What could cause alternators to keep going out?

1997 LEXUS ES 300
180,000 MILES
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RON_COX
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I replaced the alternator 2 years ago with a Duralast rebuilt from AutoZone. It has a lifetime warranty. Three weeks ago it went out, I replaced it and it worked fine. 6 days later it quit working. I replaced it again. AutoZone said they had been having issues with these alternators. 2 weeks later it went out again. I have a new battery and all the connections are clean and test good. I just want to make sure that I am not missing something.
Aug 31, 2012 at 4:47 AM
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SATURNTECH9
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 30,869 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Sounds like the problem is with the alternators your getting from auto zone if they say there having issues with them and they keep going out. I would replace the battery at the same time as the alternator because when the battery goes out it overloads the alternator.

Here are two guides to help walk you through the repair on a similar car

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-alternator

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-battery

Please run down these guides and report back.
Aug 31, 2012 at 4:55 AM
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