How hard is it to find a alternator.

[WyoKid]

So my alternator took a crap after my car was hit. ( or at least seemed like it did.) Any way i test the alternator its only putting out 11 volts. i go to to the parts store to get one. they supposedly have the correct one i just need to switch out my serpentine style pulley from the v belt style that is on the new one. no problem. i go to mount up the alternator is when i noticed they are not the same. mounting brackets are spaced a bit differently. that fine i can deal with that. its my fault for not paying attention. i drive down to the parts store. to get the correct one. advanced doesnt have it in stock. the parts guy pulls up the part number on the original at all the stores and warehouses in the surrounding states of wv. there is only one and its is in the Pittsburgh warehouse. I'll have it for monday.

i even went to car quest, napa, and advance auto to see if they had the correct alternator in stock by part number. they all pulled up discontinued, no longer in stock.
didn't try my trusted Reilly's because there isnt any around here(really sucks my, favorite parts place .they have everything for my car in stock ive ever needed)


i wouldn't have thought that an alternator would have been so hard to get. These cars aren't really getting that rare are they.? i wonder what other stupid part for our gbodys you would think would be readily available because gm uses so many of them are starting to disappear.

 

[Longroof79]

What type alternator is currently in your car? Is it a typical 12 si unit? Have you thought of going with a CS130 or CS144. I just replaced my alternator with a fresh CS130. The CS130 is rated at 105 amps and the CS144 is rated at 140 amps.
I got my alternator from alternatorparts.com. I must say, it's a nicely built unit. Every part in it is new, not the usual Advance or Autozone crap. They just replace what's bad in it, clean it, and off you go.
To go with the CS models you'd need the SI to CS connector. If you do a search on the site, there's a few in depth discussions about alternators.
BTW, did you have your unit tested?
10 and 12 SI units are a dime a dozen, and they're not rare by any stretch of the imagination. You could probably even rebuild it yourself. There's really not much to them.

 

[rustyroger]

G Body's were last built 26 years ago. Hardly a surprise that some parts are getting hard to come by. I guess it's the same for any make/model after it goes out of production.
First I think sheet metal parts get difficult to find, then mechanical parts unique to that particular vehicle, then stuff that was in general generic use back in the day but has been superseded now, points or carbs for example. Maybe your alternator is so obsolete that it's not worth suppliers while to carry them.
As I see it you have two choices, upgrade to a modern alternator, or have yours rebuilt. Unless you want your car absolutely as original I would take the first route, if you have alternator troubles in the future then getting it fixed would be much simpler, particularly if it lets you down away from home.

Roger.

 

[DRIVEN]

Rockauto

 

[axisg]

take it to an auto-electric place. If they have a pile of alternators and starters piled in the corner you have found the right place.

Likely get a better unit re-built at a cheaper price than what you would get at an auto parts store

 

[johnson350]

I would definitely rebuild. I had the same exact issue with the mounting holes being off. Bought remanned from advance, it went out about a week later, got a new one under warranty, that one went out about a month later. So finally after the 4th one, I decided to tear into it and rebuild. Way easier than I thought to rebuild it and a heck of a lot cheaper. So far my rebuilt alternator has lasted about a year and 2,000 miles later, no problems, knock on wood.

 

[Bonnewagon]

I got a guy. Old school re-builder shop. BETTER than new. You buy one of theirs, it will outlast the car. I'm sure you have a guy like that too, close by.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Last I checked the 100 amp chrome SI alternators were for sale all over the place. I have had 2 that have been very reliable for years and out charged the original 70 amp alternators.