Alternator light on again

We have a 2012 Tundra. 14 months ago had to have the alternator replaced by a Toyota dealer along with a new battery. $1400. The alternator light is on again and was tested and it is going bad already. Of course Toyota service department says warranty on that service was only 12 months. Did we get a faulty one installed 14 months ago? Please advise. Truck has 60,000 miles on it and most of those are freeway miles.

 

They couldn't do a remanufactured that would gave 3 yr warranty and is cheaper?

 

No reman available on the Toyota alternator. Plus, all Toyota parts have a 1 year warranty on them whether it is reman or new.

Which part number did they put on your Tundra?

 

They should if a good dealer be able to help you with something

 

Service person said they installed a recon alternator and they do not put in new anything any longer.

 

If that's the case, it wasn't a Toyota part.

 

A different Toyota dealer just examined the truck and said the wire harness was loose and burnt up the harness and the alternator. He stated those do not come loose on their own and that the Toyota dealership that previously replaced our alternator should be totally responsible for not tightening it down. Supposedly now is a $5000 job. So not happy about all this and having to fight the service department.

 

Other Toyota service department is stating that the harness(?) wires and alternator are burnt up due to bolts or screws that were loose. $5000 job supposedly. And we are two months out of the 12 month warranty on the alternator part they installed from a different Toyota service department. Now we are in a fight for original service department to take responsibility. Why should we ever use any Toyota Service if they don’t install new Toyota parts any longer? Makes no sense why I would pay higher prices for parts and labor if the parts are not new!?!

 

The dealer should have told you that they were going to install a rebuilt. That way you could of said.."No Freaking Way!". If mine ever goes out I'm putting in a new Toyota alternator. Sounds like the original dealer was not only taking short cuts but crappy work too. My 3 cents.

 

Remans are very common in dealers because the warranty is much longer and cheaper price......i would throw a big fight with the original iinstalling dealer and have them pay or tow the truck back to get it fixed......i would talk to the service manager and the store manager

 

contact Toyota corporate with all receipts and information you were given by the other dealership, you got screwed plain and simple, $1200 dollars should have included a NEW alternator.

 

I've got nothing against "re-builts" other than who did the re-build. I just want to know if I'm getting charged for the cost of a new vs lower cost of rebuilt . I wasn't aware that dealers didn't offer choice of new or rebuilt. I've always replaced my own. My 07 alternator stills checks out good. I plan on swapping in a higher amp output one when the time comes and will most likely be a re-built up grade that I've already researched. Of course a 3 year warranty is preferred over a dealer with a 1 year on a new alternator. $1200... Better be a new alternator. It's going to last more than three years.

 

I just spoke with a Toyota manager and he said remanufactured parts from a dealer is only 12 month warranty.......i work at a Honda dealer and reman is 3yr....so that's big difference

 

Similar scenario happened with us in the past and we as a dealer took care of the customer and the whole bill

 

Wow! I hate to believe that your going through all that mess with a Toyota dealership. My dealership is straight up *fingers crossed* or at least they have been so far.

 

We install Toyota reman alternators and starters. We give the option to the customer though. You can go O.E. Toyota, Toyota reman, or aftermarket. Here are your prices.

 

There's nothing wrong with a Toyota reman. We install them all day everyday. BUT, there is not a reman alternator available for the 2012 Tundra from Toyota.

 

Issue has been finished. Original Toyota dealership took full responsibility for faulty workmanship on the alternator install. We had another Toyota dealership verify what wasn’t done initially and that pretty much cemented the case for the original dealership to take responsibility.
Thanks for all of your input.