How much should it cost to replace the alternator?

Answer 1

AnswerIt will cost you parts and labor. These prices both vary greatly from place to place. A used alt will be cheaper than a rebuilt, but you won't get a warranty and most shops won't install parts you don't buy from them. I have seen used ones for as cheap as $50 and as much as $125. I have seen rebuilt ones for $130 and up. Most chain stores (Pepboys, Autozone, R&S Straus etc) charge about $72/hr for labor and this is about a 2-3 hr "billable" job for a pro. By "billable" I mean that they look it up in a servicer manual that states X amount of labor to do this job. If they do it in 20 minutes or 5 hours they usually charge the listed time at the listed rate. A dealer will charge as much or more that the chain stores. I would say that $250 for a rebulit alt installed would be a "very good deal" I have seen/heard the job cost over $500, so you really need to shop around for a honest quality mechanic if you can't get a used part and do it yourself.