Autozone Duralast Gold Alternator

[Matt Bachand]

Well, back in may I bought the lifetime warranty alternator from AZ....

Now the bearings are squeeking so its time to replace it.

05/09 was the date I wrote on it.

So it made it 7 months... whahoo.

 

[bk95td]

As they say in the commercials "duralast built to last" They forget to say how long though. 3 or 4 should get you threw plowing season. Junkyard may be a better alternative for alternaters. Shure couldn't be worse.

 

[Matt Bachand]

I have my last one at the local guy, he rebuilt it already I just need to pick it up. I will use that as a emergency and keep swapping out these AZ's when need be.

 

[Pruittx2]

Yep,, Everything I buy form the zone,, I get the lifetime unit.. I keep my cars, and fix them, not get tired of them and sell them, like most people do. I think that's why the Zone stays in bizness!

 

[Matt Bachand]

Actually, I did milk 2 dead batteries for about a week until a check came, so it probably got overdriven maybe.... Running constant maybe it smoked its own bearings.

 

[SmithvilleD]

Matt,

I think I'll try this place, if my 6.5 ever needs a replacement alternator. Worth checking out.

http://www.alternatorparts.com/

 

[Matt Bachand]

Well, between my locally rebuilt one, and my lifetime warranty at AZ, i'm never spending another dime on a 6.5 alternator, thats for sure.

Just picked up my new unit. I'll toss her in in the morning....

Moneys spent = zero.

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

I got tired of the alternator rally with AZ as well. Returned it and bought a new one from ADVANCE and so far so good. ADVANCE sells one that is a REMY brand(not DELCO-REMY I don't think) and it is 100% brand new right down to the housing and all. It even charges like a new AC DELCO unit. My last couple from AZ would only go to 14.1-14.2 cold and drop off to 13.2-13.5 hot, the REMY one holds 14.5-14.8 cold and drops down to 13.9-14.1 hot which is where it should be.

 

[3500GMC]

Any more I get a spare from the boneyard, get it rebuilt at the local Alt shop and avoid McParts stores.

 

[Big T]

I've got 1.5 years on my AZ duralast alternator. I check the OD of the pulley and it was 62mm, so at least they got that right.):h

 

[Matt Bachand]

Well the new one started squeeking before the truck even warmed up....

Here is the possibly significant events.

5/09 New Powersteering pump. Pulley seems to be 1/16 out, as in not pressed on enough.

10,000 miles later
10/09 Replaced cheapy 99.5 belt with goodyear Gator-V 99.5 belt as winter prep and to have a spare.
11/09 milked 2 dead batteries for a week, knowing I had warranty on alt
11/09 Gatorback belt blew outside rib, put spare on.
11/09 bought a GATES part # XXXXXX990 , parts guy said it was 99.5, but to me the part # means 99 inch. I usually install/uninstall belts by using tensioner and sliding over the ALT, however, I cannot do that with this belt, so I think it is a 99. It has been sitting in the adjustment zone, closer to the tight side.

2 weeks after new belt
-Small pulley squeek, pulled belt, couldn't isolate it.
3 days later became consistant sqeek, sounded like alt, so sprayed a touch of WD40 at the alt pulley and it stopped for a second. verified source of sqeeek.

Then replaced the alt, and no squeek for about 10 minutes then sqeeking again.

What is going on?

 

[JMJNet]

Have you check the tensioner pulley?

 

[Matt Bachand]

Have you check the tensioner pulley?

I have replaced it once already few years back and noise went away when I sprayed the alt...

The way it seems like it works on my setup is the all the tensioners pressure is directly on the alt. If the belt was too tight, would it make the bearings squeek instantly? Have to think that pulley has a load on side.

 

[Pruittx2]

Or you got ANOTHER Junk AZ part! DOH!!!

 

[Matt Bachand]

Or you got ANOTHER Junk AZ part! DOH!!!

Yep... I gotta pickup my local rebuilt unit and try that... I just hate to ruin that bearing if the problem is too much tension. However, the adjuster is in the middle, and the tensioner is designed to apply even tension across all ranges I assume?

 

[Pruittx2]

Maybe you can get store credit on the Alt,, then just stock up your garage with fluids, Oils, filters, brake Kleen, and such,

 

[Matt Bachand]

A good alternator should take some abuse before sqeeking. A factory unit lasts many many years.

Cheapest route is to just swap this out again for another. This time, install my backup (valuecraft cheapy) 99.5 belt.

This brings me to a new alt, with a proven belt.

Then run that setup until spring. Knowing I have the other good belt.

This stuff isn't as fun as if it was summer time.

I'll run this one for a few days anyhow.....

 

[docdray]

on autocrap gold # 4, one bearings burned out and locked up, one pully burned up and one quit charging. and all this in one year.

I found that charging problem as well. cold is 14.6, warm drops to 13.1 and under load is 12.5. BEWARE the GOLD alternators.

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

AUTOZONE WILL take it back and give you a refund if it is bad and also credit you the core charge if you turned one in. Lately I have done this several times and went down the road to CARQUEST or ADVANCE and bought replacements. Try being a small business and having to deal with this lack of quality and swapping out alternators for free. It aint fun, espescial on FORD vans.

 

[WarWagon]

I used anti-seize on the alternator bolts one year because I changed it so often. Then I ponied up and bought one from the dealer. At least I didn't have to change that one out. Granted they are a limited life unit... But not that limited!