What did you do to your NNBS GMT900 Tahoe/Yukon Today?

[Runfor5]

What is everyone's general consensus on best alternators these days?
The 'lifetime warranty' on the Advance Auto (Carquest) ones are tempting vs. off RockAuto (RA), I just so much prefer the Bosch/ACDelco units off of RA. Decisions decisions.

 

[j91z28d1]

What is everyone's general consensus on best alternators these days?
The 'lifetime warranty' on the Advance Auto (Carquest) ones are tempting vs. off RockAuto (RA), I just so much prefer the Bosch/ACDelco units off of RA. Decisions decisions.

upgrade to the newer 220amp unit. you can get them off low mileage take offs on ebay for under 200$ and a direct bolt on unless you wanna be a bit extra. all the numbers to look for arw on iamdub built thread.

 

[mountie]

What is everyone's general consensus on best alternators these days?
The 'lifetime warranty' on the Advance Auto (Carquest) ones are tempting vs. off RockAuto (RA), I just so much prefer the Bosch/ACDelco units off of RA. Decisions decisions.

I replaced mine a couple years ago.... 'New- not a reman'..... AutoZone. Buying local is more convenient than online, if there is a glitch, it is replaced for life, in person.

 

[Runfor5]

Buying local is more convenient than online, if there is a glitch, it is replaced for life, in person.

This seems especially helpful if it were to go out while traveling since there's an Advance or AutoZone everywhere.

 

[Runfor5]

upgrade to the newer 220amp unit. you can get them off low mileage take offs on ebay for under 200$ and a direct bolt on unless you wanna be a bit extra. all the numbers to look for arw on iamdub built thread.

Like from the '21+ current gen? I see the below on RA from a 2021 for $153 (no core charge) wow good price. I'll search for the build thread you mentioned.

I wonder if the 170 amp units from the K2xx trucks would also directly fit on... I hadn't thought to look into either of these things, thanks!

ACDELCO 13536552 GM Original Equipment
Gas; 220A; 220 Amp Gen (KW5)

 

[Geotrash]

Happy with that Denso unit #2219514? Seems that it has both inputs for the oil + trans cooler lines on the sides of it.

I was looking at it over the weekend. Want to revamp the entire cooling system next month (radiator, water pump, thermostat, hoses, etc.) before summer road trip season lol.

So far, yes, but I haven't been able to get any miles on it yet. Quality and fit/finish are good. Denso is one of the OE radiator manufacturers for GM, so I'm hoping it will last 100K+. It also has a slightly thicker core than OE at 1.25", so I'm hoping the cooling performance while towing in the summer will be satisfactory. We'll see!

 

[Runfor5]

So far, yes, but I haven't been able to get any miles on it yet. Quality and fit/finish are good. Denso is one of the OE radiator manufacturers for GM, so I'm hoping it will last 100K+. It also has a slightly thicker core than OE at 1.25", so I'm hoping the cooling performance while towing in the summer will be satisfactory. We'll see!

Thanks! Good to know about the extra thickness too. I've had good luck with them and Bosch in the past, but haven't bought stuff for the GM vehicles in a bit. I'll proceed w buying that one then most likely.

 

[Doubeleive]

Like from the '21+ current gen? I see the below on RA from a 2021 for $153 (no core charge) wow good price. I'll search for the build thread you mentioned.

I wonder if the 170 amp units from the K2xx trucks would also directly fit on... I hadn't thought to look into either of these things, thanks!

ACDELCO 13536552 GM Original Equipment
Gas; 220A; 220 Amp Gen (KW5)

This is a direct bolt on and is the new style with pressed diodes just like the mechan and other higher end alt.
it is oem on the chevy 3500 pickups (gas engine) just be sure it is a KW5 which indicates 220a
you can find them used on ebay reasonable, just have to shop around

 

[Geotrash]

What is everyone's general consensus on best alternators these days?
The 'lifetime warranty' on the Advance Auto (Carquest) ones are tempting vs. off RockAuto (RA), I just so much prefer the Bosch/ACDelco units off of RA. Decisions decisions.

I'm running 160A Amazon Delco clone alternators on both of mine for 5 and 4 years, respectively. No problems at all. I consider alternators maintenance items and replace them every 100K proactively, before they fail. I listen to the bearings with a mechanic's stethoscope at every oil change as well. Caught one about to go on my old Acura the day before I left on a 2500 mile trip that way.

So for me, the AutoZone guarantee won't help me because it has to fail first and be verified by an AutoZone for free replacement. On long (e.g. 2,000+ mile cross-country) camping trips, I carry an old good alternator in my spare parts kit in the camper. If an alternator is going to fail, it'll happen 100 miles from the nearest town with a parts store.

Amazon.com

 

[Runfor5]

This is a direct bolt on and is the new style with pressed diodes just like the mechan and other higher end alt.
it is oem on the chevy 3500 pickups (gas engine) just be sure it is a KW5 which indicates 220a
you can find them used on ebay reasonable, just have to shop around
View attachment 426815

Wow super helpful, thanks for this!

 

[Runfor5]

If an alternator is going to fail, it'll happen 100 miles from the nearest town with a parts store

Lmao... naturally yes. Didn't realize you had to wait on the verification step (I've never submitted a warranty claim for an auto part ever).

 

[Doubeleive]

Lmao... naturally yes. Didn't realize you had to wait on the verification step (I've never submitted a warranty claim for an auto part ever).

99% of the time they just swap the part out, a battery & alternator are the only 2 things that might get tested to verify, if so it would be there at the store, theres no waiting unless they are charging the battery.

 

[j91z28d1]

Lmao... naturally yes. Didn't realize you had to wait on the verification step (I've never submitted a warranty claim for an auto part ever).

the step is they put it on a test stand, spin it up and see if it charges. since he doesn't wait till it breaks, they won't replace it on a time basis. they only replace broken ones. these days on most cars/trucks the alternator is considered a life of the car unit.

I remember when they failed often, but 200k from a good alternator from a good manufacturer isn't really unexpected.

 

[Geotrash]

the step is they put it on a test stand, spin it up and see if it charges. since he doesn't wait till it breaks, they won't replace it on a time basis. they only replace broken ones. these days on most cars/trucks the alternator is considered a life of the car unit.

I remember when they failed often, but 200k from a good alternator from a good manufacturer isn't really unexpected.

I think this is generally true. Maybe I'm just unlucky but I've had 7-8 alternators fail on various vehicles in the past 20 years. Fortunately, none while on the road, but the last one was in my '07 Yukon the day before we were about to drive it 1800 miles from Colorado to Virginia, so that was a little too close for comfort.

The only time I carry a spare is when we're taking a long distance trip with the camper. For 2 reasons: 1/There are many more demands on the alternator when towing a camper. 2/ Pulling into a typical parts store parking lot with a camper would be a harrowing experience. I also carry a good pry bar and dead blow hammer in my toolkit to get the old one out and the new one in.

 

[mikez71]

Had a new autozone alternator fail on me decades! ago.
About a week in, one of the brushes had fallen out of place.

Wouldn't have been a big deal, except it happened at 2am in the morning 100 miles from home.
Pulled over when the lights started getting real dim. Was sleeping in the car to wait until morning.
Then a nice girl stopped at the gas station, drove 45 minutes away to bring me a dead battery. (she thought was good)
Instead she gave me the one out of her car, and I let her have my old one to charge up as she drives.

Not sure that will work on these newer cars, might freak out when you remove the battery..

 

[gooffeyguy]

I replaced the alternator last year on the 2001 for the first time, at 260k miles

 

[j91z28d1]

I totally get bringing a spare in long trips, especially if you have one that works.


usually electrical stuff lasts longer the less it's pushed to its max ratings. especially with your camper the 220amp alt would seem to he a logical swap

 

[Geotrash]

I totally get bringing a spare in long trips, especially if you have one that works.


usually electrical stuff lasts longer the less it's pushed to its max ratings. especially with your camper the 220amp alt would seem to he a logical swap

Maybe so. But I haven't had any trouble keeping the battery topped up - even when towing through heavy rain for hours at night.

Driving back to VA from CO back in August of '21, I was sick as a dog - likely COVID - and drove 16 hours one day from Salina, KS to Lexington, VA through heavy rain that covered most of the route. Pulled into a truckstop to sleep around midnight but never had a problem with keeping everything topped up, power-wise, running all lights including fogs, wipers, rear defogger, defroster, the RV fridge, charging devices, the works. If that didn't overwhelm the alternator, nothing I'm likely to throw at it would. Except as you say, it may shorten the lifespan.

 

[j91z28d1]

that does sound like a lot. if I had to guess you had that 160 maxed out. I have seen right at 100amp in my car testing it and it doesn't have anything like that much to turn on. I'd love to know what the ecm was saying the amp draw was at that time.

sounds like you got a good one on there and that had to be a brutal drive.

 

[Geotrash]

I'd love to know what the ecm was saying the amp draw was at that time.

In hindsight, I would too. I'll see what it's pulling the next time we have the camper behind us at night.