Advanced Auto was most helpful. They mounted the alternator on their
test bench, and ran a diagnostic that basically said no output, and the
diodes were dead.  There was no charge for the test. They didn't have
the parts, nor a replacement Beck-Arnly unit but offered to order it in
for me, though it was not one of their regular products. The price they
quoted was the same as other vendors I had checked with. I took it upon
myself to fix the one I had, and they tested it again for me - this time
it tested good. And again, there was no charge to me for the service. I
cannot fault Advanced Auto in any way.

John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com

Arkady Mirvis wrote:
> Congrats on repair. I am surprised how unprofessional Advance Auto was.
> Greed explains all. It is everywhere, great part of the society is
> chasing
> money. People are chasing each other - it isn't a sport, it is much
> worse.
> What is even worse is that drive to educate people, to self-education
> runs
> to the dogs.
> Ark
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 8:06 AM
> Subject: Alternator Repairs
>
>
>> I've been plagued by alternator problems and having three vans - and
>> being the frugal (read "tightwad") type that I am, I was doing the
>> swappy-swappy thing with them to keep my daily driver roadworthy.
>> Finally, the last  unit quit. I took it - a  Beck-Arnely - and had it
>> tested at Advance Auto. It was dead.  I thought "enough of this - buy a
>> replacement"! Well, the cheaper replacements for the Bosch alternators -
>> exchange - around here are priced about $125.00. Other places - even
>> with list vendors - it varies. I wanted a Beck-Arnley rebuilt because
>> they seemed to last a lot longer, but when I checked them out - exchange
>> they were $245. Ouch!!
>>
>> Well, I was holding onto my buffalo/Indian head  nickel so hard that you
>> could hear the Indian grunt and the buffalo squeal over those prices,
>> when it occurred to me - these alternators are simple, the shaft has two
>> brush rings, and two brushes, and this alternator has no shaft looseness
>> of any kind, so it should be in good mechanical shape.  Besides
>> bearings, there is not much else that can go wrong but for the brushes
>> and the rectifiers. Close examination showed that there is a one-piece
>> rectifier/brush-holder that mounts to the back of the alternator, and I
>> figured,  "how simple is that to replace". I ordered one up on E-bay for
>> 12 bucks, and it was in hand in 3 days. When it arrived, I removed the
>> two screws on the back of the alternator holding the piece in place.
>> Inspection showed one brush was worn completely out, and was stuck in
>> the older, not making contact with the commutator ring o the shaft. I
>> looked a the rings on the shaft and saw they were oxidized. I whipped
>> out a little piece of 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper and dry - pressed it to
>> the commutator rings while turning the shaft. In a few turns the rings
>> were nice and shiny. A blast of compressed air cleared any dust and
>> debris. In inserted the new brush-holder/rectifier with the new brushes,
>> buttoned it up, and hauled it away to Advance Auto. This time, the bench
>> check showed maximum power output. The thing worked perfect. It is now
>> ready to re-install.
>>
>> My point - if your alternator has seemingly failed - no output, or
>> minimal output - remove from the vehicle, rotate by hand and see if the
>> shaft and bearings are OK. If so, remove the rectifier/brush holder and
>> inspet the brushes, and also check the commutation rings. If oxidized,
>> polish with the 600 grit paper, and install a new brush holder with
>> brushes and rectifier. Your cost - a little time and a $12 part.
>>
>> $12 bucks vs $125 or $245 is hard to beat.
>>
>> --
>> John Rodgers
>> Clayartist and Moldmaker
>> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
>> Chelsea, AL
>> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>
>