Your Alternator
 

You may have read about my long trip where the alternator failed.
I was delivering critical medical supplies up near the northeast border of California, almost to Oregon and didn't have the luxury of waiting days for a replacement alternator so I bought some batteries and ran them until the truck died, switched batteries, etc.

When I got home and my Tundra, Clyde The Ride had a new alternator, Dex, my mechanic showed me the brushes which had simply worn down to the point where the brush seat had destroyed the armature.

Brushes: $25.00.
Alternator: $400.00

Any reason not to replace brushes with the timing belt service? Or every 50,000 miles or-so?

Re: Your Alternator
 

Yep, I've had a few older toyota alternators do that. Mine wore the shaft side down too so "just" new brushes was out of the question. those were '90 and older cars tho.

Re: Your Alternator
 

is that alternator on top of the motor? can you replace it yourself? if so you could buy one from a cheap parts store for half that price and get a lifetime warranty(altho i assume $400 is part and labor at a shop).

heck you could even buy a spare and keep it w/ you(i understand your line of work), and still come out ahead!

Re: Your Alternator
 

Of course the alternator is not on top. Silly boy.
Actually, I'm not sure where it is. Someday I'll look.
But a spare is not a bad idea to think on.

Re: Your Alternator
 

I would offer the same suggestion. Buy an alternator with a lifetime warranty and don't worry about it.
I would also figure out how to replace your alternator so next time you can save some bucks.