Delco Alternator Rant

[gideon1331]

After today, I feel as though I must rant about Toyota using Delco alternators in some of the 93-97 Corolla's. Mine happens to be a Canadian-made model which used the Delco POS.

When we bought the car 2 years ago, it had 110,000 miles on it. By 110,500 the alternator (which I thought was origional) failed, and of course, the only replacement a parts store would give us without paying an insane core charge was the same Delco alternator. Now today, with the car having 146,800 miles, the alternator died yet again.

We took it to Advance Auto Parts, where we had origionally purchased the replacement, and it was put on the tester for no more than 3 seconds before the employee shut off the machine and said "I wish they were all this easy", in reference to how easy it was to tell that it was dead. Luckily it was under warranty and the new one was free.

Now, here comes the icing on the cake. I spoke with the previous owner, who is a family friend, and learned that the origional alternator failed at 62,000 miles, meaning my car is on it's fourth friggn alternator!

Edit: I'd like to take the time to mention that the only other parts on the car that have failed are the rear struts (bad when I got the car), and a transmission hydrolic line (@ 133,000 miles)....both of them were Delco parts.

[toyotaspeed90]

yeah..... delco alternators suck

i've heard of them failing in less than an hour

find the ND alternators..... any alternator from an 88-97 corolla should bolt up the same (except one from a 4age).... wiring might be *slightly* different but easily fixed

[Liter]

My delco alternator jsut died on me last friday and apparently cannot be rebuilt. Funny thing is that it went without warning too. Usually the lights will dim when the sub hits or when u slow turn the vents up high.

[gideon1331]

I did a little digging, and found out that this same alternator was used in almost all GM vehicles that had the 3100 engine until about 97, and a slightly higher output version used in those with the 3800 unitl 99. Makes sense, as when we walked into the store and set the dead one on the counter, the guy (who owns an 85 4Runner with 374,000 miles on it) took one look and said "Buick?"

This alternator is turning into the master cylinder from our old 86 Caravan. It too was good for about 35,000 miles before it quit.

At this point I really dont mind having it in my car because the one we bought from Advance Auto Parts carries a lifetime warranty, so a new one will always be free.

[94_Rolla_Guy]

mine has the denso alternator and has 240K on the original... I would bet a denso would go straight in maybe try getting a second hand one and try that? Worst case scenerio would be having to get the denso specific plug and splicing it

[gideon1331]

Ill probably try to pick one up from a junkyard if I can get one cheap enough. At this point, I at least hopefully have about 30,000 miles before I have to think about the alternator again, but with it being a remanufactured Delco, that could turn into 3,000.

My Mom now has 210,000 miles on the Denso alternator in her Avalon, which is also an 80 amp alternator. The Denso alternator in my Grandma's 82 Corolla lasted a good 385,000 miles, and it was the voltage regulator that went on that, so it was still fine so long as you drove with the headlights, blower fan and rear defroster on.