Average Costs to Replace an Alternator
Analternatoris a vital part of any automobile. The electrical power is dependent on this component, and should it fail, the only options are to have it rebuilt or replaced. Otherwise, the battery will be useless and that car isn’t going to move.The alternator makes use of the mechanical torque produced by a car’s engine by converting some of this energy into electricity. In turn, this is stored in the vehicle’s battery. Thus, once the alternator ceases to perform its job of what is essentially energy transfer, all electrical power is lost.There are tell-tale signs of an alternator in its death throes that every driver should become familiar with. An awareness of what to observe can make the difference in getting to a planned destination and being stranded in an inoperable car. One sign that the alternator could be on borrowed time is a battery that won’t stay charged after the engine has been running for a significant amount of time, but this could also indicate that the batter itself is bad. Classic signs of an alternator going south include dimming headlights, a loss of engine power, and/or a grinding sound within the structure of the alternator itself.So just how much can one expect to pay for an alternator replacement? Like anything else, it will largely depend on the make and model of car. Vehicles equipped with bigger, more powerful engines will also require more powerful alternators and thus they will be more expensive as well.With that established, alternator replacements are much more expensive than they used to be. In the past 20 years or so, these costs have more than tripled. Of course, inflation itself plays a role, but the biggest factor lies in the fact that today’s cars that are equipped with all kinds of bells and whistles that were practically unheard of during Bill Clinton’s Presidency. As a result, modern-day alternators require much more amperage. In simplest terms, amperage is expressed as how much drawing power the alternator possesses.Domestic makes of vehicles cost less than their imported counterparts, and so alternators in these brands will also cost less. For example, an average bread-and-butter Ford or Chevy alternator replacement can range anywhere from $180-$240 while such a cost on something like a Toyota or Honda will be $260-$320. On higher-end luxury cars, especially imported brands like BMW or Mercedes, these costs can easily triple, but what one must remember is that their initial selling prices are also high. Basically, if you can afford an $80,000 BMW, then paying $850 for an alternator replacement sort of becomes relative.To summarize, alternator replacement costs are somewhat proportional to a car’s initial sticker price. Thus, the least expensive of these will be domestic brands. Asian brands will be in the middle of the pack, while European brands will be the most expensive. Also, keep in mind that if the serpentine belt also needs replacing, this will add another $20-$50 to the tab.Another factor that will determine an alternator’s replacement cost is the shop’slaborrate. This of course will be added to the price of the alternator itself. A typical job will take about 2-3 hours. So in splitting this difference and calling it 2.5 hours, an independent shop may charge $70 an hour while a name-brand dealership charges $100 an hour . By going to the independent shop, the customer realizes a $75 savings no matter what the part costs. However, it’s also important to be aware that independent shops may also use cheaper aftermarket parts as opposed to original factory equipment. Thus, cheaper does not always equate to a better deal, especially if that less-expensive alternator needs replacing again after 30,000 miles. As with most things, you generally get what you pay for.Therefore in the end, one can reasonably use the part prices listed above as a ballpark figure, but then the labor rates of the repair shop must be added to this cost.
