Alternator failure this early?

Trucks a 2017 @ 52k miles, started making like a whining/resonating noise once up to operating temp. Decided to take it into the dealer to see what it was incase it was something internal. They are claiming alternator and replacement to the tune of $1038.27...gotta love Toyota.

So has anyone else heard of a failure this early in life? How bad is an alternator install on these 5.7's?

 

Alternators should typically last much longer. My 97 Tacoma still has the original alternator ... I assume alternator falls under 36K warranty and not the 60K. Is that right?
Is the charging system functioning properly otherwise?

 

No way an alternator costs that much! A few hundred at auto parts store.

 

Can you DIY? Alternator not easy to get to but can save a lot of $.

 

Lots of horror stories on replacing the alternator on the 5.7L. its under the motor behind the wheels. Not easily accessible.
The alternator for my wifes yaris was $265 bucks I'm guessing the truck would be around the same cost for parts.
Looks like shop is assuming its a 5 to 6 hours job at $115 bucks an hour.

My water pump went at 90k, so the alternator going doesn't surprise me. Its a wear item unfortunately.

I'm sure you can youtube the replacement,

 

Would this not be covered under the power train warranty?

 

You can buy a cheap stetescope off Amazon and listen to the alternator and other moving bearings yourself.

I'm just guessing but i'd say the powertrain warranty would not cover the alternator. but i hope i'm wrong. (This would be seen as a wear item like brakes or a fan belt in my eyes)

quick search and a new OEM alternator is between 250 and 300 bucks.

 

DIY isn't an issue, I do all my repairs and maintenance on my vehicles. I had just taken it in just in case it was something like the timing chain and would have been covered under powertrain. The alternator isn't covered unfortunately. What's weird is they said the unplugged the alternator and the noise went away so it's not a bearing in the alternator, the truck has not shown any signs of charging fluctuations at all. @Roman has the part for $280 and it does look like a pain to install. 52k just seems like a very short lifespan for the alternator, cam tower leak at 21k...just waiting for this Toyota reliability to kick in....

 

Unplugged the alt and disconnected the charging lug and no change like the Tech stated, have to wait until Monday for when he is back to get a full explanation of what they did. Other then that LKQ has an alternator off a 2017 with 7k miles for $70.11 and free shipping. Probably the way to go rather then a couple hundred especially when they don't last more then 50k.

 

How loud is the whining?...Can you hear it inside the truck?...With the radio turned up? If it's still charging, I would drive it until the instruments said it wasn't keeping the battery charged. But, then, I never go to remote isolated places with no cell service.

 

Its not really a whining, more of like a resonance/groaning sound. Its pretty annoying, I agree could hold off but would hate to be somewhere when it decides to fully crap out. If this is even the problem, I'm going off what Toyotas tech thinks it is.

 

Update: It was the alternator, purchased one of LKQ from a 2018 with 8k miles, pain in the butt to install. But noise is gone now.

 

it's really really difficult to get to. passenger side, front wheel well. pull the flap and you'll see it. down low. this is for a 2010 but it's the best example and the alternator is in the same place.

 

It was, I watched that video to. Buddy and me pulled it through the wheel well up and over the frame.

 

Yeah Toyota doesn't make it easy at all. Check out LKQ for an alternator, only paid $62 for one with 8k miles on it.

 

I have a similar whirring/whining/groaning noise. 2017 with 70k. I bought this truck in June 2019, with certified pre-owned warranty. I'm hoping it is covered.

 

They wouldn't cover this one under the powertrain part, but if your coverage has a longer bumper to bumper with the certified coverage you might be good.

 

I have the 100k mile warranty, only have 70k on the clock. Just hoping they don't try to "fine print" me on this.

 

Just dropped off truck at dealer (Frontier Toyota in Santa Clarita, CA), told her likely alternator, maybe timing chain tensioner (unlikely). More importantly, confirmed that whatever it is, it is covered. Lady responded, "yeah, you have two warranties". Thank God

 

A recent thread was asking advice on which of three 2016-2017 trucks to buy. All were about the same price, about same low miles. One truck was a year older, but was pristine with CPO, but no maintenance history. Third truck, a year younger, no CPO, but had a fully-documented maintenance history.

I have heard before that Toyota CPO provided an extended warranty, but I ventured no opinion because I had no first-hand experience. For myself, I would take the CPO with warranty any day over a "fully-documented" maintenance history. You did well.

 

So just got a call from dealer. Alternator is the cause of the noise. Covered under the warranty. But apparently, the battery failed the load test and should be replaced, but is not covered. So I explained to the nice lady, the alternator, a covered item, when working charges the battery. I'm assuming as a CPO vehicle, it would have been sold to me with a fairly new battery. No way that a CPO truck battery, on its own, fails after 9 months of ownership. She's going to check. If she comes back with it still not being covered, then I'll have to pull the lawyer card...I hate doing it, seriously...but being an attorney has its benefits sometimes. She also tried to upsell me on a throttle body service. Um...no. I think I can handle a screw driver and a little carb cleaner on a rag

 

My guess, if I read right you bought a 2017 in 2019... 2 year old battery = dealer most likely did not replace it before you bought it. Probably still the one that came from factory. I could be wrong, but I'd be surprised if they did change it out at that point.

Best of luck to you - sucks to deal with, but when you're done there should be many more happy miles left in your truck.

 

Jernik - you're right. 2017 purchased in June 2019. And I agree. I'll bet it's the factory battery. Assholes.

So they are not changing the batter, but not because of age. Apparently, the bearings in the alternator went bad (I read this somewhere else) and that's what's causing that whirring noise. But it's still charging. So alternator is getting replaced ($50 deductible). Dealer does not sell AGM's, but wouldn't have made a difference. Called A-zone, $200 for AGM (Duralast Platinum). I'll get that later this month when I pick up some carb cleaner to do the TB.

Regardless, I'm saving about $900 with the alternator covered, and I'll feel better knowing I have a brand new AGM in there. One more thing that is now "baselined"...

 

They must of had a supplier problem in 2017 trucks with the Alternators, the one I had to replace was also making the whirring noise with only 51k on it.

 

No. Power train basically covers anything touched by oil or transmission fluid, and nothing else. An alternator is a wear item like your brakes.

 

I bought my 17 CPO and the battery went out after less than a year. It was the factory battery too. They said they would cover it but they would have to tow the truck to the dealership. I ended up replacing my own battery. They wouldn’t let me bring the one up there. They said they would have to “test” it on the truck. I took it to oreillys and Indeed it was bad.

 

Again, glad they're covering the alternator. I can handle getting a new battery.

 

Alternator covered. Done. Noise gone. AGM going in once “stay at home” crap ends