Alternator OEM FORD or Duralast

OEM. I've had to warranty and eat so much labor from faulty auto parts store starters and alternators it's unreal. They cost more, but I rarely have an issue with OEM.

Just bought and installed a Duralast Gold from Autozone last week for my '07 9-5. It has a little whine at 2500 RPM but works better than OEM. Has a lifetime warranty and it's 100% new too!

When my alternator failed in my 24v, I replaced the alternator with a duralast, replaced the harness and fuse panel with OEM parts, and 50k later it's still working like a champ.

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

12-plate Fiesta, 106k miles

- Alternator is intermittent

- Rear bushes are audibly fucked

- Radiator fan packed up so it overheats when idling in warm weather

IMO duralast doesn\u2019t last no where near as long as a good quality Bosch/Denso alternator.

I’ve been busting my butt all day trying to get the alternator out of my 2004 ford focus (mk1) for a few painful reasons

The refurbished Duralast alternator has worked fine for a few months but the last month I started to hear belt noise and assumed it was related to the alternator. The last couple of weeks I would smell a new unknown burnt smell that smoked like either rubber or electronics which has led me to wonder if the battery/alternator fuses have gone out.

I got a alternator from AutoZone( duralast pos) and a new battery , same thing, car started with new battery ,voltage at the battery was around 12.5 and voltage directly on the alternator was the same exact voltage as the battery which showed the alternator still wasn\u2019t charging I took that alternator out got my money back and went to a reputable alternator and starter shop around my area and got a quality rebuilt one. They tested the alternator before they gave it to me and confirmed it was in working order. I installed it and still the alternator is not charging the battery , i checked voltage directly at the new alternator and still got the same voltage as the battry while the engine was running , so its still not charging the battery or producing power

Believe it or not, though I installed a brand new alternator(Duralast gold) that turned out to be bad from the start and I had to replace it again(so I guess what I’m saying is check the tention on your belt, but don’t rule out the new alternator as - also - being bad), been 2 years since tho.