Originally Posted by
MDTerpFan
Hi. I recently had to have my 2005 Crossfire Limited towed to the dealership as it shut down while I was driving. The diagnosis showed that the alternator was bad and the estimate they gave me to repair it was $2200 ($1500 for the alternator and $700 for labor). This seemed extremely high to me as a quick search online showed alternators ranging from $150 to $500. Does anyone have experience replacing an alternator and if so, what would be a reasonable price range to have this repair done.
You went to a dealer, see my sigline, you make my point very well.
Alternators are $150 (rebuilt) to $400 (new). The job takes no more than 90 minutes and only that long if the replacement is not an exact fit and one must modify the back of the alternator housing to get the B+ cable to fit. Labor rates are $75 to $250 an hour, so say up to $500 labor but only in unusual circumstances.
Auto dealers do not make the huge markups on cars they once did, the service department now must pay the bills more than ever before. If you visit a dealer, the only way to go is to just leave a blank check with the car and accept what will be.