8.1 Altenator Blues!

[dezertcamper]

We were loaded and ready to head out to the river this Friday morning. I stared up the MH and noticed the battery light was on and stay on, then a buzzer would sound. I rev'ed the engine a bit thinking the Alt would kick in? Nothing changed the light was on and the buzzed would sound about every 30 seconds. Before heading to top off the gas tank I pulled into a O'Reilly auto parts to have them put a tester on the battery and alternator for me.

When we tested the Alternator it showed only 11.4 volts. My battery is about 1 1/2 to 2 years old and was still good. I was shocked about the Alt as my MH is an 03, but I have under 10K miles on it. He double checked and and the Alt was only showing 11 volts again. So I asked if they carried an Alt for it. I knew it was a long shot and they said no, it looked to be a dealer item. So I drove back to the house and called a friends RV shop and they did not have an Alt in stock but their parts dept guy was going to see what he could find. I then called another large RV dealer/service center. (More about them in a minute) They took my VIN and were going to call me back if they could find one.

I then called a Chevy dealer that is also a medium truck dealer/repair shop. They handle Workhorse and are an authorized center. They took my VIN and started looking as they did not know if they had one. They found a Alt for the pickup trucks and delivery trucks, but those are only 105 amp. Not 145 amp. The 145 amp is special for Workhorse RV's from what I was told. He would call me back in few if they found one. I then called another Chevy dealer North of me that is also Workhorse repair. Once again no Alt. The service guy said he has an Winni with the 8.1 and was shocked that he could not find one. He figured this would be a stocking part. I then called a local NAPA that is more big truck parts then just your typical NAPA. They showed 2 different Alt's?? And were not sure which one was the correct one. Unless I could pull the Alt off and get the factory PN# they would not know if either was correct. But they still did not either in stock and it would be a few days to get it and their Alts showed to be re-manufactured and not new.

I then got a call back from my Friends RV shop and they got a hold of Workhorse and the closest 145 amp Alt was in Reno Nevada. There were only 2 their and another 148 were in Michigan. The price for the Alt was $360! Holy Cow! I was shocked at the price. At the same time a call was coming in from the first Chevy dealer I called. He told me they contacted Workhorse and they had one in Reno and could have it here by Wednesday and the price was $450, but he would sell it to me for the same price of the 105 amp $410! I would need to come down and pay for it in full as it was a special order. I told him let me call him back if I cant find one. I then called the 1st RV shop back and said order me the one from Reno for $360. They should have it by Tuesday and no deposit needed. Good news!

So now my wife is upset we wont be making the river trip. She called her parents who were out their and explained to them that we would not be making it. They said come out anyways and we can sleep on the couch of their 5th wheel. So I unloaded the MH and packed the Chevy Silverado.

Now while this is happening the other larger more popular RV dealer/service center calls me and said we dont have an Alt in stock, but thought he could find one by Saturday if I brought the MH in today. Being that I knew the closest WH 145 amp Alt was in Reno, and I already ordered it. I wondered where he was getting me one on Saturday? Then he said "Oh I looked and your RV is part of the caliper recall and we will fix it when its here." I asked if they had calipers and he said we should have them and if not we will have some next week. So we will do both repairs at the same time for me. I told him I was already on another shops list to get the caliper recall fix. He then changed his tone and said he was going out of his way and trying to get me an Alt and I should be giving him my service. At this point I had the pick-up truck loaded and was over this RV B.S! I told him thanks and I would call him back if I changed my mined.

I was curious about the brake recall. So I called that same service center back and asked another person about the recall and he said they are waiting for calipers and dont have an exact date when their first shipment would be coming in, but I could put my name on the list. I asked how many would be a head of me. He said about 30-35. I said thanks and hung up.

So now I wonder how was the first guy going to get me an Alt by Saturday when I knew the closest was in Reno NV. And how was he going to do my brakes if they have not got their first shipment and I would be 30-35th on the list?

I'm guessing he was hoping I would drop off the RV and head to the river. Then after they have it in their shop they would call me on Monday and tell me it will be a week to get an Alt from Michigan and the calipers are on back order. I'm guessing most would then just leave thier RV as it is already there and they would get the business. The question is how long would they have the RV? Shady business practices if you ask me!


So anyways if you are traveling and if your Chevy 8.1, 145 amp Alternator goes out you might be stuck for awhile.

[gbs2320]

I had no trouble finding a 145 amp alternator for the 8.1 locally. A few minutes ago I found a rebuilt one w. lifetime warranty from Autozone for about $160 at my local autozone location. Google a 145 alternator for an 8.1 and you will see. See the fourth one down the list as in stock and available locally to me. Alternator | 2005 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 2WD 8 Cylinders G 8.1L SFI | AutoZone.com. My local NAPA store also has it. NAPA Online Also check your local discount auto parts online for an altenator for a 2005 chevy suburban 2500. They had both 105 and 145 amp alternators. Of course you would have to take yours in to confirm it bolts up the same way. You might have to switch out the pulleys. No big deal. Many of the parts for the 8.1 are the same as those on the Chevys and GMC's that used it. The parts people you were dealing with don't make the big $$ by referring you to another cheaper source. Dale at Omey tech also has the cross references. http://oemys-performance.com/whparts.htm#engine

Greg

[speed racer]

I don't know about california but our local Auto zone and advanced auto parts stores stock them and we have a Napa warehouse near here. Thay are not just for Workhorse. Any Chev/GMC truck center should be able to get them, Maby not new but perhaps rebuilt. The first thing you should do is have it checked the proper way, at the alternato not the batt. and make shure the alt. is getting power to turn it on.

[oemtech]

Napa 1n4812

[DriVer]

That certainly was a lot of ink about getting a 145A alternator. We're not the biggest market by far for autoparts but I can get an alternator here either today or tomorrow morning.

[dezertcamper]

Sorry for the long rant as it was late last night and I was still a bit fired up about the alternator debacle.

As far as the discount auto parts ie; Autozone, Pepboys and O-Reilly they all listed their Alt's as 105 amp. If I would have known about the Suburban 2500 having a 145 amp I guess I could have had them check that. But I would have hoped they would have known that for me?? Or seen a 145 amp alt listed? What seems to freak them out is that I am asking for a Chevy Alternator for an the 8.1 and its in a 2003 Workhorse chassis.

Bummer about the Alt, but the trip once at the river was good and the whole family had fun. I guess what upset me the most was the RV shop that wanted the RV right now so they could also do the recall.


OemTech Thanks for the Napa PN#. They said they had two Alts listed. The PN# you have given me I will call them back today. They said they did not have it in stock and would have to be sent out. But I have the time to wait a day or two now. And for $230 vs $360 or $410 I will see about that one.

Speedracer I too thought a Chevy?GMC Truck dealer would have had one in stock too! But the two in San Diego county both said they did not have a single one on the shelves. They too only saw Reno and Michigan on the computer.

[dezertcamper]

UPDATE! OK I just called NAPA with the PN# OemTech gave and they said they dont have it in stock and the San Diego Warehouse does not have it in stock either! But the L.A warehouse does and it will be sent down tonight and I should be able to pick it up by noon time tomorrow.

I guess I should have posted here first!!!! This is the first major issue we have had before leaving for a trip, and like my wife said we should be grateful it happened in the driveway and not while on the highway a 100 miles from home.

Thanks again for the help!

[oemtech]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezertcamper UPDATE! OK I just called NAPA with the PN# OemTech gave and they said they dont have it in stock and the San Diego Warehouse does not have it in stock either! But the L.A warehouse does and it will be sent down tonight and I should be able to pick it up by noon time tomorrow. I guess I should have posted here first!!!! This is the first major issue we have had before leaving for a trip, and like my wife said we should be grateful it happened in the driveway and not while on the highway a 100 miles from home. Thanks again for the help!

If you had gone to my web site under the Workhorse Parts W Series - Engine you would have found the NAPA part #. I just added the AutoZone part number.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oemtech If you had gone to my web site under the Workhorse Parts W Series - Engine you would have found the NAPA part #. I just added the AutoZone part number.

Oemy, You can lead a horse to drink but you can't make him water!

[edgray]

Please forgive if this is a dumb question, but WHY is a 145 amp alternator REQUIRED? I know that the 145 comes standard from WCC, but do we really need that much power to run the chassis and keep the cranking battery charged? What would happen if someone replaced the OE with a 105 amp alt? Thanks, Ed

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgray Please forgive if this is a dumb question, but WHY is a 145 amp alternator REQUIRED? I know that the 145 comes standard from WCC, but do we really need that much power to run the chassis and keep the cranking battery charged?

Ed, No such thing as too much horsepower!

At least Ford seems to think so with their OE 175 Amp alternator. I'm sure they don't have any more of a load on the chassis electrical equipment than Workhorse owners do.

[wa8yxm]

360 sounds a bit cheap to me all factors considered.

I had to replace a 100 amp alternator in a GM product oh, about 10 years ago, and it was 260 then.. So given the bigger size, and inflation... I'd say 360 not a bad price.

[Mike Thomas]

I kind of had the same issue with my alternator. I drove 90 miles to get the only one in Cincinnati, Ohio. Guess what? I decided not to leave my old one but paid the core charge instead. Took my old one and had it rebuilt. It now rides down in the storage compartment, ready to be installed. It gets pretty warm in those engine compartments, and is really hard on alternators. I'm ready for the next time.

[Full-Timers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Thomas I kind of had the same issue with my alternator. I drove 90 miles to get the only one in Cincinnati, Ohio. Guess what? I decided not to leave my old one but paid the core charge instead. Took my old one and had it rebuilt. It now rides down in the storage compartment, ready to be installed. It gets pretty warm in those engine compartments, and is really hard on alternators. I'm ready for the next time.

It always cracks me up about these guys that carry a parts house around in their basement. I know a guy that, every time he has to buy something for his vehicles, he buys 2 and stores one. At least I know where to go when I need a part.