Uncle's junkyard advice about buying used alternators bit me twice in Phoenix heat

Skyler Mason · 2026-09-06T09:45:06.470181+00:00

My uncle swore by pull-and-pay alternators. Said they're half the price and most cars get junked for crashes, not electrical problems. Found one from a 2010 Civic with 60k miles. Paid $35 instead of $180 for new. Lasted 3 weeks before the bearings screamed. Went back, grabbed another from a different car. Same thing, died on the freeway near Bell Road. Voltage dropped to 11.8, car died at a light. Had to tow it $90. Third time I said forget it, bought a reman from Autozone. Still running fine 8 months later. The junkyard ones were probably sitting in heat for months. That dries seals out. Anyone else had better luck with used electrical parts? Or was I just grabbing from the wrong section of the yard?

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Uncle's junkyard advice about buying used alternators bit me twice in Phoenix heat | Car Mod Budget Builds - Rigidtalk