Date:         Thu, 9 Jan 2003 19:32:34 -0500
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Total Cost of a complete engine overhaul
Comments: To: TJ Hannink <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20030109171652.40124.qmail@web80306.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Thu, 9 Jan 2003, TJ Hannink wrote:

> The O.E. alternator on my van was replaced at 75,000 miles. The P.O's first
> rebuilt replacement worked for more than 100,000 miles. I expect my current
> alternator to last at least that long. I have all my starters and alternators
> for my (and my friends) various vehicles rebuilt at a local auto electric shop
> and have never had to replace any of their products.

Glad you've had good luck with rebuilds.  I have a friend who went through
three rebuilt alternators for his Dasher (in less than 50,000 miles total)
before finally giving up and buying a brand new Bosch one.  I've been told
by several sources that rebuilt starters and alternators are often junk,
because they're often given to unskilled personnel with basically no
training as 'busy work'.

             _ _
  __ _ _   _| | |  | David M. Brodbeck (N8SRE)              Ypsilanti, MI
 / _` | | | | | |  +-----------------------------------------------------
| (_| | |_| | | | @ cyberspace.org
 \__, |\__,_|_|_| "To the optimist, the glass is half full.  To the
 |___/             pessimist, the glass is half empty.  To the engineer,
                   the glass is twice as big as it needs to be."