new alternator:
The factory alternator on my GTI puts out 90 amps.
With my radio (subs) and headlights on I was drawing 106 amps.
7 months of this abuse and the alternator died.

All I knew, was that my car was making a god awful noise, and was under warranty, so I took it to Lieth VW. They had it for 3 days (right ) trying to find and fix the noise. They finally figured it out. They then told me that because of my subs, they would not honor the warranty on the alternator. That slightly annoyed me, but they hooked me up on the price of a new one.

I upgraded the alternator to the 120 Amp version. My cost was $138.xx and the list price is $390 + $200 core. They did charge me $95 to diagnose that my alternator was shot, but I figure is still came out ahead, relatively.
It pays to work at a shop, and get parts at or below cost.

urge311- I think I saw your car down at lieth when I picked mine up. Do you drive a black Wolfsburg?

4/3/2006 4:38:42 PM

why should they warranty a part you were using in a non-factory manner?

4/3/2006 4:45:02 PM

I asked the service writter before I did anything to it:

Me: "If I put in an aftermarket stereo, how will this affect my warranty?"
Him: "It won't have any affect. We won't look for any rattles or noises in the car though."

I understand why they won't warranty it, and I don't disagree with their descicion, they just need to be carefull with what they tell their customers.

4/3/2006 5:05:08 PM

The only aspect of this situation that would have been cool in any way was if you had diagnosed the problem yourself.

4/3/2006 6:06:41 PM

Quote :

"Me: "If I put in an aftermarket stereo, how will this affect my warranty?" Him: "It won't have any affect. We won't look for any rattles or noises in the car though.""

if he actually did say that, then why won't you hold him to it?

4/3/2006 6:09:08 PM

we all know that when it comes down to it the service writer is not the guy making the call on gray area items like this, its either his boss, or his boss's boss.

4/3/2006 6:15:02 PM

yeah, so. grow some fuckin balls and hold them to his word. he will be the one getting in trouble, not you. that's like an item priced wrong. you can make the company sell it to you for that price.

4/3/2006 6:26:10 PM

i got to agree with that

4/3/2006 6:49:36 PM

Quote :

""Me: "If I put in an aftermarket stereo, how will this affect my warranty?" Him: "It won't have any affect. We won't look for any rattles or noises in the car though."""

therein lies your problem, you said 'stereo' and ill bet you what that car is worth that he was thinking headunit, not headunit, subs, amp, whatever else you have in there...


otherwise id have to agree with everyone else about man-ing up and breakin some balls over having to pay for the work done...

4/3/2006 7:20:44 PM

Why did you only settled for a 120 amp? What were the conditions that 106 was drawn under? Idle? Car off/running?

You should have went for a 200amp unit.

4/3/2006 7:35:51 PM

You should have went for a 2000amp unit.

4/3/2006 8:34:52 PM

to my knowledge, there was no OEM 200 Amp alternator that fits directly. I could be wrong though.

The conditions to draw 106 Amps, headlights on, and stereo turned up about 80%. Gains are still set at 0 on the amps. Car at idle.

Quote :

"The only aspect of this situation that would have been cool in any way was if you had diagnosed the problem yourself"

The car is under warranty. I am not going to touch it till that time is up. I am lazy. I have two cars. It is easier to just drop it off and go on with my day and let them figure it out. Apparently it took the tech 2.8 hours to find the source of the noise and determine the alternator was shot. Also, this is apparently one of their better techs.

Quote :

"yeah, so. grow some fuckin balls and hold them to his word. he will be the one getting in trouble, not you. that's like an item priced wrong. you can make the company sell it to you for that price."

I don't truely care that it isn't warrantied. I plan on bring it up when I go to pick up my new alternator. It had to be ordered, and arrives on thursday, then I will put it in. I knew I needed or would need a stronger alternator. Also, I got 60%+ off of the new one, which will carry the VW warranty because it is more properly rated for what I have. The last thing, he could always say that I just miss-understood what he was saying, even though it was very clear.
If I have to go in again for this, I will deffinately have a single 12 and a 200W amp though.

4/3/2006 8:59:51 PM

after warranty - get it rewound for more PWR?

4/3/2006 11:11:48 PM

yea, what the hell did you do to your front bumper?

4/3/2006 11:18:02 PM

Quote :

"Apparently it took the tech 2.8 hours to find the source of the noise and determine the alternator was shot. Also, this is apparently one of their better techs. "

It doesnt matter at this point of course, but Ill tell you how it likely actually went down. Tech gets ticket, gets in car, drives it around the block and comes back, pulls it in and opens hood, then uses his listening device (ear) to diagnose source of noise. 10 minutes. The test drive and pulling it in to diagnose are optional.

2.8hours is likely the standard time charged there for testing starting/charging system.

4/3/2006 11:40:48 PM

[qquote]The car is under warranty. I am not going to touch it till that time is up.[/quote]

i was like that with leith once, you'll learn soon enough to quit bringing it in for stupid shit

4/4/2006 12:52:32 AM

Quote :

"It doesnt matter at this point of course, but Ill tell you how it likely actually went down. Tech gets ticket, gets in car, drives it around the block and comes back, pulls it in and opens hood, then uses his listening device (ear) to diagnose source of noise. 10 minutes. The test drive and pulling it in to diagnose are optional. 2.8hours is likely the standard time charged there for testing starting/charging system. "

Please, I work at a shop, I know how it is. In all actuallity it probably took the guy 2.6 hours to find the damn source. They only charge one hour of diagnosis, no matter how long it takes. The noise would keep going away. the tech- "I went out there and started it. I heard what I can only describe as a god awful noise, but it went away by the time I got the car to the bay". This was my problem as well. I would hear it, start to check it out, it would go away. Also, if any of you heard this noise, you would have probably done the same thing I did.

I hit shit that was in the road . That lovely item cracked my bumper. I will eventually get around to fixing it, but I need free time in order to do that.

4/4/2006 2:00:12 AM

Quote :

"Me: "If I put in an aftermarket stereo, how will this affect my warranty?" Him: "It won't have any affect. We won't look for any rattles or noises in the car though.""

Doesn't necessarily mean "Big ass subwoofers and amp" to the guy. It could mean you change out the CD player to play mp3's.

4/4/2006 8:06:16 AM

i've got about 3 5.0 ford alternators in a rubbermaid container. I love american "cheap" iron!!

4/4/2006 6:05:32 PM

you should look into upgrading that battery and if it doesn't void the warranty do your big 3. doin those 2 things made a world of differnce on my jeep when i had my xtr800(90amps in fuses) and hcca275(120amps in fuses) and only a 137 amp alternator.

4/4/2006 6:52:34 PM

i hate this thread

4/4/2006 6:57:56 PM

I have a yellow top already for the battery. I haven't done the big three yet though.

4/4/2006 7:23:24 PM

Quote :

"It could mean you change out the CD player to play mp3's."

doesn't matter. the guy should have been more specific before he said, "it won't have any effect.".

but that's just me. i don't like to pay for shit when i don't have to.

[Edited on April 5, 2006 at 10:06 AM. Reason : -]

4/5/2006 10:05:32 AM

it cost me less than that to replace the alternator and battery on my Cadillac (grand total of 70-some$ after core exchange since the battery was under warranty)

of course, I did diagnose it myself, and I replaced them in the parking lot

it pays to know how to use a multimeter.. or something?

4/5/2006 4:42:02 PM

It must be nice to have cheap parts.

I am replacing it myself, I know how to use a multimeter.
I took it in for a horible noise. I didn't put time into it. I'm sure I could have figured it out, but on top of being a senior, and working, and everything else in my life, I didn't have time.

4/5/2006 7:26:13 PM