Date:         Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:27:52 -0900
Reply-To:     Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject:      Re: starters-used vs. cheap rebuilt vs. Bosch rebuilt
In-Reply-To:  <BAY134-W9A3654E8A94B05379D5F0DB290@phx.gbl>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

What is your time worth to you, and how many times do you want to replace your starter?  If the answer is that your time is valuable and you want to do the job once, buy the Bosch and be happy that you made a good choice.  Most generic aftermarket rebuilt(using the term loosely) starters, alternators, etc, are not worth bothering with.  Their one marginally redeeming feature is the "Lifetime" warranty, without which they would never sell enough units to be profitable.  What good is a Lifetime warranty to you if you have to replace your starter every few months(weeks, days).  I know a local shop owner that installed a customer supplied aftermarket alternator on the customers Vanagon at their request.  The shop owner warned the van owner that it was a bad idea and that they would be responsible for labor to replace the unit if it failed.  NOt only was the first one found to be bad but it took seven more before the customer either gave up or got a good one.

Again, what is your time worth to you?  You have other issues to deal with on your van, don't make it worse by putting a junk starter on it.

Mark in AK
Assistant Parts Manager
Continental Auto, LLC

----- Original Message -----
From: Edward Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Monday, February 11, 2008 9:51 am
Subject: starters-used vs. cheap rebuilt vs. Bosch rebuilt
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> I need to replace the starter in my '87 with stock 2.1 engine. It
> used to need an occasional tap if it wouldn't start, but now I
> have had to hit it with a hammer while a kind passerby turns the
> key. This has happened twice, both times in the rain and snow.
>
> Already having put several thousand dollars into various
> mechanical systems in the last few years, and still having
> undiagnosed running/FI problems, I don't want to spend more than I
> need to on a starter. So now my question.
>
> I am trying to choose between a used starter for about $55, a
> cheap AutoZone starter for $90 and free shipping or a Bosch one
> for $115 (3/4 hp normally for 1.9 engine) or $130 (1 hp normally
> for 2.1 engine) also with free shipping. Those last two are from
> Autohaus AZ- best prices I could find. I'm not sure which one
> AutoZone is selling- they don't say if it is the equivalent of the
> Bosch SR19X or the SR401X. The Autozone one has lifetime warranty,
> the Bosch one year, but that includes towing and two years
> roadside assistance. (I don't know why they would give you
> roadside assistance for longer than the warranty, but whatever.)
>
> It's tempting to get the cheapest rebuilt. I don't think I want to
> take a chance on a used. Has anyoe had any experience with the
> AutoZone Duralast 16722?
>
> Thanks,
> Ed
> _________________________________________________________________
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