Is it unreasonable to keep $150 in tools and a spare junk yard alternator in my truck to change the

Alternator?

My alternator may or may not be failing. 2013 4.6

I bought a junk yard alt. and I can buy the tools to change it for maybe $150.

Is it worth it? It seems unreasonable, but I like to leave town often. And frankly a $1,300 alternator change in some strange town sounds unreasonable too.

idk. What do you guys think?

 

If you think it is failing and don't have tools why not find a local mechanic to install a new one?

If you plan on doing labor in the future get tools (good ones) if not mechanic. I have accumulated a garage full of tools I have used for decades, the only reason I don't use my tools is I have to fix something while it's 10000 degres in Phoenix.

I absolutely would not install a junk yard alternator, there is no way of knowing if it is going to last.

Good luck

 

Hi. Thanks for the reply. I thought about throwing it in there myself. But If the other one isn’t broke, why fix it? Ya know?

also, it’s an OEM out of a truck 6 years newer for a hundred bucks. My dealer parts counter wanted $600 for the part.

im not rich, the junk yard alternator stays.

 

You could buy a remanufactured Denso alternator and return your failing one for the core charge. Denso makes the OEM alternator.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=11195681&cc=3015104&pt=2412

 

I certainly understand the financial aspect of it, believe me, but look at the location of the alternator and realize what you are going to have to go through to swap it. You can get rebuilt units for much less than new.

 

No it’s not un-reasonable, you are being proactive and prepared. It never hurts to have tools and or spare parts with you. When I go on road trips I carry an extra spare tire in my bed just for a back-up to the spare tire under the bed.

 

Um, you brought up replacing the alternator. Why do you think your not broken alternator might be?

Here is a sub 200 (65.00 core) lifetime guaranteed alternator. Before you say if it fails you would have to pay again to install, I got a waterpump & paid a mechanic 3xx.xx (don't remember exacty how much) it failed within a month & AZ (eventually) repaid me the second repair cost.

https://www.autozone.com/batteries-...OXyDMdJ-jNLGMQ1YTREaAoIREALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

You do you, Used parts are a crapshoot, I'm not rich but I am also not taking a chance installing a used part after it fails.

Good luck

 

I always keep a cheap tool set in every car. You just never know….

That said, I would replace the alternator as preventative maintenance if you’re that worried about it and keep the tool kit in the truck anyway.

Murphy’s law dictates that even if your prepared with tools that it will go out at the worst possible moment and you’ll be on a one lane bridge in a rainstorm. Alternatively (see what I did there) the junk yard alternator will be no good or die ten minutes after your waterlogged ass gets back on the road.

 

There is nothing more I love than a reason to buy new tools. Buy em and do it. It isnt hard.

 

Good example, I have tools, a serpentine belt and a compressor. I test my battery & charging system regularly and keep a good battery in my cars (not extra) but if things break I replace them with known quantity new/rebuilt parts.

 

I have a truckbox full of tools and I don't regret it one iota.









P.S. What's an iota?

 

Youve never seen as much appreciation from someone until you pull up on them mid summer changing a tire with oem tools and offer a floor jack and impact.

 

Buy the tools regardless.. you will need them one day for some reason or another.

If you think it is failing, have it tested and/or replace it early.

Preventative maintenance is one of the things that keeps Toyotas ticking.

 

Couple of thoughts:

an iota is a small amount of something, like a skōsh.

Why do you think your alternator is failing?

Your plan is to use an unproven junkyard alternator to perform a side of the road replacement when your OEM fails?

If you legit think it’s failing, why not buy a quality replacement and change it out?

 

Have your guy rebuild the junkyard one and install that at your convenience.

 

I read somewhere that rebuilding an alternator is super easy if you have the brushes.

 

It ain’t easy either. I have somewhere between double and triple a Tundra’s payload in mechanic’s tools by weight, so you could say I’ve been there. But it is worth it, I’d still rather buy the tool to do it myself than pay someone else to mess it up.

 

They say everyone has a doppelgänger. Nice to meet you.

 

If your alternator is definitely going bad, It’s much easier replacing the alternator in your garage or driveway than on the side of the road. It doesn’t make sense to try and milk the last few miles out a failing part only to have to deal with it wherever it decides to die.
As to the used one, used parts are fine for certain repairs, basically you are driving a truck where every part is “used”. That being said, I personally wouldn’t take a chance on a used electrical part unless it was tested first.
As far as tools, I have a small tool kit in my truck all the time and take more with me for a long trip. I’d rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them. Over the years I’ve had numerous situations where I have needed them while traveling.
Good luck with your alternator.

 

Perhaps you could tell us what is happening that makes you think you may need to replace the alternator. I am far from the right person to figure it out for you but there are people on this forum who may be able to help you decide if an alternator is causing the problem.

 

Agree with above. Alternators can fail in several ways. Mechanical failures such as bearings can cause noise, grinding or seize the rotation. Brushes can fail. My Y-engine Toyota Surf had multiple dimly illuminated dash lights when the brushes failed. Electronics such as diodes can go bad as well. Most of the FLAPS can test your alternator’s electronics but that will tell you current state not future. If you are worried about future reliability get the Denso from Rock Auto and change at your convenience. Unfortunately it’s not the 5 min job it was on my Surf or my Suburban but it’s not terrible either. Not like a 4.7 starter

 

In for more information on why you think you alternator is going bad.

Over the last 2 weeks my other truck, Ford F-150 developed a hard starting issue. It left me stranded at a gas station. Some jumper cables and 3 mins it was going again. Battery just dead enough to not start the truck. I drive for 2 weeks and every time I start the truck it is a gamble. Somtimes it’s sluggish other times it starts strong no problem.

One day I get home from work, it started fine on this trip. Go to leave the house not 20 mins later and get a click, no go.

Most would automatically assume alternator is going bad and it’s not fully charging all the time. However I knew the battery was 5 years old and probably at its end. I was right, new battery and not a single issue since. Always get 14v on the voltmeter when truck is running and alternator is fine.

Long story short are you sure you have a good battery? Mine acted fully charged at times then a few minutes later like it was half charged. As I said I know a lot of people would jump straight to assuming the alternator is starting to fail but that may not be the case. It wasn’t for me