Alternator for a Honda Odyssey

Looks like our Honda Odyssey will need an alternator. I know Denso is the way to go on Asian vehicles, but it only seems like they sell reman, even at the Denso website. They come with a 1-year warranty. Thoughts on alternatives? OEM from Honda (which is most likely Denso) is $450. Can get a reman Denso at Amazon for $225 (not sure on core) and Rockauto is $220 with core, so actual cost is $120ish. Thanks in advance - John

 

If Denso DOES make Honda's alternators, but doesn't sell new Honda alternators commercially, then it's because the Honda/Denso supply contract has language preventing Denso from undercutting Honda dealer sales by selling the product cheaper on the open market.

Denso is a Toyota-owned company, so Toyota doesn't care if Denso sells Toyota parts on the open market...any profit comes back to Toyota either way. Toyota is comfortable selling reman parts that they have certified, and you can probably buy a reman Denso Tundra alternator from your Toyota dealer.

Just like Toyota, Denso makes quality products, and likely have quality control standards in place to insure no weak coils/windings make it to rebuild. Personally, I would buy the Denso reman from Amazon, save hundreds, and never look back. If an alternator takes a dump in less than a year, I would never buy another of the same brand.

 

Greatly appreciate the input. I know that remans can be a bit of a crapshoot.

 

May I ask why you need a new alternator? I've heard that its pretty easy to replace the brushes if yours is worn. That's what I'm planning to do when mine is worn.

 

Never thought about it til u mentioned it. Gonna pull it and have it rebuilt at our local battery/alternator shop.

 

Not sure what year your Ody is but my 2013 alternator has a Over-run Alternator Decoupler pulley that is a wearable item that should be inspected and replaced if worn. Apparently these OADs are serviceable items that should be replaced. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz7_1Qsg2Tw

I would recommend rebuilding your alternator with new brushes and OAD(if you have one) rather than going with remanufactured ones.

 

Got the son of a gun out. Will be dropped off to be rebuilt tomorrow

 

Looks serviceable. May also only need $15 brushes replaced.

 

Been super busy at work, so don’t really have time to rebuild myself. Had to loosen the washer fluid reservoir and pull the power steering fluid reservoir....and then had to slightly move the a/c lines to get the bastard out.
On a side note, went to HF to get a serpentine belt removal tool, and they were completely out....thankfully a friend had one I could borrow.

 

Well.....this job can bite my sweet ass....our Mini Cooper threw the serpentine belt tonight SOOO after a 12 hr day, the alternator was installed. Had to pull it out to realign the casing slightly, and the serpentine belt was a major pain in the ass to put on. But, it is up and running again. Rebuild was $150, and the repair shop said it was in pretty bad shape. So it’s done and I never want to do that shit again.