Alternator Cost!!!!! Eeeeek

[upanddown22]

Alternator broke yesterday, snapping the drive belt. Just been quoted £456.98 to get it replaced. This seems really steep!

It's broken down into:

Alternator: £253
Belt: £40
Labour: £104

Total including VAT: £456.98

Any advice, I can't really afford to pay this!

Car is a 1.5dci Dynamique 80, 53 reg.

[BEAR]

try to do it a wee bit cheaper, for example:

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/B462-Renault-Lagu ... 1bf7988887

alternator belt:

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Renault-Megane-Al ... 3a5588a7f8

I would ask for one that's not been lying on the floor though, lol

[upanddown22]

Thanks Bear, I will have a look and see what I can find.

Anyone know if all the alternators on the 1.5 are the same? The garage mentioned something about the alternator having a seperate clutch, how do I tell what to buy?

Is it an easy job to change the alternator? Is it worth changing the tensioners at the same time?

Sorry for all the questions!!! Thanks in advance

[dougieCC]

Im I going mad, but have I read somewhere the alternator has to be programmed to the car?

Alan

[upanddown22]

I've seen that somewhere too Alan, I think it was a misunderstanding and the person meant that you just had to make sure the alternator was the correct output. I could be mistaken though!!!

[upanddown22]

I've found an alternator on ebay, secondhand so not ideal but beggars can't be choosers!

Is this a hard job to do at home? Just got a Haynes and it doesn't look too bad. Should i be considering replacing the tensioner as a matter of course?

Any advice most appreciated!

[upanddown22]

Got this sorted now, decided to take it to the garage as the £120 labour costs didn't seem as bad as me attempting it myself!

Replaced the alternator with exactly the same model that was on there before so thankfully haven't experienced any problems with the ECU, would be nice to know a bit more about that though!

[kornnut106]

hello the alternator dose not need to be coded to the car ever (the switching unit can for the alternator but only optional )....., though you do need the correct one there is like a few types for the car apparently and the regulator and voltage has to be the same but as you can ring Renault if needed you could get the parts no. and all the alternators are just a straight swap regardless of what any one has said however as you have changed the alternator with a second hand one you'd better make sure its got the new pulley on the end or it will do the same thing if so your sorted. i seen one a few weeks ago and the metal from the pulley fell into the timing belt cover made it jump like 6 teeth and broke the tiny holder part of the camshaft and i mean tiny and totally wrecked the engine ...not nice...any ways just info from my experiences and good luck.