Hey gearhead maggots - NSR 4Runner question...

Mine died last night. The alternator went bad. The shop got back to me and told me that it'll cost me $500 or more to replace it with a new one. (FYI, it's for a 1990 V6 4WD 4Runner.) :mad: :cussing: :mad: :cussing: :mad: :cussing: :mad: :cussing: :mad: :cussing:

After the realization set in that I almost certainly won't be able to afford a trek out to this year's Jackson Hole Summit (I can't begin to tell you how pissed I am right now), I told the guy to go ahead and put it in.

Am I getting ripped off? I feel like it. The shop said it's $250 for the part, plus about $250 for labor. I can't think that's right. Is it? Anyone on here own a shop or know about how much it realistically costs?

Other than the fact that this should be in tech talk bitch....call around to junk yards specializing in toyotas. they usually have re-manuf. parts avail. $250 seems like a lot for an alternator.

Also....putting one in is usually not that tough, unless you have to remove a lot of shit to get to it.

You didnt take it to the dealer did you?

[QUOTE=Ubersheist] plus about $250 for labor [QUOTE]

Unless there's something very unsual about 4 Runner alternators I'd say you're getting screwed.

Did they tell you what is actually wrong with the old one? If you can find a good auto electrician they can often fix most of what can go wrong with them - bearings, brushes, regulators etc. Or just try and find one at a salvage yard?

Kragen lists the alternator at 250, but they charge 160 for it. 250 for work sounds reasonable, but you might be able to do it yourself.

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Originally Posted by irul&ublo

Other than the fact that this should be in tech talk bitch....call around to junk yards specializing in toyotas. they usually have re-manuf. parts avail. $250 seems like a lot for an alternator.

Also....putting one in is usually not that tough, unless you have to remove a lot of shit to get to it.

You didnt take it to the dealer did you?

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Eh... I've got a load of posts... I know this post doesn't belong here. If anything, it belongs in The Padded Room, but... eh... posting NSR stuff in this forum never stopped anyone else before...

I took it to a shop that specializes in Japanese imports, not to the dealer.

I looked around a bit on the internet, and found alternators ranging from ~$120 for a rebuilt alternator to ~$200 for new ones. Companies generally mark up stuff 20%, right? They marked it up 25%. It still seems stiff to me, though.

I now regret not taking auto shop in high school. :mad:

I can get you parts for 10% over (Dealer) cost.

+ shipping obviously, but it'll definitely be cheaper.

PM me if you're interested

During my brief stint in a garage, I couldn't stomach handing out quotes for replacing an alternator. Labor cost is likely on based on the "book" at around 3.5 hrs. I've never met an alternator that couldn't be swapped way quicker than that (not the vehicle to make eat those words doesn't exist), even by a backyard mech. We put a rebuilt into a buddies 88 4runner a couple of months ago in less than hour, including safety meetings at a cost of ~$150.

Putting in an alternator is basically just bolt in and replace the wires....not real tricky...except removing other stuff that may be in the way...(plastic shrouds, covers, etc) and if the car has a serpentine belt (one belt for all the belt driven items), those are a little tricky to replace.

But 250? What are they charging an hour? Most mechanics I see are 85 or so. Almost 3 hrs to replace an alternator? Seems long.

250 sounds a little high for something like an alt. That's 3.5 hours at 70 bucks. I'd rate most alt changes as being about a 2 hour job (max) for the moderately competent driveway mechanic. But, depending on how Toyo's alt is setup and all the bullshit you may or may not have to take off to do it I could also see it taking a long time.

Price is unsurprising for an alternator. IMVHO with electrical equipment generally go with NEW OEM equipment (dealer giving it to you in the ass) but for an Alt. you're usually OKAY with just a new one. A rebuild is IMVHO hit or miss unless you KNOW the builder. Yes, the shop marks up the parts, that is how they make $$ but usually they only mark it up to list (aka: what you could go to napa and pay for it anyway).

Bottom line is you are paying a little too much for labor but if you're not mechanical enough to have taken this bitch by the horns already you are not getting royally screwed either. Just poked in the ahole like the doc does it. With KY and everything.

More than likely you could save the 250 for the part easily. I'll bet 10 bucks it's just the brushes that are bad. Toyota alternators are fairly easy to fix, just solder new brushes into the old alternator. It isn't the easiest thing in the world to do, but if you're handy with a soldering gun it isn't too tricky.

BobMc

Have Chiltons will travel.

Get the book. Buy the part. You WILL learn something. You will also end up with new tools, which is an added bonus- in my book.

I buy my parts at Auto Zone with a lifetime warrantee. The Alternator in my 84 Toyota pickup goes out about every 80,000 miles and i've put 4 of them in. I only paid for the first one...Same with the fuel pump, water pump, starter, and various other parts. About ten years ago, they started using disappearing ink on their receipts (I'm serious), so make a copy when its new and staple them together. After you get 2 or 3 hundred thousand miles on your Toyota, there's hardly a part left on the motor that you have to pay for ever again!

Uber,

Fuck the alternator. Your truck is a piece of shit, and it has caused you more heartache and aggravation (sp?) than a nerd playing chess. Like I said in my email to you, sell the truck for $1,000, buy a new truck, and get yourself to Jackson Hole.

Signed,
Blunt Betty

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Originally Posted by BobMc

More than likely you could save the 250 for the part easily. I'll bet 10 bucks it's just the brushes that are bad. Toyota alternators are fairly easy to fix, just solder new brushes into the old alternator. It isn't the easiest thing in the world to do, but if you're handy with a soldering gun it isn't too tricky.

BobMc

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BTW, that is straight from a gin-u-wine auto mechanic's mouth.

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Fuck the alternator. Your truck is a piece of shit, and it has caused you more heartache and aggravation (sp?) than a nerd playing chess. Like I said in my email to you, sell the truck for $1,000, buy a new truck, and get yourself to Jackson Hole.

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so true. if the alternator is going to kill you....get another job..like starbucks till the 10th, then get your ass to J-Hole -- (i smell snow around the 9th)

Lets work through these things logically...I mean how long you been planning this trip?...

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Originally Posted by Barnballs

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so true. if the alternator is going to kill you....get another job..like starbucks till the 10th, then get your ass to J-Hole -- (i smell snow around the 9th)

Lets work through these things logically...I mean how long you been planning this trip?...

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It's not just the car - a few other unrelated unexpected expenses popped up recently. Those, in addition to the car expense, will likely kill the trip for me. However, I still have the undesirable option of putting everything on the credit card. I really don't want to do that, as I recently got my balance down to zero.

Thanks for all the info, folks! I appreciate it!

And, no, DG, I am not selling my car for $1000. I believe the nagging problem has been a intermittantly working alternator. The mechanics before didn't recognize it because it would work when I took the car in. The alternator finally had the gumption to just plain stop working. As soon as that's replaced, the car should be fine and dandy. Then I could sell it for a lot more then $1000, even though it's all ugly and has bashed in rear panel.

If money is tight now, how will selling the 4runner for $1000 and buying something else make it anything but worse? You're not going to get much of anything, vehicle-wise, for $1000, and at least you know what you've got in the 4Runner. If you're talking about using that $1k as downpayment on something newer and then financing, then that's just the credit trap that most of this country has fallen into, driving around in $50k Benz's while owing $75k to creditors.

Suck it up, either get it fixed by the dealer or find a friend w/ some wrenching ability and have at it. Doubt it's much of a big deal, it's just taking all that other stuff that can be a little intimidating if you're not sure where it goes when it's time to put it back.

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Originally Posted by Ubersheist

I believe the nagging problem has been a intermittantly working alternator. The mechanics before didn't recognize it because it would work when I took the car in. The alternator finally had the gumption to just plain stop working. As soon as that's replaced, the car should be fine and dandy. Then I could sell it for a lot more then $1000, even though it's all ugly and has bashed in rear panel.

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That tells me your mechanic is probably a lazy shit who didn't properly test the alternator while it was under load.

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Originally Posted by PlayHarder

We put a rebuilt into a buddies 88 4runner a couple of months ago in less than hour, including safety meetings at a cost of ~$150.

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You and your buddy roasted up an ounce and a half changing an alternater? That's impressive!

Rebuilt alternator for $65 on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WD1V

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Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

You and your buddy roasted up an ounce and a half changing an alternater? That's impressive!

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Musta been swag if it was only $100/oz.

Meant 1/2 ounce.

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Originally Posted by Big E

If money is tight now, how will selling the 4runner for $1000 and buying something else make it anything but worse?

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I guess my last post was a bit misleading. I'm not selling my P.O.S. anytime soon. The only thing that's really wrong with it is the alternator (and a non-functional rear window). It still runs good, has all the working parts that need to work, etc. Money's always tight for me, and a car payment would not help things at all.

Irul - actually, it was ok under load, it would go out when the car was running less then 2500 rpms or so. Then it wouldn't charge unless it was running at 3000 rpms, etc. Whatever. The first time it was acting up, I had it towed to a random shop near where it broke down (a couple of hour's drive away from my house). They didn't find anything wrong, but still charged me $90 just to look at it. About a month ago, I took it to a highly recommended shop near where I live. They didn't find anything wrong, either, and they also charged me $90 to look at it.

What other businesses charge you while they work up an estimate? :confused:

I was just pissed yesterday. I've settled down quite a bit. I'll almost certainly still be there for at least part of the summit. I'll just put it on the credit card... Isn't that why I cleared out my debt ? ...to make room for a little bit more debt!

Edit: for clarity and peace for my soul

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Originally Posted by Ubersheist

it would go out when the car was running less then 2500 rpms or so. Then it wouldn't charge unless it was running at 3000 rpms, etc.

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Regulator?

I drive a '91 4Runner and the alternator cost me $120 and 40 minutes of my time. Funny thing, my back window hardly works anymore either and is probably rotting in the same places as yours. Rust is good though, nobody here in NY wants to steal it or break into it.

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Originally Posted by gravitylover

I drive a '91 4Runner and the alternator cost me $120 and 40 minutes of my time. Funny thing, my back window hardly works anymore either and is probably rotting in the same places as yours. Rust is good though, nobody here in NY wants to steal it or break into it.

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My limited knowledge tells me that the computer doo-hickey in your tailgate is busted. It's very tempermental - works sometimes, mostly it mocks you... It's bleedin' expensive to fix. I had an estimate for it a few years back, and opted just to put my skis in through my side doors.