buy a new one, buy a rebuilt one, have mine rebuilt, find one at the junkyard?
looking for the most inexpensive and smartest way to go.
thanks

 

What is wrong with the old one....brushes, regulator. Sometimes you can replace just those and be good to go.
Anyway, a junkyard should cost the least. Of course, you'll have no idea of how long it will last and not much, if any, warranty.
A rebuilt one will cost more but many places have a lifetime warranty.

 

Check ebay (used, rebuilt, new) and check car-part.com near your zip code. I like used myself, but no absolute right/wrong answer between used and rebuilt.

Some of the chain store rebuilts have a poor rep for infant failures (out of box). Sure, they'll replace it but you're out your time/effort to install.

Most salvage yards offer 30 days which will cover a defective part.

good luck

 

When you go to car-part.com the opening page of the list of alternators will display and I have found that by going to the page before it I find the lowest priced ones. But, take care to read everything they say. Some do a better job of describing the item and might list how old it is, the mileage on the vehicle it was pulled from, etc.

I usually start with seeing if I can fix the core I have and then move on to a used one, the best one I can find. After that I step up to rebuilt. I would love to put on nothing but new factory fresh parts but the ache it causes to my wallet is more than I can endure.

 

If you go to those chain stores have them test your old alt and if you buy theirs have them test that too before you take it home. My friend got a new/rebuilt one and put it on but it wasn't putting out enough amps so his battery died again, it was putting out volts but low amps, he took it back and it tested bad, Guess he got the one in a million, i mean one in ten? five??? that didn't work. Keep your receiptes!

 

i have replaced the brushes and regulator.
but the battery light would go on at at low RPM, turn off above 2000.

i had it checked a few months ago and they told me it was a bad diode.

now, the battery light is always on.