Alternator Life Span

[AleroSS]

Hey guys, after owning this car for just over a year and a half (Bought it new Aug '02 ) My alternator apparently went in our last bout of cold weather. Just wondering if you guys could tell me what could be a reason for an alternator to go bad, aside from it being possibly defective, and how long our alternators should last.

[johny_boy32]

i havent had any problem with mine at all and my car is a 2000

[misslindseysue]

No problems since I got mine new in June '00.

[99blackalero]

i guess it all depends on waht you have in the car too (system, neons, anything that would run juice) so a lifespan is hard to say...could be you just got a defective one

[AleroSS]

As far as possible battery drains, i have the follows
Neons - never on, and fuse not wired in yet, so no play on the neons yet
Poppers
System - but only a small (amp 200-300w) and a 10" Type R and very rarely do I pound my system...
Aftermarket Fogs - never left on
and the lil LED for the alarm, but that should do absolutely nothing...

[3.4Alero]

Just got a bad alternator, probably. I've never had problems with my 2001. I'd replace it and see what happens.

[Redog]

Bought my car new in May 2000. Only had the Battery light come on for a short time but nothing ever happened. Plus I'm running a large alt pulley which would affect it.

[SouthDakotAlero]

The alternator on my '02 went out not too long ago too. But I am running neons, fogs, and an 800 watt amp and 2 10"s, so my alternator was taking quite a beating.

[Wildman]

99 Alero, 200wattRMS amp, nothing major. Mine died at 60,000 miles

[99ALERO]

I replaced mine in 2003 and mine is a 1999. Things burn up and thats all there is to it! hehehehehehe, i would worry if it went out within a year or so but i got one with a 3 yr warranty

[Purple&Black]

My dad has had three Cutlasses over the last 22 years and I can't say how many alternators he's gone through. At least six or seven. I'd guess that GM's OEM alternators aren't exactly top-of-the-line. Since the system will be in by the end of the month along with the fogs being always on and all the neons, I should probably just start shopping for an alternator now and be ready when it goes... <_<

[geedog66]

mine is fine i got a 02 alero wit a 2.2 i have 3000 watt amp 2x12" subs, 3xtvs, 2 underglow kits, neons under the dash no problems yet and i us everything daily

[dopey]

i have a 99 and within 3 months of installing my 3200 watt amp i fried my alternator. this was back in july.

when u go to get a new on buy it from autozone. there duralast gold alt is about $150 but has a lifetime warrenty.