Do you consider an alternator a "wear" item? (spark plugs, brakes)

[IShootNikon]

Do you put it along the lines of a battery where you only expect it to last a certain number of years and aren't surprised that it goes out. But of course there are people who have owned cars long term and have never had to replace one where we know batteries are not lifetime items.

Heck, I would add radiator and water pump as wear items. Sure it would be great if they lasted lifetime of the car but not biggest issue if they get replaced every 100k

[MckinneyOwnr]

Mmm... I don't really consider it a wear item, but I'd put it in the same category as spark plugs and coils that you need to replace at about the 100k mark. It's just something to replace for preventive maintenance at that point.

[rbohm]

yes i do consider an alternator a wear item, just like spark plugs, batteries, fan belts, etc.

[Lux Hauler]

To say it is not a wear item would be to ingnore the fact that there is an entire industry of building and refurbishing aftermarket alternators as replacement units for motorists. They fail with use, however, compared to brakes for example they tend to last much longer. Personally, I would never replace one as part of a PM schedule. I have never had an alternator degrade in performance over time, my experience is that that work fine right to a signficant failure, or show intermittent symptoms very near the failure.

[Hemlock140]

It used to be, as was the predecessor generator. Now they tend to last the life of a car. The last time I had to replace one as on a 1990 Bronco, at about 120,000 miles. On all the cars since it's still been the original when I traded in at 150-200,000 miles.

[wankel7]

The alternator no. But the brushes and bearings yes.

I replaced the brushes on my Audi with 210k. 10 bucks and my time it was charging again.

[brownbagg]

if its moves its a wear item, yes i got thirty years on my alternator but it just been luck.

[Universe93B]

I've owned several cars, and never replaced an alternator on any of these cars. All of these cars were kept til 200k miles or 12 years or older. I've seen the alternator wear out quicker with longer engine idling.

[Old Gringo]

I've replaced the alternator on a 30 year old Toyota truck with > 200K miles. Not an item that needs frequent replacement, but it'll eventually wear out.

[d4g4m]

The 'wear' in an alternator is the brushes, maybe bearing, but most often is that the voltage regulator goes bad. They are PCB and get fried. I would not consider an alternator as a 'wear' item.