This seems crazy to me. I was quoted $385 for the parts and $180 for labor.
I can find an alternator online for $160 and just do it myself.
Well, looks like you’re considering saving money by doing it yourself.
Maxwell said:
Well, looks like you’re considering saving money by doing it yourself.
I don’t have much of a choice. I just can’t afford to pay that much for the repair.
Maxwell said:
Well, looks like you’re considering saving money by doing it yourself.
I don’t have much of a choice. I just can’t afford to pay that much for the repair.
Fair enough. Car ownership always comes with unexpected costs.
If you do it yourself, you’ll quickly find out if 1.5 to 2 hours labor is reasonable.
Also, keep in mind that Rock Auto parts only come with a 30-day warranty, whereas the shop might have offered a 1-2 year warranty. Plus, you could’ve gotten some money back with a core replacement.
For a Bugatti, $600 would be a steal. But seriously, what car is this for? Without knowing, it’s hard to say if the price is fair.
Heather said:
For a Bugatti, $600 would be a steal. But seriously, what car is this for? Without knowing, it’s hard to say if the price is fair.
Oops, my bad. It’s a Toyota.
It’s always going to be cheaper to do it yourself than to pay someone. That’s just how it is.
The real question is, can you do it?
I replaced my alternator once, and it took me about two days (around 4 hours total). A professional could’ve done it in under 2 hours easily.
@Cedar
Same here, but it took forever because my bracket was rusted and the bolts were practically fused to the alternator.
Kipp said:
@Cedar
Same here, but it took forever because my bracket was rusted and the bolts were practically fused to the alternator.
That’s rough. I had a similar experience with an old Honda where the alternator was tucked low near the wheel well. Couldn’t use heat either because it was too close to the oil pan. Took me two weekends to finish!
@Cedar
Oh wow, that’s brutal. My truck is lifted, so I needed a ladder just to reach the engine. Felt ridiculous!
Kipp said:
@Cedar
Oh wow, that’s brutal. My truck is lifted, so I needed a ladder just to reach the engine. Felt ridiculous!
Yeah, truck alternators are usually easier when they’re on top of the engine. That old Honda of mine was a nightmare. After fixing it, I kept seeing listings for similar cars with ‘just needs alternator!’ and laughed. I knew why they were for sale.
@Cedar
Totally get it. No wonder people give up and sell!
@Cedar
Even a pro would struggle with seized bolts. Some shops even charge extra for that.
Barbara said:
@Cedar
Even a pro would struggle with seized bolts. Some shops even charge extra for that.
True. In my case, the bolts weren’t stuck—it just took me longer because life got in the way after I started the job.
If you’re asking a mechanic like me, I usually offer fair prices.
The issue with posts like this is that you’re looking for people to agree with your reaction to the repair cost. But instead of feeding into that, I’ll give you a practical and informed opinion, even if it’s not what you want to hear (and might upset non-mechanics on forums like this).
Good-quality alternators with multi-year warranties are expensive, even if they’re remanufactured. Cheap alternators don’t last and can cause more electrical problems. Plus, a 2011 Hyundai Accent isn’t known for its reliability. We stopped working on Hyundai and Kia vehicles because their quality has gone downhill, and finding good parts is tough.
Replacing your car’s alternator takes a fair amount of work. Shops typically charge for 1.2 hours of labor (sometimes it takes less, maybe 45 minutes if everything goes smoothly). At my shop, labor alone would be $240.
Shops also need to make a profit on parts to stay in business, usually marking them up by 35-70%. For a decent alternator like a MANDO OEM, my cost would be about $180, but after markup, I’d sell it to you for around $262. Adding labor, the total would be $502. And even at that price, my shop wouldn’t make much profit.
If we had to use a premium brand like BOSCH, DENSO, or VALEO, the cost would increase by $80-$120, making the final price somewhere between $521 and $600. That’s just how these costs add up.
@Katnis
Thanks for sharing!
@Katnis
Wait, is the 1.2 hours part of a diagnostic fee?
Amari said:
@Katnis
Wait, is the 1.2 hours part of a diagnostic fee?
Nope, that’s the time it takes to remove and replace the alternator.
Amari said:
@Katnis
Wait, is the 1.2 hours part of a diagnostic fee?
Nope, that’s the time it takes to remove and replace the alternator.
Ah, got it. So the shop charges for 1.2 hours, even though the mechanic might only take 0.9 hours?