99 OBW - parts and labor on new alternator?

[lkreh]

All,

My 99 OBW has a dead battery. Even after jump starting it and driving
around, the battery doesn't recharge. I suspect the alternator and
will be swinging by my dealer to have it checked out and possibly
replaced. I realize it could be done by an indie mechanic for less,
but there are a couple of other unrelated things to fix as well.

Any comments on what I should expect for a new alternator in terms of
part(s) and labor?

 

[Edward Hayes]

Too much: Get the alternator checked and if bad replaced with a
"remanufactured" one at a local good mechanic and maybe a new battery
will be needed if it has been discharged many times. AutoZone will
check alternator and battery for you. Go to the dealer only for Subaru
specific items. JMHO

 

[Phil]

Your battery will not recharge if there is a dead cell. Check it out with an
auto electrician before buying an alternator. Cells will fail without any
prior notice.

 

[lkreh]

FOLLOWUP: It's a long story, but I'll try to be succinct. My car was
dead and wouldn't hold a charge even after jump-starting and driving
for some time. I found an autozone, which (obviously) determined the
battery was dead. The battery was so dead, autozone couldn't test the
alternator. I bought a new battery from autozone and installed it on
the spot so the alternator could be tested. the autozone employee told
me the alternator needed to be replaced, which he could do in his spare
time.

I drove it home and made an appointment w/ my dealer because there were
a couple of other things needing fixing and it didn't make time or
money sense to take it to two places for various issues. The dealer
tested the charging system, including the alternator, but the dealer
advised that the alternator is fine -- no need to replace it. Could
have been a bad battery.

On other fronts, the dealer fixed some rattling heat shields for $60
and replaced the entire speedometer unit, which has been working
intermittently, for $309.

Hopefully, I'm good to go for another year or so.

-LK