Extra Automotive

I had alternator #1 die on me some time back – a few months ago, and a different mechanic replaced it for me. - NOT extra automotive, but a reliable mechanic. Then I had alternator #2 die on me. It was a remanufactured alternator from Federated – that still had a warrantee on it. I needed a mechanic that used federated auto parts. I found Extra Automotive and got AAA to get me up there. Got the receipt faxed down to extra automotive. They found the alternator to be quite dead. Easy fix – put a new one in under warranty, at only labor cost. 160 some dollars – and considering you have to disconnect motor mounts and lift the engine out of the car to get the alternator out on a 2000-2004 ford focus, it certainly seemed fair to me. A day later… Alternator #3 – YAY back on the road again. Until it started cutting in an out. I found hitting the alternator with a wrench would cause it to cut back in for a bit. I eventually got a 2x3 and a hammer and I would percussively repair the thing for a bit - you could hear it kick back in and charge the batteries – but eventually it would cut back out. But that stopped working entirely within 2 weeks. Called extra automotive and they scheduled me for Alternator #4 – Yay… back on the road again… 2 days later – and I had another dead battery, and was charging the battery behind the apartment again. At this point the mechanic was like “umm, I want to do some more testing to make sure its something else” Fair enough - I would come to the same conclusion. I personally re-routed another alternator cable. Kind of a rig job but it proved it was not the cable. I also tested the cable that plugs into the alternator – and so did the mechanic, and seeing there were no other issues got me LUCKY ALTERNATOR #5! – He went out and got an AC Delco branded alternator. No more Federated alternators for this car. Not sure how he’s making money here, but I got an alternator that works. I swear even this alternator kicks out a little every now and again – but its been working good enough for a year now. I never got charged a penny beyond the original payment. THIS IS WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND TE CALL OF DUTY TO DO THE JOB 3 TIMES. IT WAS BAD PARTS, NOT A BAD MECHANIC THAT CAUSED MY INCONVIENCE. KUDOS TO THOSE THAT WILL MAKE THINGS RIGHT The only reason I haven’t gone back is because I insist on doing all of my own work any more. Ever since another mechanic left an EGR tube disconnected, it’s just not worth it to me. I do my own work because I have a vested interest in doing it right. And I also have a supercharger… amongst other things. Lesson? Rebuild your own alternator. Or get a brand new one. Put it in yourself. you will learn more and be a better human being. Or go with these guys, because they will make it right. FYI - I dont have any huge audion equipment. Stock stero only. One power inverter - but I rarely draw more than 60 watts from is. With my new alternator, I used it ONCE to draw more than 300 watts for charging someones battery. The new alternator holds up well enough to that - but I wouldnt do it on a regular basis.