My car's alternator died on a Tuesday morning commute

Happened last week on the way to work. Tow was $120, new part was $280. Everyone says to just junk a car when this happens. I watched a YouTube video and fixed it myself in the garage. Anyone have a good mechanic in the Cleveland area for when I'm in over my head?

3 comments

3 Comments

cameron72423d ago

Oh man, the "just junk it" crowd is the worst. My old Civic's alternator went out and my uncle told me to send it to the crusher. I fixed it with a socket set I got for my birthday and a prayer to the god of stripped bolts. Felt like a genius for a week, right up until I tried to do the brakes and put a caliper on backwards. That's when you need the real mechanic.

faith_lopez4822d ago

Honestly used to be one of those "just junk it" people until my own alternator quit. Watching that same kind of YouTube video and getting it done felt way better than paying a tow and a shop. Totally get what @cameron724 means about feeling like a genius, even if the next project humbles you fast. For a real mechanic in Cleveland, my cousin swears by the guys at West Side Auto, but I haven't needed them yet.

noahchen13d ago

120 bucks for a used alternator and a Saturday afternoon and I felt like I could take on the world. Did the same thing on my old F150 when the water pump started leaking. That YouTube video made me look like a genius until I forgot to tighten the belt tensioner all the way and it started squealing on the way to work. Had to pull over and fix it in a 7-Eleven parking lot. @cameron724 got it right though, that feeling of pulling it off yourself beats paying someone else every time. Still haven't tried brakes yet and I'm not in a hurry.