charging system problem!!!
Pro
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
Autozone has changed their policy on lifetime warranty on alternators which is why they now have new machines to test them.
Their registers here in florida at least will not let them ring the sale or exhange unless the machine testing the unit prints out a receipt of a report on the results of the test. if it tests good it won't allow it and the manager will have to over ride it, BUT this shows up on a report to corp as to how many of these transactions are being done and the store manager is accountable for them hence why you won't see them offering for the sake of customer service to over ride it at leisure just to help you out and do the exchange despite the alternator testing good.
First DON'T get any more alternators from autozone do as the prior poster had mentioned and have it rebuilt at a local place ( although make sure it's reputable i've had my share of bad jobs from local places too ! )
I've gone through 2 alternators in 3 years with autozone for my daily driver dodge grand caravan, ( and these are a real PITA to change out ) recently it went bad again, at one location they tested it ( seriously the girl did not know what she was doing ) because it tested good.
Went to another autozone which had someone who did know how to operate the machine guess what the alternator according to their machine was good.
It wasn't trust me !!!!!!!!!! she exchanged it anyway but it
Turns out it will test good so they don't have to honor the lifetime warranty and make you buy a new one.
Lucky for me the woman knows me well i shop there all the time.
Lesson here is they are not well made rebuilds, a life time warranty that is not honored is not worth diddly squat.
So like it or not i'm going to splurge and get a new mopar unit and save myself the grief.
Always buy oem when possible at least rebuilt oem is better than aftermarket chain store rebuilds.
Also use a test light and check the fuse panel, if it lights up on that circuit ignition off and it's not supposed to normally then that circuit is shorted and draining your battery.
Hope this helps!
Their registers here in florida at least will not let them ring the sale or exhange unless the machine testing the unit prints out a receipt of a report on the results of the test. if it tests good it won't allow it and the manager will have to over ride it, BUT this shows up on a report to corp as to how many of these transactions are being done and the store manager is accountable for them hence why you won't see them offering for the sake of customer service to over ride it at leisure just to help you out and do the exchange despite the alternator testing good.
First DON'T get any more alternators from autozone do as the prior poster had mentioned and have it rebuilt at a local place ( although make sure it's reputable i've had my share of bad jobs from local places too ! )
I've gone through 2 alternators in 3 years with autozone for my daily driver dodge grand caravan, ( and these are a real PITA to change out ) recently it went bad again, at one location they tested it ( seriously the girl did not know what she was doing ) because it tested good.
Went to another autozone which had someone who did know how to operate the machine guess what the alternator according to their machine was good.
It wasn't trust me !!!!!!!!!! she exchanged it anyway but it
Turns out it will test good so they don't have to honor the lifetime warranty and make you buy a new one.
Lucky for me the woman knows me well i shop there all the time.
Lesson here is they are not well made rebuilds, a life time warranty that is not honored is not worth diddly squat.
So like it or not i'm going to splurge and get a new mopar unit and save myself the grief.
Always buy oem when possible at least rebuilt oem is better than aftermarket chain store rebuilds.
Also use a test light and check the fuse panel, if it lights up on that circuit ignition off and it's not supposed to normally then that circuit is shorted and draining your battery.
Hope this helps!
Last edited by GQ-ROD; Nov 13, 2012 at 04:16 PM.
