Silly part prices....

[myglaren]

A few years ago, must have been abought eight years ago. I took a mate to the local Toyota - he wanted a serpentine belt.

£65!

 

He asked the guy, if that wasn't the answer to his charging problem, what would be.

New alternator was the reply.

OK, how much?

The guy said "I'm going to pull the price up on thes screen then leave. Turn the screen round and look for yourself"

 

Which they did.

 

£600! +VAT!

 

It was the alternator, naturally. Had an auto-electrician replace the diode pack - £8

 

I hope you (or I) never need an alternator for the C5. It's not quite that much but it's a dear one, largely because it has a freewheel on it. Why would anybody fit a freewheel to an alternator?

 

Does seem rather unnecessary doesn't it? I haven't enquired about the cost of a replacement as mine is gong to last forever but I've seen that some bits command idiotic prices.

The only useful freewheel device I have encountered was on an old SAAB 3-pot 2 stroke thet I drove in Sweden in the early 70's. Brilliant!