A local shop replaced the pulley-with-clutch on my 2007 Town and Country’s alternator for $52, fixing a noise issue caused by the faulty OEM clutch. A couple of years later, the alternator failed. I found a used one at a junkyard for $42 (with a core charge). A local auto electric shop transferred my pulley to the used alternator, tested it, and confirmed it was working well, free of charge. I returned the defective alternator to the junkyard.
Independent, locally-owned auto electric shops often provide expert service and excellent customer care. The shop I used is near the junkyard, filled with shelves of parts in aging boxes. They likely serve dealerships, repair shops, and DIYers who need parts repaired.
The advantage of these shops is the ability to have OEM parts repaired by skilled technicians with proper testing equipment. Knowing the history of my parts and generally trusting OEM components over aftermarket options is important. Aftermarket electrical parts, in particular, can be unreliable.
Despite my preference for OEM parts, I installed a rebuilt starter from O’Reilly’s a few years ago due to time constraints. Fortunately, I haven’t had any issues with it. However, this experience raises the question: are aftermarket options like the Duralast Gold Alternator a viable alternative to OEM parts? Further research into the reliability and performance of the Duralast Gold Alternator is necessary to determine if it provides a comparable level of quality and longevity.
