TheSamba.com :: View topic - Anyone running the China made Alternator for a lengthy time?

Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:35 pm

I'm replacing my alternator. The bearings r shot and they ended up wallering out the housing. So r the new china alts an acceptable replacement? Like the ones on cip1?

Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:43 pm

Demand Bosh! and only Bosh!

Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:45 pm

Like a year ago I bought this one from Ron at CarCraft... Pretty satisfied!!! The look and quality is nice, and it fits on the base nicely too.... So far no problems at all!!

http://carcraftstore.com/alternators-all.aspx

Regards!

Fri Jan 27, 2012 5:41 pm

vw_hank wrote: Demand Bosh! and only Bosh!

Bosch

Fri Jan 27, 2012 5:46 pm

vw_hank wrote: Demand Bosh! and only Bosh!

BosCh made in China?

Fri Jan 27, 2012 5:49 pm

I couldn't tell you how long of a time, my Chinese watch broke.

Fri Jan 27, 2012 5:50 pm

RDbugger wrote: vw_hank wrote: Demand Bosh! and only Bosh!

BosCh made in China?

Nope, Mexico...

Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:35 pm

Had china made for 2 years now, no problems

Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:41 pm

Cusser wrote: vw_hank wrote: Demand Bosh! and only Bosh!

Bosch :oops: forgot the "C"

Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:42 pm

I run nothing but Bosh AL82n's...to beat the Vw parts network pricing system try a truck/auto electrical parts house and order by part number...Bosh AL82n..often the vendor will be 20 to 30% under the Vw joints..

Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:49 pm

VeeDubDoug wrote: RDbugger wrote: vw_hank wrote: Demand Bosh! and only Bosh!

BosCh made in China?

Nope, Mexico... China, Mexico,, it dont mater were its made, its "WHO" made it that counts :wink: Bosch has standard that the parts must meet. when your dealing with no name re-packaged made in China parts, most of the time the quality standards are very low, you might git A grate part that well last many years with no problems :D or you could be replacing it next month :evil: Its A crapshoot!

Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:51 pm

I ran a motorola alternator for almost 2 years, but I fucked with it alot so it fell apart. So I order a new one in October and it's been charging like a champ for the past 3 months :lol:

Fri Jan 27, 2012 7:14 pm

I'd find a local alternator/generator/starter repair shop, buy the replacement parts and rebuild the original Bosch yourself. I rebuilt the Bosch starter on my Subaru for about $25 and it only took half an hour. A rebuilt unit (from Mexico) cost $100... choice is yours.

Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:30 pm

I have a 90 amp (I think, maybe only 75) China alternator. Shouldn't have gotten one, but what's done is done (for now). Before my Beetle broke down it was going on a year. Had no problems EXCEPT that at idle I don't think it was putting out full amperage. Never checked with a meter that I can recall, but at idle the headlights would dim slightly and then brighten back up once the rpms increased. Pissed me off more than I should have let it. I also knew of multiple people running the O'reilly (or maybe it was NAPA) alternators that supposedly have a lifetime warranty and according to them there were no problems.

EDIT: Side note: never ever EVER use a China alt pulley. My inner pulley slowly broke and I was driving around, got the alt light on, found a loose belt, adjusted the tension in the dark, started hearing a grinding noise and saw it gnawing into the alt case. Drove it the rest of the way home and had to weld a couple bolts to it in order to pull it off the shaft (the puller I used snapped the already destroyed pulley completely into pieces)

Fri Jan 27, 2012 11:33 pm

Zach Thomas wrote: I have a 90 amp (I think, maybe only 75) China alternator. Shouldn't have gotten one, but what's done is done (for now). Before my Beetle broke down it was going on a year. Had no problems EXCEPT that at idle I don't think it was putting out full amperage. Never checked with a meter that I can recall, but at idle the headlights would dim slightly and then brighten back up once the rpms increased. Pissed me off more than I should have let it. I also knew of multiple people running the O'reilly (or maybe it was NAPA) alternators that supposedly have a lifetime warranty and according to them there were no problems...

That's a normal symptom, while you gain the amerage capability, the system needs a higher RPM for a greater field currert.
Quote: The field current is much smaller than the output current of the alternator; for example, a 70 A alternator may need only 7 A of field current. The field current is supplied to the rotor windings by slip rings. The low current and relatively smooth slip rings ensure greater reliability and longer life than that obtained by a DC generator with its commutator and higher current being passed through its brushes.

The field windings are initially supplied power from the battery via the ignition switch and "charge" warning indicator (which is why the indicator is on when the ignition is on but the engine is not running). Once the engine is running and the alternator is generating power, a diode feeds the field current from the alternator main output equalizing the voltage across the warning indicator which goes off

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternator

Fri Jan 27, 2012 11:45 pm

johnnypan wrote: I run nothing but Bosh AL82n's...to beat the Vw parts network pricing system try a truck/auto electrical parts house and order by part number...Bosh AL82n..often the vendor will be 20 to 30% under the Vw joints..

That's a smart trick. I was searching for a clutch kit for my Subaru and found that if I cross referenced the part number for a Legacy to the part number for an Impreza, The Impreza clutch kit was almost $60 cheaper. So, I bought the Impreza kit.

I also found that a rebuilt starter badged for a VW Beetle may cost up to $100 through VW vendors. When I searched the Bosch part number at my local Autozone, The cost was $40. It makes a huge difference.

Sat Jan 28, 2012 9:27 am

I also bought the China alternator from Car Craft no problems-1 year. I purchased an alternator pulley-German from Save-a-Bug in Riverside it has been excellent-the Empi chrome one I had prior fell apart.

Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:04 pm

OK, so I have my original Bosch Alt from a 79 Conv SB. What should I do to rebuild it before putting it back In. I have the engine out, am getting it redone, as the car sat for 14 of the last 17 years. The Alt worked OK before, just thought I should get it tested, and maybe replace the brushes if that would help. ANYBODY??

Mon Jan 30, 2012 2:45 am

Do A search, I know there was A good thread on hear A while back were someone told how to rebuild with pics and everything :D

Wed Nov 19, 2025 1:38 am

We have exported this AL82NC Alternator since 2011,
55A,75A,90A.
Thousands unit has been sold in Europe,USA,and Asia countries.No quality problem feedback.
So it will be OK.