Scrapyard alternator

[sierraman]

The bearings are on the way out on the alternator on the focus, being tight I was thinking of using scrapyard to source a replacement, am I I likely to be buying something no better than the shagged out one I've got?

[nacho man]

Depends??? Least you can check the bearings before you buy, I have bunged a few on in the past less than £20 a pop and had no probs at all, I also payed for a recon alternator from the factors for a 306 last year and it shat its self in less than 300 miles and it was a faff taking it off getting a new one etc etc etc

 

 

Its all a big gamble really, unless you rebuild it yourself, or get someone to do it properly, or if your feeling flush buying a oe/genuine item.

[Pillock]

Could be, that's the joy* of scrapyards. I've had scrappy parts outlast the rest of the car, I've had scrappy parts never work.

 

At least with an alternator you can spin it and listen for grumbles.

[sierraman]

Fuck it ill give it a go. New one is £74... Scrapyard possibly £20... Not a difficult job to do. Apart from crappy bearings anything else I should be mindful of?

[PiperCub]

Long as it's not physically damaged (has it's mounting lugs/bosses etc) and the bearings aren't noisy when spun then chances are it's a good 'un. Any halfway decent scrappy will offer a swap if that one doesn't work. Worth a punt - I certainly would.

[the judge]

Spin it. If noisy,leave it. If car is in there crash damaged,should be fine. It drove to the crash after all....

[Pillock]

If you have a multimeter you can put it across the windings and you'll get a lowish resistance. If it's infinity, its broken.

[Dead_E23]

If you're going to the type of scrapyard that lets you remove the bits yourself, it could be well worth having a look under several bonnets before choosing to see if any has a newish-looking alternator.  

 

I've had quite a lot of apparently new bits from scrappies in the past and was surprised at the number of cars that seemed to have had a bit spent on them, presumably before the owner lost patience.  

 

I'd still test the part before buying it, just in case the failure of the new part was the 'straw that broke the camel's back'!

[andy18s]

Check the part number as well to see if any other cars used that particular 1

Being a Ford means you shouldn't be short of choices