What do you know about a Alternator?

Is your vbelt tight enough on the longest run ,you should not be able push it in more then 1/2 "(halve of an inch) sometimes people forget this, another thing is very important and won't cost you any money also, is checking the battery-terminals are they corroded, especially the + check both ends a loose connection will mean less transfer back and forth to the alternater (if they are corroded pour some Cola on it ,let it eat away!);-) good luck!

I have gone the route of used parts and I have found that they are not the good deal you think they are. If you go through Auto-Zone, you can get the part, and it is warranteed for the life of it. Because it is an electronic part, you have no guarentee that it will be any better than what you are removing. I'm assuming you are still blowing headlights, so I would say if you are going to replace the alternator, it is worth the extra to get the one from the new/rebuilt parts store, not a junk yard. Also, if you have a way to get to the parts store without the vehicle you will be replacing the alternator in, go ahead and pull off the old one and take it with you. Then you only have to pay the part cost, and no core deposit. See if a friend could take you if nothing else. For the extra money, you have peace of mind knowing that part at least is guarenteed.... with the junk yard, you don't have that guarentee.

The first thing you need to do is figure out what is wrong. To do this you have to know what is happening that shouldn't be or what isn't happening that should be. A good mechanic will do this. A good mechanic will figure out what is wrong and fix it. You will not be throwing money at a problem and hoping it goes away. Troubleshooting is a very orderly and methodical process. It is not willy-nilly. If you can describe the problem, I may be able to help you. A few words of advice are in order here. If you buy parts at a discount place, for example, O'Reilly, AutoZone, Pep Boys, or any of the other national ones, there will be a warranty of some sort, and it will be honored nationwide, with a receipt of course. If you have several of them nearby you can actually get them bidding against each other and get the best price that way. I do it all the time. Good luck.

Dang Marcie. You poor thing. It is always something with that car, ain't it? I would get rid of the car LOL. Just teasing. I'm not sure what year your car is, but a junk yard alternator may be sufficient for it if it isn't too old and hasn't sit at the junk yard a long time. If it has, then I would just buy the rebuilt one because it will last you longer and be worth your time and your money in the long run.

On alternators, if you can afford it, get one at the parts store! O'rielly's, Auto Zone and Pep Boys have them with lifetime warranties! You won't have to buy another one, as long as you have that car! If you can't afford it, go ahead and get one at the junk yard, if they give you a certain amount of days guarantee, that will help you make it, and sometimes they can turn out pretty good, at least last you until you can buy a new one!

I have no idea how to put on an alternator myself honestly. I recently have a problem with alternator with my car, and it cost me big time. I got frustrated really. I miss my work yesterday, and I have to spend whole day waiting for the shop to fix my car. I need some financial support urgently. I can't keep fixing my car like that. I might end up broke, you know.