Alternator and Starter scam - Hilux 4x4 Forum
Alternator and Starter scam
Following Stef's Polo Gearbox topic , it seems like it is a general trend with vehicle manufacturers, share holders comes before clients, common sense and the environment.
My Auris's alternator stopped charging, Toyota agents said they have bad news it is a non serviceable alternator. I have to replace the alternator. Cost of Alternator is R10,630.04 for alternator only . The guys at the branch were very helpful, they offered 15% discount on the price of the part and even discounted the labor rate from the R645 per hour which they charged for the service down to R515 per hour for replacing the alternator, bringing the total quote to R10,209.74.
I just laughed at them and took my car.
Took it off myself. It is a complex alternator, has bearings in the pulley and you need a special tool to open it, so I decided not to mess with it and sent it to Auto Magneto in Cape Town. R2,100.00 later (labor included) it had new rectifier, new regulator, new bearings , etc.
Very often I see on the forum that somebody needs a new alternator or starter for their Toyota's . Please, before you believe the agents, do not just buy a new one. MOST of alternators and starters can be serviced at a fraction of the cost of a new one.
Sad part is that it is not the fault of the guys at the branch. Toyota SA dictates which spares are available to the branches and at what price (smells like price fixing to me). So in Toyota's Warehouse service parts for them alternators are not available, thus you cannot fix it, you must buy a new one. I presume in rand value it is better to make 500% profit on a R10k alternator than on a R1k service kit.
That is why I said, share holders comes before clients, common sense and the environment.
Dis waar ja....om nie eers te praat van Turbos wat R4000 kos om te recon, maar R35000 kos by agente nie.
The very least they can do is throw in a pot of Vaseline with every new car .....
Or start delivering proper services, and parts at reasonable prices - this statement goes for ALL manufacturers ....
Regtig "keel vol" om te betaal vir n "service plan", maar na elke diens is dit DUIDELIK dat hulle halwe werk gedoen het.
Pieter as ek jy is vat ek daardie kwitansie na Totota toe en se vir hulle dat hulle nog baie het om te leer en vertel hulle dat daardie alternator wel diensbaar is.
Dit wil net al vir my voorkom asof die hedendaagse alternators en starters nie meer van dieselfde kwaliteit is.My 1989 SFA het nog sy oorspronklike starter met die Toyota sticker op en was nog nooit oopgemaak nie.Die alternator het my ook nog geen problem gegee nie.Ek het hom afgehaal om te re-wire na 90A toe en toe sommer sy borsels en bearings vervang.
Sun Jul 09, 2017 2:40 pm
Dawie, hulle werk net van die rekenaar af. Die rekenaar sê dit moet vervang word, dan moet dit vervang word. Lyk my nie hulle mag dan iets anders doen nie.
Hulle het selfs voorafopgestelde tye wat hulle moet hef vir die arbeid.
Met die waterpomp bv het die rekenaar gesê hulle moet 6 ure arbeid kwoteer, die werktuigkundige is 'n vriend van my en gesê hy weet dit vat net tussen 2 en 3 ure en my toe net 3 ure kwoteer. Waterpomp sou saam arbeid amper R5k gekos het, toe koop ek een vir R1500 by Autozone en sit self in, en ek het sommer al drie tensioner pulleys en die fanbelt vervang en my totale koste was net onder R2k.
Dawie, hulle werk net van die rekenaar af. Die rekenaar sê dit moet vervang word, dan moet dit vervang word. ....
Pieter so paar jaar terug het ek n buurman gehad wat nog n ou-skool mechanic was.
30 Desember daag n vriend van hom op met n Mercedes - wheel bearing is fodde .... Hy bel die handelaars - "jammer, ons verkope is gesluit vir die jaar"
So ry ons na die naaste parte-handelaar, waar hy vra vir die bearing katalogus .... hy begin rond blaai, en kry so stout glimlag ... blaai heen en weer by Mitsubishi ! Hy vra dat hulle n spesifieke bearing bring, vernier en hy begin meet ..... Hy het onthou dat n spesifieke Mitsubishi dele van n ouer MErc "geleen" het .... enigste verskil tussen die twee voertuie se wheelbearings was die dust-cover.
Glo daai ou het jare nog met n Mitsubishi bearing voor in sy Merc gery ....
swartvark wrote: ↑
verwys jy dalk na 'n sekere reeks met 'n 1.9 diesel enjin....