would my car have 3 different types of alternator for it??

longwalks1

we own a 2003 Audi A4, 3.0 petrol, non quattro. Think it needs a new alternator, the local garage has said there are 3 possibly types for it, so wont know what one it needs til its off. They range from £120 to £250
Does this sound right? I just assumed all models of the same car, same year, engine size, transmission would have the same alternator??



Anyone heard of this before??

Browntoa

Was a regular thing in the old days of British Leyland.

But yes , can happen , change of supplier , multiple suppliers , modification to existing kit , change of engine mount etc etc.

Jackmydad

Happens all the time.
Old Passat I had was early in the new shape.
Mine had the front brakes off the earlier mode.

facade

Fairly common, as said before.
Pretty much every car I've had has been "on the changeover" with multiple parts listed for everything, and it is always the most expensive one (that is a special order) that fits, never the cheap one the motor factor keeps on the shelf.

Jumblebumble

britishboy wrote: »

we own a 2003 Audi A4, 3.0 petrol, non quattro. Think it needs a new alternator, the local garage has said there are 3 possibly types for it, so wont know what one it needs til its off. They range from £120 to £250
Does this sound right? I just assumed all models of the same car, same year, engine size, transmission would have the same alternator??



Anyone heard of this before??

Citroen 2CVs used to have Ducelier or Paris Rhone or Bosch or Lucas or Valeo or Iskra or Femsa Alternators
Anyone of these fitted pretty much any car

Jackmydad

Browntoa wrote: »

Was a regular thing in the old days of British Leyland.

But yes , can happen , change of supplier , multiple suppliers , modification to existing kit , change of engine mount etc etc.

As I remember, towards the end you were lucky if the parts that were supposed to fit actually did. I could tell you a tale of woe about a Metro clutch!

chrisw

You could always look around for a second hand one once you know the type and output.

hollie.weimeraner

Try Euro car parts website https://www.eurocarparts.com/car-parts?gclid=CjwKCAjw7anqBRALEiwAgvGgm0yp_jYHIrRIjZn5FLYvs2C68zDaPE1mE0fIfeyI-o5Yly187CvxHhoCH4IQAvD_BwE pop your reg in and search for alternators and it should give you the choices.
I serviced my sons 2005 Corsa last year and there were 2 or 3 options for oil filters alone.

seatbeltnoob

Usually the ac version and non ac version, because the ac version has to be able to generate more power. You could narrow it down with etka but i only used it for vw.

gord115

I had Rover 420gsi in the early 90's. The alternator went and because it had aircon (quite rare on that particular model) I couldn't get a reconditioned alternator anywhere.

Even a trusted auto electrician I used couldn't get one.

Because of this all the second hand ones sold straight away.

I had to buy a new one from the stealers £280,probably about £400 today!!!

Jackmydad

gord115 wrote: »

I had Rover 420gsi in the early 90's. The alternator went and because it had aircon (quite rare on that particular model) I couldn't get a reconditioned alternator anywhere.

Even a trusted auto electrician I used couldn't get one.

Because of this all the second hand ones sold straight away.

I had to buy a new one from the stealers £280,probably about £400 today!!!

Had a starter go on that Passat. Must have been around the Millennium. Couldn't get one anywhere including the excellent local electrical motor factor.
They rebuilt mine for about £50.
Whether places still do that I wouldn't know, but it's worth a thought.