Hi guys, a mate has a TJ and has asked me to put this question to the forum. How much would one expect to pay for a new or reconditioned alternator + labour? He also asks is the RACV changeover service and the alternators they use okay?

I was looking at these after seeing another post about regulators.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/AFREE-POST-CLERANCE-ALTERNATOR-BOSCH-MAGNA-VERADA-108Amp-BXM-1348-NEW-/151409818165?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2340ba7a35

100% brand new and OEM Bosch. Not sure if the TJ has that one or not but my TW does. Not a hard job for DIY to remove and refit. hardest part would be getting to the idler pulley and tensioner which I'll be removing the splash guard to get good access.
maybe a good time to replace the idler pulley and belt if paying someone and save in the long run unless they have been done recently.

No idea for labour, you'd think an 1-1.5 hours would do it.

Only question I have with that listing is whether the free post is an error looking at the several other ads he has for the same item.

In May, I purchased a heavy duty reconditioned alternator for my Nissan R31 Skyline from Adelaide(link below) and it has so far performed perfectly.

Fitted it myself.

Someone else would be more qualified to give a labour quote, as I haven't worked on a Magna(but am planning to buy an AWD sometime soon- hence my recent membership of this site), but it should not involve much more than 1 hour - so about $100 for fitting.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mitsubishi-Magna-Bosch-TE-TF-TJ-TL-TS-TW-Verada-KE-KF-KH-KJ-KL-V6-Alternator-/131169064522?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e8a49164a

In May, I purchased a heavy duty reconditioned alternator for my Nissan R31 Skyline and it has so far performed perfectly.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mitsubishi-Magna-Bosch-TE-TF-TJ-TL-TS-TW-Verada-KE-KF-KH-KJ-KL-V6-Alternator-/131169064522?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e8a49164a

Someone else would be more qualified to give a labour quote, as I haven't worked on a Magna(but am planning to buy an AWD sometime soon- hence my recent membership of this site), but it should not involve much more than 1 hour - so about $100 for fitting.

Thanks mate. You prompted me to check Ebay. You can buy a brand new Bosch unit for around the $250 mark delivered to your door from a 99.99% approval seller. I also saw an American-made unit, brand new, for $175, delivered from a highly-rated seller as well.

My poor mate is worried because he has noticed that his radio and dash dims momentarily in time with the indicators when they are on and he thinks the alternator/regulator is on its way out. I reminded him that he has a heavy-duty supplemental electric-brake unit (for when he tows his pop-up trailer...one of those black box thingys under the dash with an led that blinks when you hit the brakes) and that might be sucking a bit of juice. He hasn't had any problems thus far in terms of poor starting.

Buy him a cheap multimeter from Dick Smith and check voltages before you get too deep into replacing the alternator.

That has happened on every car that i have owned.....since 1975

Buy him a cheap multimeter from Dick Smith and check voltages before you get too deep into replacing the alternator.

Didn't think of that. I'll tell him. You can pick a cheap digital multimeter for about ten bucks these days. Just refresh my memory (if it is working...and it has to work hard in this old head!) when testing the alternator output the voltage shouldn't go above 14.5v when revving or drop below 13v at idle...correct?

That has happened on every car that i have owned.....since 1975

You mean the slight dimming of the dashlights in time with the indicators?

I paid my Auto Leckie $240 for a new alternator fitted.

when testing the alternator output the voltage shouldn't go above 14.5v when revving or drop below 13v at idle...correct?

Lots of checks you can do with a multimeter:

Alternator checks:
Stability of voltage: Warm engine, running - voltage should be stable from idle and up at 14.4 volts. Turning lights on/off should not make the voltage vary.
Alternator output: Warm engine, running at idle - turn everything electrical on, voltage should stay near the 14.4 volts, if it drops slightly, increase idle slightly and see if the voltage goes back up 14.4 volts.

Battery condition:
Cold engine, preferably left overnight, engine off: Voltage above 12 volts.
Turn lights on high beam, watch voltage for 5 minutes - will drop, but should stay above 11 volts.
Turn lights off, engine on, does it start at normal cranking speed? Does the voltage go up to 14.4 volts quickly at cold idle speed?

Some people offered me advice to replace my Alternator, Til I walked into bursons and he said replace the regulator, the volts were slipping below 12 at fast idle...
$40.00 fix, runs a treat, 14.4 volts at start, and ranges down to 13.7 which is normal.....

I just got a quote this morning from the local Auto lecky - $80 to fit, but $300 for the alt:-(