I recently installed a new 810 CCA battery and my volt gauge STILL drops down to 10 at idle with only the parking lights on!! It will jump back up to 14 just fine when cruising down the street. Charging system has checked good at NAPA, Carquest, AND O Reilly's for what it's worth. Even though the flunky at Carquest didn't even have me turn on the headlights and heater for the load test... Initially I was told the battery was bad. Now I'm thinking, even though it tests good, probably the alternator is weak. It is an older "world class" brand re -manufactured unit anyways. Whats a good brand replacement?

 

I would say that the alternator is suspect. Methinks look in the Denso family?

 

This Bosh (Denso) unit looks pretty nice, it's a 136 AMP output and only $116! With FREE shipping. That's an important factor to us folks in Alaska...

 

As it's the last one, best to jump on it!

 

New is always better than rebuilt or a good used part.

I snagged a good used one as a backup last year from a Jeep that was just a fun machine mostly parked in a garage besides the accident that put it out of action it looked like a new Jeep.

I was luck it just came in the junk yard that day and was in the prep yard still. They pulled it for me as I watched I asked for any bolts and screws off it they said just go get them if I wanted them as they left them in the engine bay.

Very friendly small junkyard cool place in Apache Junction AZ

If that part is new that's a great price but if that is the pic for it… it has junkyard writing on it so I question if it’s new?

Some places call rebuilt New so be aware of that I don't trust rebuilds seen many go bad in one year I stopped going rebuilt many years ago.

 

If you read some of the reviews for some of the other alternators offered by Amazon, they say something about how the box is imprinted "re-conditioned." That implies to me that it's new but a customer return that's gone in for a checkup and corrective action. A lot of the reviews mention crappy packaging and damaged in shipment (that Amazon ends up replacing)--which would go a long way towards explaining the source of the "re-conditioned" alternators.

 

I know it's pricier, but I would get a new Denso/Bosch unit from the local parts store. That way you get a warranty and it's (hopefully) brand new, not refurb or recondition.

 

Not sure what you are looking at but THIS is what I see:
100% new premium quality components, including major heat related/wear items: rectifier, regulator, rotor, stator and bearings withstand excessive heat and high electrical demands.
Bosch Professional Preferred 100% New Alternators are 100% full-loaded tested to meet or exceed original equipment manufacturers' amperage and voltage output standards for proven charging performance.
No other original equipment alternator or starter manufacturer charges as many batteries as Bosch in the Nextel Cup Series because the Bosch Professional Preferred 100% New Alternators provide more power under extreme, high-demand conditions.
100% full-load tested for proven starting/charging performance

There are many OTHER units that are advertised as reconditioned but this one list as NEW to me.

 

I was just told that IF my Dakota was not an A/C equipped motor the 136 AMP alternator would NOT fit on my truck. IS THAT TRUE? They said the housing is bigger and won't fit in the bracket for the non A/C configuration. I need to know this for sure before I order one.

 

The first thing I would do is stick a voltmeter on the battery and see what the charging voltage really is at idle. I wouldn't trust the gauge in the dash at all.