I bought an alternator from AutoZone for my 2000 Volvo S-80. I had to wait 2 days for the alternator to come in. After I got home and removed the original alternator, I noticed that the new one they ordered me came in frozen (the pulley would not turn freely). I brought it back to the store, and they ordered me a second one. Now I had to wait another 2 days for this one. When it came in I had it tested at the store, and it checked out okay.

Six months later, I was driving down the highway when the engine quit. After I pulled over, I noticed the alternator pulley had cracked and broke loose from the alternator shaft. This caused the serpentine belt to come off the pulley and get wrapped around the crankshaft harmonic balancer pulley, breaking into pieces. While wrapped on the pulley, it broke the timing belt plastic cover right behind the crankshaft pulley, where pieces of the serpentine belt got in, got in between the timing belt and the crankshaft gear, causing the engine timing to camshafts to become un-synchronized by jumping the timing.

Anyone out there had any similar experience with Duralast alternators? Whats the worst case of damage done to my engine? Any recommendations??
Any help will really be appreciated.

melrican

 

lol I never thought I would have to say this so many times. Do not go with the local department store brand alternators( especially autozones). I have heard way to many stories of people have problems right after they put them in or really soon thereafter. They are all rebuilds and not good rebuilds at that. Stick with a reputable brand. I know the lifetime warranty is tempting, but you get what you pay for.

That is really for melrican above me. Plus you should probably create your own post instead of jacking someones post.