Cost to replace alternator?

[Pyro]

long story short, need to replace the alternator in my car. Shop wants $320 for refurbed part plus labor
is this fair?

I did find a new-ish alternator from this Kijiji ad as well: http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-auto-parts-tires-engine-engine-parts-2009-Up-Mazda-3-Parts-Engine-Tansmission-A-C-Starter-W0QQAdIdZ437379142
these guys sell random cheap cars and random parts on kijiji, not sure if they are legit or not

[peterm15]

That doesn't seem out of the range for an alternator+ install. You may as well see what just labour would be and try and find a part yourself.

IIRC There is a rebuilder in the Jane and 7 area, down that road sevenview is on. Buying a new one would likely be VERY high.

Alternators do eventually wear out so I would suggest rebuilt over used.

[Jackal]

Looks like a good price for that alternator.
Check out this thread. Recommends Wally's:
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?66101-Battery-light-on-where-to-buy-rebuilt-or-new-alternator

[Pyro]

Looks like a good price for that alternator.
Check out this thread. Recommends Wally's:
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?66101-Battery-light-on-where-to-buy-rebuilt-or-new-alternator

Thanks jackal I did see that thread which is why I thought it would be cheaper. It was 180 for the part so it sounds like the shop wants 2 hours labor at 70 bucks. Was hoping it'd be cheaper lol. Unfortunately I can't drive to Brampton haha. Don't think he'd deliver to Markham either. I called Canada auto electric on Markham and finch, they said a rebuild would be 190

[midnightfxgt]

If your at all handy, install it yourself. Its not a very hard job.

$180 is about the cheapest you will find. :)

[Pyro]

If your at all handy, install it yourself. Its not a very hard job.

$180 is about the cheapest you will find. :)
If it was summer and the car was at home I could definitely try myself haha. Car is at the shop though. Well as long as the part and 2 hours Labour is fair I guess ill tell him to go ahead. I just wasn't sure because I thought it'd be slightly cheaper as per jackals post and maybe 1 hour labor as I've read it's not too hard

[midnightfxgt]

It's probably in the book for 2 hours, but I think they should be able to do it in an hour.

Hopefully the breeze through it, and cut you a deal..... we can all dream, right? ;)

[Pyro]

It's probably in the book for 2 hours, but I think they should be able to do it in an hour.

Hopefully the breeze through it, and cut you a deal..... we can all dream, right? ;)

Haha you said it. You never know though. He quoted me 160 for a transmission coolant drain once and then charged me 150. Smart of him to, because now I go to him regularly and he's made a lot more off me at a 10 cost. If dealers were smart they'd be doing the same thing. Not sure why scam shops and dealers are so short sighted

[midnightfxgt]

Haha you said it. You never know though. He quoted me 160 for a transmission coolant drain once and then charged me 150. Smart of him to, because now I go to him regularly and he's made a lot more off me at a 10 cost. If dealers were smart they'd be doing the same thing. Not sure why scam shops and dealers are so short sighted

Dealership owner's often do not see the big picture. Its usually all about immediate profit.

[Booter22]

Haha you said it. You never know though. He quoted me 160 for a transmission coolant drain once and then charged me 150. Smart of him to, because now I go to him regularly and he's made a lot more off me at a 10 cost. If dealers were smart they'd be doing the same thing. Not sure why scam shops and dealers are so short sighted


Dealership owner's often do not see the big picture. Its usually all about immediate profit.

some dealers do assist customer as much as they can. i think it really comes down to the overhead cost. there is really only so much you can give away or discount where a smaller shop owner has less and will be usually able to charge less or give away more. but of course not all dealers or small shops are the same :( i think the aftermarket rebuilt alternators we get around about $250 or so, then + install. its those OEM starters but of course that would be considered "new" and not refab. so as long as you get a 1 year 20,000 km warranty or more then go rebuilt and save some $$

[midnightfxgt]

^^^ Agreed. Would be nice though to see a dealership charge based on ACTUAL time. A lot of stuff is quoted on book time which can be crazy high. I think I did my alternator in 45-60mins. So in theory, the client should only be charged for that amount of time (hell, a Mazda tech should be quicker than me). The issue (like you said) is overhead. I think the mindset is that the customer is expecting to pay 2 hours, so bill him 2 hours because these huge dealerships aren't free to build, and staff.

[wmzda5]

Its all about the tax.... The govt expect to be paid a standard amt of tax for a specific goods/service. Some shops have computerized billing system that automatically reports online to the govt exactly how much the shop earned for a specific job. It will not allow them to charge 1 hr for a standard 2 hr job. A buddy of mine just put a different job description corresponding to an hour's work in place of what is actually done to save me some money.

[kcmazda]

Its all about the tax.... The govt expect to be paid a standard amt of tax for a specific goods/service. Some shops have computerized billing system that automatically reports online to the govt exactly how much the shop earned for a specific job. It will not allow them to charge 1 hr for a standard 2 hr job. A buddy of mine just put a different job description corresponding to an hour's work in place of what is actually done to save me some money.

I don't know where you guys get your work done but for an alternator on a Mazda 3 pays 1 hour not 2 hours to replace...

[JrCanuck]

I paid $350 new (OEM from A&A Auto parts, Stoney Creek) and installed myself. Not a hard job if you have the know-how. Took me 2 hours, doing it all alone.