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Which ABQ mechanic was right, the one who said replace the whole alternator or the one who said just the brushes?
Six months ago, a guy at Grease Monkey on Central told me my 2010 Civic needed a whole new alternator for $450, but my neighbor's buddy said just swap the brushes for $15. I went with the cheap fix and now the battery light is back on after my morning commute up I-25. Did I waste my time or did the first guy just want my money?
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the_tessa28d ago
Paint me a picture of throwing $15 directly into a trash can because that's basically what you did. Your neighbor's buddy was probably just trying to be helpful but he missed the part where a 14 year old alternator with rusty bearings and worn slip rings isn't just about the brushes falling out. The Grease Monkey guy wasn't trying to scam you, he was giving you the "your car is old and this is what we always see happen" quote. Now you get to pay the $450 anyway plus the joy of being stranded on I-25 with a dead battery and your hazards on. At least the cheap fix bought you six months of peace of mind, even if it was false peace of mind.
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angela_grant29d ago
yeah that's rough, I feel for you. the cheap fix is always tempting but on a 2010 Civic that's been through six more years of wear, the brushes were probably just the first thing to go. the whole alternator might've been on its last legs anyway, especially if you drive up I-25 every day with the AC and headlights on. your neighbor's buddy wasn't necessarily trying to scam you, he just gave you a bandaid for a bullet wound. at this point you're probably looking at that $450 replacement after all, plus the $15 you already spent.
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