An unpleasant Black Friday surprise.Follow

On Wednesday morning, Pulling out of my drive way, I heard a pop and lost power steering, and all the lights dimmed in my vehicle. Opened the hood, and the alternator is sitting on the bottom of the engine cavity and the belt is off. The mount that held the alternator in place was broken.

So Friday I went to the dealership and asked about it. The alternator mounts to the front engine/timing chain cover. It's an 800 dollar part, and depending on the exact model, a new one may need to have some gears dealing with the timing updated (Something about an emissions package).

I've been calling around locally trying to find a place with a used cover I can purchase, but so far no one has one. I think since it's a 2005, there probably aren't many junked motors out there, and a parts yard isn't likely going to want to part out a working engine so I can buy the cover.

I think this repair is going to hurt my pocket a bit. I thought about getting this one welded back together (some local welders are confident they can do it) but I'd be concerned about it breaking again. This time it broke I was still in my driveway, but if it breaks again, I may be driving down the road or making a corner. Losing power steering at a bad time can cause me to crash...

Judging by the exposed break point, it looks like it's a cast part. I don't know much about welding, but I always thought welding cast was not as good. This is just bits and pieces I've heard dealing with the maintenance welders around the shop at work.

Ltry calling around to you pick-a-parts places see if they have your car in the yard. Parting engines can bring more cash for yards then whole engines. 2005 not that new unless its a rare car you shouldn't have any problems finding it in parts yards.

I agree with this statement. I would think even if an engine is in fine condition, they would still part it out, Its in the yard to be sold, usually to a first come, first serve basis.

The real question is: what ELSE is wrong with your car? Alternator mounts usually dont just 'break', either something else is wrong under the hood, or its a defective part for your make. In the latter case, it should be a non-charge replaceable part.

And for Elindas comment I have this to say: a junkyard is like a big toybox for those of us who like working on cars..Pay the cover charge and you spend all day taking apart stuff, learning about it, or breaking it to get out your frustration..nevermind you can always hop inside a junker and take a few hits from the ole' flask.

I found a place out of State that had one for 100 dollars. Bought it, and had the dealership install it. The whole ordeal cost roughly 600 dollars, parts/labor. Cheaper than the new part alone. I did have to go without my vehicle for a couple weeks, but luckily my father lives and works in route to where I work, so I borrowed his car, picked him up and dropped him off at work before going to work in the morning.

Edited, Dec 9th 2011 8:03pm by TirithRR