Alternator 4 Duratec

[Steven (WE51STE)]

Hi,

After 4 months and 1300 miles the Alternator Westifeld supplied me with for my Duratec Build has failed.  The 4 screws holding the bearing retainer plate has sheared off and went into the Alternator.  I've managed to find 2 when I took the alternator to bits.

If your interested in the failure the pictures can be seen here :

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4

Picture 5

Picture 6

I've been in touch with Westfield about getting it swapped (It was purchased 2 years ago) but I feel its taking too long and need the car back on the road for Friday and this weekend after already missing a gorgeous bank holiday weekend    

On the Westfield invoice it says its the zetec alternator in the description but there are no distinguishing reference numbers on the Bosch Alternator.

Does anyone have any idea of what off the shelf part no or which specific Alternator it is ?  Does anyone know the cheapest place to purchase a new one ?

Regards,

Steve

[perksy]

Might be worth a PM to stephenh as i think his Duratec one failed recently aswell    

[Steven (WE51STE)]

Thanks pesky.

I've PM'd Stephenh

[stephenh]

Hi Mooncloud, got your pm but sorry I dont know the answer to your question. I do know that my alternator failed on a new factory built car, only about 15 months old at the time.

It turned out that the alternators are not new, they are reconditioned. And very badly reconditioned. my failure came to light when the car was at a local independant garage which I use for our tintops.

Westfield were not interested in the failure, and to be honest I just couldn't be bothered with the hastle. So my garage just got me another one, not the same make, but an eastern european "copy" of the crap reconditioned Bosch supplied by Westfield.

My failure wasn't the same as yours, but it was of a similar category. In my case, two little setscrews hold a rectifyer (I think thats what it is) on the inside of the body of the alternator, only the setscrews were fitted by the people who bodge the recons for Westfield in such a way as to strip the threads of both the setscrews!

I was told by the factory that they fit recond alternators because they cant get new ones; I thought my garage did quite well to find me a new one in less than 24 hours! The truth is the factory is only interested in selling what they have in their stores; if its not in stock then it isnt available. Sad but true.

My advice is if you cant get satisfaction from the factory, then cut your losses and take the alternator to a motor factor who stocks alternators, and ask for an equivalent. If you get another one from the factory it will probably be of the same crappy standard as the one which has already failed.

[Jumpjet]

Mooncloud, I've just replaced the alternator on my Westfield at the very reasonable cost of £54 for a brand new unit.  I purchased it from here:

Rotec Ltd

Unit 2/Station Rd, Sutton-in-Ashfield, NG17 5HF

01623 453512

They specialise in alternators and starter motors and the chap there certainly knows his alternators - so to speak.

[stephenh]

sorry mooncloud, I meant to look at my invoice today, but forgot. Have made a note to do so tomorrow.

It was a similar price to that paid by Jumpjet. However my offer of mine for free still stands if you think that may be a solution.

[stephenh]

Moncloud, you have pm with a generic part number. If anyone else needs it, my number is BA 03237. I'm told that should cross-reference to more or less any make. It fits my duratec fine, in fact better than the Westfield one. The factory supplied one has a terminal post on the back which is VERY close to the steering column, and has been known to touch on some cars, which doesn't do it any good (according to info I had from a reliable source) whereas the unit I now have fitted doesn't get anywhere near the column.