Car: 2006 IS350
Mileage: 86,421

Issue: A few days ago i got in the car to go to the store, It started and drove fine (No noises, drivability issues or warning lights). Leaving the store the car started sluggishly like it had low battery power, the battery is less than a year old, but I figured anything was possible (didnt suspect the alternator though). The car drove fine till about a mile from home where the radio just turned off by itself, I was trying to figure out what happened when the AC did the same thing. I looked at the dash and still had no warning lights and I still didnt know what was going on. As I was turning into my complex I lost power steering (This car feel like wrestling a rabid Rhino without it). I was able to get it into the driveway and turned it off. I used my Meter to read the battery voltage at 9 volts. I jump started the car and the alternator brought it up to 10 volts and I could smell and electrical burn. As I had to go out of town and couldnt do the replacement myself in the time I had, I got the car to the dealer.

Result: They called me and told me it would be $1200 to change the alt and replace the batt since it was shorted. I told them the batt is under warranty with another store and ill do it. Just charge it up after the alt replacement. Then I unashamedly begged him to see what he could do about lower the price (there was some talk of naming my child after him, but she would make a funny looking Raul). In the end the bill was $985.37. Kinda high but I saw the crap you have to do to get to the alt. {shrug}

The break down is as follows:
27060-31062-84 Reman Alternator $512.96
Labour cost $450
Tax $67.41


Also, the new alt looks a little different than my old one and i cant see the nut for the pulley like i could with my old one. Like it has a cover or a clutch maybe??



This was just an FYI for others..............

 

$512 for a reman alternator is insane... Denso reman runs around $175-200, other brands are around $100.00... If you are unable to do a repair yourself, you may want to find a reputable private shop to do business with, the dealer has no shame...

 

Dont I know it, but like I said, It happen right before I had to go out of town and I couldnt leave it cause my girl needed a car. Giving it to the dealer which is 4 miles away got me a loaner so it worked out there......but you are right, things could have been cheaper by far. If i had warning i could have planned something for sure.

 

Yeah the loaner does factor in, I just hate to see you had to pay so much... I have multiple cars, and things like this are one of the reasons I keep the extra cars...

 

That price had the cost of the rental worked in