advice on a ho alternator

I need some advice about purchasing a HO alternator. First off, I know it is best to get one that is engineered from the ground up to avoid low idling voltage issues etc., but I just don't have the money to get one of those right now.

While searching on google I came across a HO for my Alero at a cheap price so I was naturally skeptical. Here is a link to the product:
https://stores.channeladvisor.com/db-starter-alternator/items/item.aspx?itemid=829088

With the low voltage at idle in mind I emailed the company that sells the alternator the following questions:

"1) Has this alternator been rewound or was it manufactured from the ground up?

2) I've witnessed that many high output alternators tend to have very low voltage at idle which can have negative effects on the engine. What is the alternator voltage at idle?"

This was the response I got:

"We order the units in new and then install the high amp internal parts in them. We have the idle amperage problem under control."

Is this alternator a piece of crap and a deal that's too go to be true or is it possible that it might actually be ok?

If it is an Alterstart or Load Boss alternator, run away. Well, maybe not RUN, but be careful about it. I had one from them, and it died twice, replaced under warranty (grudgingly replaced under warranty) the first time, the second time, I was on my own.

So, to avoid the issue again, I bought my SECOND one (at a total cost of 600 dollars, but with all the headaches and TIME spent with the other one, well over 1000 dollars) from HOAlternators.com. Ask for Philip. Good guy, honest, and he KNOWS high output alternators. A FANTASTIC alternator, obviously re-wound, and built for the high current purpose.

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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

I wish I had $500-600 to throw at an alternator, but I'm just a poor grad student and there's just no way I can do that right now.

I just emailed them and asked them what brand of alternator it is so we'll see if they tell me.

For what it's worth, they offer a "no-hassle" 1 year warranty (whatever no hassle means). How long did it take for your Load Boss/Alterstart Alternator(s) to fail?

The first one started making bearing noise within about 3 months of installation. (I might also mention it was NOT the "exact, drop-in, replacement" they claimed it was, so install was a be-atch! Then when it failed, because they SAID they sent me the right one, they would only replace it with the incorrect one again...) It died completely within a year. The second one never made bearing noises, but it didn't even last a full year like the first one did.

I appreciate the "lack of cash" position, but if that really IS your case, I'd seriously recommend waiting a bit longer, saving some more, and THEN getting a proper HOdevice. For 239 bucks, I'd expect a relatively sub-high-quality alternator... That's just too cheap.

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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

haemphyst wrote:

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For 239 bucks, I'd expect a relatively sub-high-quality alternator... That's just too cheap.

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That's exactly what I was thinking and also why I posted this topic for advice.

They emailed me back and said they start with a new Delco alternator (at least the for the one I need). I'm assuming they meant AC Delco and if that's the case AC Delco seems to make pretty high quality parts. They always seem to be top of the line replacement parts for my car anyway.

Being an AC Delco alt. I would expect their claims of "drop in" alternator to be true since I'm pretty sure AC Delco makes the OEM alt. Who knows how good their workmanship is though when they install the high amp parts.

OK... What I am seeing is that the replacement alternator from my local Autozone (and this is a "Duralast Gold", whatever that means...)a 100% new, drop-in, 105A, NON-Delco alternator is 160 dollars, retail.

Even if they can get new, bulk, Delco-built, OEM Replacement alternators for a DEAL, I have a lot of trouble believing that they can do so, rebuld it to produce TWICE the rated current, test it, pay the labor for the guy to DO that... for only 80 more dollars, and still make any profit. Look at it that way, and you'll understand my trepidation.

The stator in mine probably cost that... The windings in mine (to replace the OEM 75A model) were EASILY twice the wire gauge. (The OEM wire in the stator looked like 16G, and the aftermarket one has 12G - OBVIOUSLY beefier stator wiring) The stator frame is taller, too, with heavier laminations... No... you have to pay, if you want to play. The stator, BTW, IS the part that the output power is sourced from, if you weren't aware.

I still think 240 bucks is WAY too cheap for a good HO device. Having been bitten once, I still would always be careful.

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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."