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11 May 2023 Alternator replacement: how much does it cost and how long does it take
Are you having problems starting the engine? Is the car battery discharging very quickly even though it has just been replaced? If your car won't start or the battery warning light/charging indicator light comes on, this indicates a broken alternator. The alternator converts the energy of the engine and charges the battery of the car. If these problems are occurring in your vehicle, you should take action. First, check whether the alternator cables or other components are defective. You can simply replace the cables. If the fault lies elsewhere, for example in the car alternator voltage regulator, you should install a new alternator instead of repairing it. If you want to save money, you can do everything yourself. This way you don't have to pay for the labour or the expensive workshop products.
How much does it cost an alternator
A new alternator costs around £85 and upwards, depending on the vehicle, alternator output, and alternator manufacturers who produce Ford Focus alternators. Used and cheap car alternator are recommended for repairing older cars in line with their current value.
Replacing alternator – step by step
Open the bonnet and disconnect the battery
Since you are also working on the vehicle's electronics when replacing the alternator, make sure to disconnect the battery first. Make sure to disconnect the terminals in the correct order. First, disconnect the negative terminal and then the positive terminal.
LUCAS Alternator
14V, 70A, M8 B+, M5 D+, 0230, Ø 55 mm
Article number: LRB00436
£ 66,31
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
-37%
Article number: A6365PR
compared to
RRP
£ 143,45
£ 90,36
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
LUCAS Alternator
14V, 50A, M6 B+, L, 0004, Ø 56 mm
Article number: LRA00471
£ 53,96
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
DENSO Alternator
14V, 120A, Ø 54 mm
Article number: DAN1119
£ 156,84
price incl. 20% VAT, free delivery
-16%
Article number: 695.002.035.050
compared to
RRP
£ 81,54
£ 67,88
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
Disconnect electrical connections
As already mentioned, the generator supplies the battery with power. This, of course, requires cables. Before you can remove the generator, you must disconnect the plugs that are attached to it. Some of them are screwed on. If this is the case, you have to unscrew them.
Disconnect the alternator
Depending on the vehicle and model, the alternator can be located in different places. In some cases, the trim, headlights, or radiator grille must be removed to reach the alternator easily. Before you can remove the alternator, you must first remove the V-belt from the pulley. To do this, loosen the V-belt with the appropriate spanner and secure the tensioner pulley with a suitable tool, such as a fixing pin or an Allen hex key. This will also hold the belt tensioner in its current position. You have to remove all the fastening screws so that you can take the defective alternator out of the car. If other parts, such as hoses, are blocking the alternator, put them aside or remove them, making the replacement easier.
Remove the defective alternator
After removing all the fastening screws, you can now take the old alternator out of the vehicle, and now the new one can be installed.
Install the new alternator
Before you install the new alternator, you should compare it with the old one to make sure that both are identical. Then place the alternator back in your vehicle so that it lies in the same position as the defective alternator and can be fastened again with the screws. Note: the alternator should not wobble or loosen even when the engine is running.
DENSO Alternator
14V, 105A, Ø 60 mm
Article number: DAN1375
£ 178,29
price incl. 20% VAT, free delivery
Article number: LRA03583
£ 89,00
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
-8%
Article number: 586.002.055.090
compared to
RRP
£ 119,62
£ 109,46
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
-12%
Article number: A0632PR
compared to
RRP
£ 130,80
£ 114,13
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
Article number: 0 986 047 360
£ 138,27
price incl. 20% VAT, free delivery
Connecting the electrical cables
All cables must be reconnected so that the battery can be recharged. You only need to reconnect the plugs to the new alternator.
Reconnect the battery
Next, reconnect the battery and make sure to reconnect the cables to the car battery terminals in the correct order.
Check the alternator
To avoid unnecessary damage, check again that nothing is loose so that you don’t have to tighten any screws afterward. Also, you should listen for unusual sounds before your next drive, because an intact alternator should not make any noises.
How to test a car alternator
Take a test drive
Finally, take your car for a short test drive. This will allow you to check that everything is tight and working as it should.
How long does it take to replace the alternator?
This depends on your previous knowledge and manual skills and the time required to replace the alternator. It also is a question of the vehicle model and where the alternator is located in the car. Professionals and experienced mechanics can replace the alternator within 30 minutes. If you don’t have much experience, you will most likely need more time to change the alternator, and you should allow at least one hour.
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