Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2003 00:19:12 -0600
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: charging woes/charging joy
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
The smart thing would have been to have the alt rebuilt at a good
auto/electrical shop, but I *really* wanted to use the van for a 450 mile
excursion the following day, so I just bought a rebuild from Kragen
instead. (I know better, but...) All was well for the first 390 miles of
the trip. Then... BING, on comes the charging light. Crap. Pull over and
take a quick look. Hmmmm.... Belt is still on, wires look tight, nothing
obvious, but no charging. Sigh... only 60 miles to go and it's daylight,
so just go for it!
---------------------- Clip ---------------------------
It may seem completely unfair to condemn the rebuilt that come from
national auto chains.
I worked for Borg Warner and For Prior Products, both required contact
with rebuilders.
When working with Prior Products that rebuilt Vacuum Booster units I
found that they got good cores back from the Auto Chains in boxes and
good clean cores from auto wrecking yards. Prior let them sit in 55 drums
outside and develop a good level of rot before they went inside for
rebuilding.
I found the same to be true of several Clutch / Pressure plate rebuilders
that I had as Borg Warner customers.
If you ever have the rare pleasure to visit a Auto Parts Rebuilder you'll
develop a distinct distrust for rebuilt products.
With one local Auto Electric rebuilder they have a test bench and they
spin the alternator. The trick is that a good 50% of generators /
starters and alternators are not defective on arrival to the rebuilder.
They may have a diode out or a bent pulley, these units are put on fast
track rebuild and those with serious problems just sit in barrels and rot
from humidity, rats nests before they go into the shop. The rebuilding
industry is very competitive and an alternator is pretty much just scrap
iron if it needs field coils or an armature since either of these new
parts is fully the value of the rebuilt ......... so you just never get
new parts other than bearings, regulators or diodes.
A local rebuilder operates the same way but will take the care to get you
a good product and your referrals along with your repeat business.
Stan Wilder
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