Rupp

Guys,
I put in a new battery about 6 months ago and today I noticed my battery light lighting on and off during the drive home. I'm guessing my alternator is going out. Should I buy new or have mine rebuilt? Thanks in advance.

wayne613

If you have someone who can do this locally that's reputable, great, likely a refurb from ebay or the like would be easier and slightly cheaper. IMO, I don't see any of them as a truly greater option from the other. Of course buying new gives better piece of mind and usually a more solid warranty, should it be from some-place like pa-performance, but you'll need to pay extra for it.

If all I wanted was a replacement for the OEM, and didn't wish to upgrade it's output I'd probably just get a refurb from someone/someplace with a decent rep. Ask this guy as that's the route he just took today to install, probably cost around $100 with shipping. Ebay deal for his wife's S197 stang.

Just a thought...but there have been a couple of instances where the alternator was in fact fine, and just corrosion for the contacts and/or wire(s) was an issue, I'd go over the setup myself before making a purchase.

Nuke

I'd have the alternator AND battery load tested, just to cover your bases. With these S197's, when one of those degrades, the other seems to follow.

Rupp

I ran by Auto Zone and he put a tester on the batter and then we started the car and he stated the alternator was in fact going bad. Now to find the best price.