1. How can I tell if my alternator is bad?
   The easiest way to tell if it's your alternator is, is your battery light on?  If it is, more than Likely it is a bad alternator. If your car won't stay running after you jumped it.  Your battery goes dead over night when you know that the battery is good. These are the 2 most common way's you can tell if your alternators bad.
   
2. Why can't I use the old method of removing the negative cable to see if the car stay's running as a way of telling if the alternator is bad?
   Since alternators started using internal regulators which are solid state, the system can get a large jolt or spike when you disconnect it from the battery, and if the alternator was in good shape can harm the regulator and render it useless. Then you now have 2 problems to repair.
   
3. What is a remanufactured alternator?
   The difference between a remanufactured unit and a rebuilt unit is simple.  A rebuilt unit is a unit where you disassemble the unit, repair the broken or worn parts, put it back together and sell it back as a good unit, and a remanufactured unit is where the case of the unit is striped of all internal parts and all new parts are put into the case and then sold.  This is the simplified version of it, but thats what it is.  You will always get a better unit and a better guarantee with it.
4. When I jump my car, How long will it take to charge the battery?
   First of all jumping a car and running it should be a last resort.  A discharged battery should be charged on a battery charger, not by the alternator.  The alternator is NOT a battery charger.  The alternator was only designed to replenish the battery with current, not to charge the battery. In most cases the alternator can take on the job, but it really puts a strain on the alternator and could possibly burn it out.  The time it would take to charge a battery far out weighs the risk of a fried alternator.
   
5. My car doesn't seem to be charging correctly, what could be the problem with it?
   It may not be your alternator at all.  what kind of condition is your alternator belt in?
   Is there black belt dust on the front of the alternator? If so, you are having a belt problem, not a alternator problem at all.  Check your belt tension, is the belt loose?  Stop in and we'll tell you and adjust it for you, if it's bad we'll replace it for you. If you let the belt dust collect on the alternator, in time you'll find out that the dust will make it's way into the alternator and give you charging problems.
6. Why is it so hard to give a good quote on how long it will take to replace my alternator?
   The truth is, I can go by the book and quote you, but as alternator specialists, we at times have found our own little tricks to get the alternator out and back in faster than what the book calls for and we try to pass that savings to you.  On the other hand you may have a car with an extremely difficult unit to remove and learn to find all the fast ways while we repair your car.  We always try to get you going fast, because we know your time is important.  In most cases it takes longer to charge your battery than it takes to do the alternator.  It is very important to have the battery charged correctly before the vehicle leaves to ensure your alternator is performing well before you leave.   
   
   
   
   
   

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