Owner reviews for alternator

Beware of cheap aftermarket junk. I would only get an OEM or denso alternator.

Or since Denso is the OEM, you could get a remanufactured one at [NAPA](https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/DEN2105000) or [RockAuto](https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/denso,2105000,alternator+/+generator,2412), but it looks like they're out of stock. I would not trust the cheaper remanufactured ones that are made by the other brands. Denso is reliable, and I'd trust their reman parts, if you decide to go the reman route.

But try to get denso one or oem. Aftermarket ones tend to not last a long time.

From personal experience, I'd recommend the duralast gold alternator from autozone. I originally got the duralast regular alternator but I had to change it out it least 2 more times under warranty. The last time I just decided to upgrade to the gold version since I was sick of replacing the alternator, and it's been great for over 2 years now. Remanufactured ones are usually junk, get a new one like the duralast gold one. FYI what usually gives out first is the built in voltage regulator, that's what went wrong every time with the cheaper remanufactured alternator. There might be other good ones out there but that's my experience

A 98k on a alternator made after 2020 isn't bad. Almost impressive.

I had lots of issues with a ‘96 4.6 Cobra. Back and forth between battery, alternator issues. Maybe, six months between issues. Finally replaced the alternator with new, not reman and changed the battery at the same time. That lasted for the next three years that I owned the car and was still fine when I sold the car.

I had a similar problem with my 08 mustang GT. The alternator burnt through the cord going from it to the battery. Bought a remanufactured alternator and replaced it. Still didn't work. Traded it in for another remanufactured. Still didn't work. Finally returned that one and bought a brand new one. Works fine 6 years later and no problems.

I just got a Denso remanufactured alternator from RockAuto for a 2009 Camry. Straight out of the box, the pulley was extremely hard to spin. It seems to get very stiff in one spot, get past that spot and spin fairly easily, then after I assume a full revolution it gets extremely stiff again. It also seems a bit loud/odd to me

Ive had a few Bosch reman failures lately at my shop as well, although they were for N52s, all bearing noise after about a year.

Symptoms: Flickering lights, and occasional hiccup start. Now battery light is coming on and staying on. When stationary battery tests around 12.5 volts. When running, that drops to 11.7 volts.