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Re: update on emergency brake warning light
"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/ |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
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). |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
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). |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
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). |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
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! |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
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! |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
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! |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
"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. |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
"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. |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
"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 $350 for a factory new ND alt for > my '87 Accord). Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order the shop to replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not 100% sure it is the brushes. I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go with an old alternator, though. The bearings could go soon. The consumer gets to make another trip. S/he does not necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the shop to diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda saved you money and time if we'd just slapped a new alternator in the first time. IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping a whole new alternator in place in an older car with the original alternator. I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic outlooks on this matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the guy/gal that just wants a reliable ride at a reasonable cost. At the next sign of trouble with my 91 Civic's (second) alternator, I am going to do a little of my own diagnosis and most likely end up just replacing the brushes and the bearings. But in hindsight, I don't think I was messed over when several years ago the dealer installed a whole new alternator. Back then, I did not have the time to be messing with my car. |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
"Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:W8Ckg.6619$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 >> $350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord). > > Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order the shop to > replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not 100% sure it is the > brushes. > > I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go with an old > alternator, though. The bearings could go soon. The consumer gets to make > another trip. S/he does not necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the > shop to diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda saved > you money and time if we'd just slapped a new alternator in the first > time. > > IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping a whole new > alternator in place in an older car with the original alternator. > > I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic outlooks on this > matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the guy/gal that just wants a reliable > ride at a reasonable cost. > Right on the money, Elle. A shop that replaces only the brushes is risking having to hassle over who pays for a whole alternator when the inevitable callback happens (not on every one, but enough to hurt). Shops don't like to replace subassemblies when they can have a vendor assume the risks on full assemblies. Mike |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
"Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:W8Ckg.6619$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 >> $350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord). > > Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order the shop to > replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not 100% sure it is the > brushes. > > I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go with an old > alternator, though. The bearings could go soon. The consumer gets to make > another trip. S/he does not necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the > shop to diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda saved > you money and time if we'd just slapped a new alternator in the first > time. > > IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping a whole new > alternator in place in an older car with the original alternator. > > I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic outlooks on this > matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the guy/gal that just wants a reliable > ride at a reasonable cost. > Right on the money, Elle. A shop that replaces only the brushes is risking having to hassle over who pays for a whole alternator when the inevitable callback happens (not on every one, but enough to hurt). Shops don't like to replace subassemblies when they can have a vendor assume the risks on full assemblies. Mike |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
"Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:W8Ckg.6619$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 >> $350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord). > > Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order the shop to > replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not 100% sure it is the > brushes. > > I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go with an old > alternator, though. The bearings could go soon. The consumer gets to make > another trip. S/he does not necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the > shop to diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda saved > you money and time if we'd just slapped a new alternator in the first > time. > > IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping a whole new > alternator in place in an older car with the original alternator. > > I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic outlooks on this > matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the guy/gal that just wants a reliable > ride at a reasonable cost. > Right on the money, Elle. A shop that replaces only the brushes is risking having to hassle over who pays for a whole alternator when the inevitable callback happens (not on every one, but enough to hurt). Shops don't like to replace subassemblies when they can have a vendor assume the risks on full assemblies. Mike |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
"Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in message news:Mumdnb1B3_PMYQ_ZnZ2dnUVZ_rSdnZ2d@sedona.net.. . > "Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message > news:W8Ckg.6619$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 >>> $350 for a factory new ND alt for my '87 Accord). >> >> Sure. It seems not a bad gamble for a consumer to just order the shop to >> replace the brushes, even if the consumer is not 100% sure it is the >> brushes. >> >> I am still not sure this is the most reliable route to go with an old >> alternator, though. The bearings could go soon. The consumer gets to make >> another trip. S/he does not necessarily know what's wrong. S/he asks the >> shop to diagnose it. The shop techs start rolling their eyes: Coulda >> saved you money and time if we'd just slapped a new alternator in the >> first time. >> >> IOW, I still can't find reason to fault a shop for slapping a whole new >> alternator in place in an older car with the original alternator. >> >> I hope you're not overlooking the difference in economic outlooks on this >> matter for the do-it-yourselfer vs. the guy/gal that just wants a >> reliable ride at a reasonable cost. >> > Right on the money, Elle. A shop that replaces only the brushes is risking > having to hassle over who pays for a whole alternator when the inevitable > callback happens (not on every one, but enough to hurt). Shops don't like > to replace subassemblies when they can have a vendor assume the risks on > full assemblies. > > Mike Hi Mike, Elle and all Yup I opted for the new alternator-=-even with low mileage, the age of the car would have necessitated a new alt. sooner or later--and a new complete alt kinda gave me piece of mind . Thanks for everybody's input! loner > > |
Re: update on emergency brake warning light
"Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in message news:Mumdnb1B3_PMYQ_ZnZ2dnUVZ_rSdnZ2d@sedona.net.. . > "Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message > news:W8Ckg.6619$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 > > |
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