2003 Disco that I've done the maintenance on for a friend after the local LR specialists (special alright) screwed her over. The original alternator was in the vehicle until roughly 90k miles. At that time I replaced it with a re-man worldwide brand from Advance Auto. Counting the one I did last week, I've replaced the alternator three times in the last 10k miles.

I know that the alternators are failing, what I'm wondering is there something that could be causing them to fail? Do these alternators have a reputation of being junk?

I've probably put twenty re-mans from Advance in other vehicles over the years, and I've never had this happen. I've gotten good at replacing them though. Did the last one in under thirty minutes.

 

Do these alternators have a reputation of being junk? YES.
As far as Advanced or autozone are concerned if it puts out 12.5 or better it is fine.
The problem is LR require 13.6 or better, hence they burn out.

 

That's what I was wondering, thanks.

 

Their alternators are absolute JUNK!!!
I went through 4 in 2 years, got a used one and that has been over 2 years ago now.

 

Spike,

I thought I remembered you battling them a while back. Where you the one that had a spare alternator when you were offroading just in case? I'm gonna order a heavy duty one after I do some research and when this one goes bad, demand my money back.

 

I wasn't offroading I was on a 2400 mile trip to see a heavy metal band in concert at a bar.
But yeah, I brought the spare and changed it out in a church parking lot with a $10 socket set I bought at AutoZone and a pair of pliers.

 

Nice, I impressed my girlfriend by changing one out during halftime of a football game! Discos make us better mechanics! (Repeat until you believe it.)

 

ditto what ALAKDisco said.

 

Go to British Parts of Utah and buy one of their new Bosch units, they are not much more then many of the rebuilts and don't fail.