Apparently need to replace my alternator... recommendations for a repair shop? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

tvp2003 · 10-20-2012, 11:33 AM

Had some car issues and was told by Canadian Tire that my alternator is apparently dead. Not completely surprised; was hoping it would be a loose connection or something (due to some weird symptoms; I ended up replacing the battery just to get it to the shop because it died on the way home).

In any event, I was quoted about $500 to fix it ($230 for the part and another $250 for the labour/shop supplies + GST); should I just bite the bullet and get CT to fix it? Worth going somewhere else and getting it re-tested (i.e. a second opinion)? I was also thinking about ordering a new or used part online and seeing if I could bring it into a mechanic, but I don't really think it's worth the hassle. I guess my concern is if Crappy Tire is gouging me on price, and if it's worth shopping around (I had a bad experience at the Ford repair shop last time so I'd prefer not to take it back).

P.S. I also looked into a DIY fix, but apparently it's quite complicated to replace the alternator on my car (a ford focus).

Regulator75 · 10-20-2012, 11:39 AM

In before someone bashes you for taking your car to a Canadian Tire.

Sylvanfan · 10-20-2012, 11:41 AM

Wouldn't hurt to go to a dealership and ask about the labour cost. You might be able to find a new Or rebuilt one on E-Bay for a decent price. I was able to buy a rebuilt one for a V8 Mustang for $90 including shipping and put it in myself. But mine was like a 5 minute job, the smaller compact engine might be tougher to access.

Haynes repair manuals are what 20 bucks...maybe get one of those, they usually give a description of how tough the job is.

hkstylez · 10-20-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulator75

In before someone bashes you for taking your car to a Canadian Tire.

Dang, I was about to post that..haha. You can always try Kal Tire...

bluck · 10-20-2012, 11:45 AM

Hus Garage

Category: Automotive Auto Repair Auto Repair [Edit]
3132 26 Street NE
Calgary, AB T1Y 6Z1

(403) 250-6586

I had to get a boatload of work done on my civic and he was probably $1000 cheaper than Village Honda. Awesome guy, fair prices and gets your work done on time. Highly recommended by myself and a lot of members on Beyond as well.

iggy_oi · 10-20-2012, 11:46 AM

They are closed on the weekend but I would recommend giving kingsboro auto service a call, they have always saved me a tonne off what others quote. They are located in the same parking lot as shadow tint and the back alley on macloed trail. Their number is 403-252-4554

puckluck2 · 10-20-2012, 11:54 AM

An alternator is pretty easy to change so I don't think paying Canadian Tire premiums is the way to go. $250 for labour is a joke. Close to theft. It should only take them one hour at the most and that is pushing it. It should cost you around the $350 range installed.

Take it to a smaller mechanic shop and see what they can do.

Traditional_Ale · 10-20-2012, 11:58 AM

Taking a car to CT is grounds for being kicked out of the family.

Replacing an alternator yourself is easy. Youtube it.

wooohooo · 10-20-2012, 12:04 PM

When I was in high school with no knowledge of how a car works... or even how to do an oil change. My car died while (surprise!) at Cdn Tire, a mechanic told me I needed a alternator but told me it's pretty easy to replace myself if I wanted to and he would tell me how to do it.

Got the quick rundown and bought some wrenches/sockets on sale for like $30. Bought the alternator for I think $150 and did it in like 30 minutes. Still works!!

I'd recommend you do it yourself, not too hard. If you have a spring loaded serpentine belt, you just remove the belt, then you unplug the wires (take a picture), unscrew the bolts, remove alterantor, put in new alterator, plug wires back in accordingly, and put belt back on (good time to put new belt).

tvp2003 · 10-20-2012, 12:06 PM

Thank you

For the record, the plan was to drive it home and then take it into Kal Tire (have had good experiences with them). But then the car died on the way home, and Crappy Tire was the closest shop available.

I've googled it and even watched a youtube video of a guy replacing an alternator on a ford focus and it's not something that I'd be able to do (as I mentioned above, apparently it's a lot more difficult on a ford focus compared to other cars because of where it is located).

Any other suggestions would be appreciated; if it is an easy fix, then presumably a mechanic could get it done quite easily (i.e. cheaply)? P.S. We have a second car we can use, so timing is not an issue (i.e. to park it in the driveway and take it in later this week).

4X4 · 10-20-2012, 02:07 PM

Alternators used to be the easiest thing to replace, but some cars nowadays are just a son of a bitch. If you're not mechanically inclined, just pay someone to do it. But NOT Canadian Tire. I don't know what the problem is there...Maybe it's because there are lots of people working, and no one is really responsible for shoddy work? All I know is that every person I've ever met that had work done at any Canadian Tire was not happy with it. Over priced, and often not done properly. Canadian Tire should just stick to tires. That's the only thing I'd let them do on my ride.

As for where to take your car, there are a couple of different shops in the south that I've got good things to say about. Husky auto center in Woodbine is good. South Pro Automotive on Horton Road has been consistently honest and fair priced since I got my license 17 years ago. There is also JRS Automotive by Chinook. The owner is a good guy. He's fair and honest, just like the other two shops I mentioned.
If you're not taking your car to a dealership for warranty reasons and freebies, your car should go to a smaller shop. Just completely avoid big shops like Canadian Tire or WalMart or random dealerships whenever possible.

And for the record, I don't care where the alternator is located, there's no way it's a $500 job on any Ford.

Barnes · 10-20-2012, 02:09 PM

I just watched a YouTube video for a alternator removal on a focus. It ain't easy.

DownhillGoat · 10-20-2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvp2003

I was also thinking about ordering a new or used part online and seeing if I could bring it into a mechanic, but I don't really think it's worth the hassle.

Unless you're actually friends with a mechanic that would do this under the table, there's not a shop in the city that would do this due to liability.

I don't know what year your focus is, so I used a 2008 as an example. List price on the alternator is around $200 USD, and your labour sounds like it's 2 hours. Doesn't sound entirely out of line.

However I don't care what Regulator says, I'd eat the towing charge to another garage before I'd let Canadian Tire touch it.