105amp or 140amp?? get it rebuilt locally, it will be $750 and up for a new one, been there done that got the t-shirt
Maybe I'm reading wrong but isn't the question about the later 'NipponDenso' 348 alternator, not the GM105 (105 Amp standard or 140 Amp upgraded output) Also referred to as AC Delco, Delco Remy or GM Delco. The ND alternator was the factory revision to later 348's. I've read on this site its far less likely to fail but harder to get parts should it require a rebuild.
There appartently were 2 different Nippon Units used mine has the smaller 105amp Nippon the new one that I ordered , in case the rebuild was unsuccessful, was larger with a diff, belt , and required a longer upper mounting bracket that was supplied with it. Also the rectifier was a standared piece the voltage regulator was what caused us some grief we ended up using a IN220 voltage regulator
Just out of curiosity, I rebuilt my 3 wire 38 amp Delco alternator in less than an hour with less than $40 worth of parts. Is there anything about a 348 alternator that is any different besides the output amps? Seems like a no brainer DIY if new ones are $750. Ken
I've had three different alternators, the last two only lasting about 2,000 miles or six - eight months. I had a local repair shop fix it, but no good, it broke anyway. After testing tthey had no good explanation as to why it continues to fail. If the Nippon alternator does the trick..I'm willing to pay for the part.
Matthew - Just out of curiosity, does your car have any cam seal leaks or oil getting dripped onto the alternator? Do you run with the bottom splash guards on the car? I've had no trouble with mine whatsoever.... maybe it's just dumb-luck, but your failure rate seems way too high.
It's the voltage regulator that they are using. They need the heavy duty one. Apparently not all voltage regulators are created equal. Tehy may also want to try one from a different parts supplier
Like Ken I rebuilt my Delco Remy 105A using just a few quids (uk pounds)worth of easily obtained spares parts. The job is so easy that if it happened again (as long as it wasn't with great regularity) I still wouldn't consider the hundreds for a new unit or even a ND replacement. I stuck to the standard output on rebuild, rather than going for the 140A uprate which I have read can result in a less robust unit. I would say they fry due to the heat they are subjected to. In comparison to other vehicles these machines seem to run within a micron of melt down. Open the lid after any drive and its fry an egg territory on just about any component! Failure symptoms were initially dim gen light on dash, then after about 5~10 minutes driving back homeward bound other dash lights coming on as various other systems decided they didn't want to play. Whilst alt was out I decided to put on a new belt, getting the right PN one of those was a larf a minute! First they sent me a 355 belt, then a 348 ND belt, then the correct one third time lucky.
Matthew, Just had my Delco unit rebuilt a few months ago by a local shop. He rewound it to 140 amps and new regulator, bearings, diodes, all for $180.00. He's rebuilt 3 different Ferrari alternators in the past for me, all under $200.00.
