bad luck with Autozone Lifetime Warr Alternators

zjhitman · 10-23-2006, 12:36 PM

Original factory alt lasted 200K+. Replaced with Autozone Lifetime Warranty 136 amp alt approx 1 year and 4 months ago. Was watching the voltmeter while driving when it died. They put it on their machine to test when I took it back and verified it was dead. I got a free replacement and put it on. Wife just called and said it was hard to start and now the voltmeter is down to the left about 9volts. That one lasted less than 1 week. Anybody else having this problem or am I just lucky? It's a 97 with the 5.2 and over 250K. Could I be missing something here?

Turbonut · 10-23-2006, 12:52 PM

They are far removed from quality. I purchased one for my old '93 after the factory unit died at 187,000 miles. The AutoZone unit lasted 18,000 miles. Exchanged at no cost, and lasted until I sold it with 233,000 to my neighbor. Still going strong.

I did mention to the manager that the rebuilt unit lasted only 18,000 miles and his was reply was that I was lucky I got that much mileage out of the unit!

-Joe- · 10-23-2006, 01:05 PM

Alternator or the voltage regulator, could also be a bad battery.

Fairly sure the voltage regulator is in the computer not on the alternator.

greasefingers · 10-23-2006, 01:34 PM

I buy oils, anti-freeze, grease, windshield wipers, and similar stuff at local auto part stores (even WalMart/Kmart) but for the more serious stuff I now use Napa or the Dealer. It will cost me more but my time is too valuable and if I have to do it twice then the savings go right down the toilet.

wjs81866 · 10-23-2006, 01:50 PM

Original water pump lasted until 110,000 on my 96 5.2L. Bought a new one from AutoZone and almost exactly 1 year and 4 days to the date the AutoZone bearings went out. They offered me a new one and I told them they could keep it. Went to Napa on the way home and bought a new one from them; sold the 96 in July of this year, probably still working. 218,000 miles

I went to AutoZone last Saturday and bought some wheel cleaner and a funnel.

AutoZone for stuff in bottles like engine coolent

AutoZone for parts

///BHRpowered · 10-23-2006, 02:13 PM

You buy a cheap product your not going to get the best results, also FYI, a "lifetime warrenty" is a clever trick by marketing, its actually for the intented life of the product, not however long you have it. So while something may have a "lifetime warrenty" after a certain point, legally in the fine print, its worth nothing

10-23-2006, 02:13 PM	#6
///BHRpowered Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Fairfax, Va Posts: 1,814 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	You buy a cheap product your not going to get the best results, also FYI, a "lifetime warrenty" is a clever trick by marketing, its actually for the intented life of the product, not however long you have it. So while something may have a "lifetime warrenty" after a certain point, legally in the fine print, its worth nothing __________________ [url=http://www.mazdaworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=19]"Within the mind lies the greatest of all evils...Eternity" - Enigma02S[/url] [url=http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2370949]2000 Millenia S...Five figure spending account[/url] [url=http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2384051]1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee...Gone but never forgotton[/url] [url=http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2383985]2003 BMW M3 SMG...For Sale, PM if interested[/url] [url=http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2484240]2000 "Jeep Grand Cherokee...4.7, Quadra-Drive, Loaded.[/url] "A dark and bitter chill fills the air. once thriving life wallows away into ash as he slithers past, the very stars themselfs part to make way for his haunting, yet oddly claim arrival. Bhr approaches." - Hatter "But i have to say, BHR's rants go hand in hand with moring coffee to get my day started - RXL" Admin - [url]http://www.mazdaworld.net[/url]

10-23-2006, 12:52 PM	#2
Turbonut Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,828 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	They are far removed from quality. I purchased one for my old '93 after the factory unit died at 187,000 miles. The AutoZone unit lasted 18,000 miles. Exchanged at no cost, and lasted until I sold it with 233,000 to my neighbor. Still going strong. I did mention to the manager that the rebuilt unit lasted only 18,000 miles and his was reply was that I was lucky I got that much mileage out of the unit!