I finally walked through the Pick-n-Pull in Fontana and the $45 alternator shelf beats any parts store counter

Patricia Bennett · 2026-10-20T22:45:05.242141+00:00

Everybody in the car groups tells you to buy new electrical parts, but I pulled a 130 amp alternator off a wrecked 2004 truck at the yard in Fontana last Saturday for $45 plus a $12 core, and it tested clean at 14.2 volts on my meter. The counter wanted $180 for a rebuild with a 90 day warranty. I get that used is a gamble, but you can test a junkyard alt right there with a multimeter before you pay, and that alone beats hoping a box store part isn't bad out of the box. My one rule now is bring a wrench set and check the pulley spin by hand before you pull it. I run a small landscaping crew so I can't have a truck down for a week waiting on a warranty claim, and this has worked for me twice now. Your mileage may vary on the electrical stuff, but for me the yard wins. What parts do you all refuse to buy used, and which ones do you grab every time?

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I finally walked through the Pick-n-Pull in Fontana and the $45 alternator shelf beats any parts store counter | Broke But Building - HW Forums