guy at the counter says "I owe you some money"... I hadn't done the math in my head and was thinking I might get 5 bucks back, but he starts counting up cash out of the register and hands me 47 dollars. "Huh?" says I. "Yep" is his reply. "Really?" "Yep." I figured at this point I'll just shut up, take my new alternator and my $47 and head for the door before he wises up and takes his money back...
I know some will say that these alternators are junk, but I'm okay with 5 yrs/700 hrs on this one and their warranty coverage just blew me away. Perhaps with the new unit I'll run it 6-700 hrs and then take it to an auto electric shop for a preemptive overhaul... I'll hopefully have a couple of years to figure that part out.
