If you are spending over $300 for an OEM alternator you are getting robbed. The primary difference between buying a name brand alternator re-manufactured and the auto parts store versions is the way they re-manufacture them. Like you said the re-manufacturing process is hit or miss with them, because for most of those brands, they do not replace every component inside the alternator. This is the difference between denso/bosch vs the store brands. A denso or bosch reman is stripped down completely and rebuilt with brand new OEM or better grade components and then bench tested through a much more stringent process to verify those new components are well within the limits of the OEM alt.

The bosch AL8799X for the 2.4 (which I believe the OP has from his sig pic) is around 185 dollars shipped. Denso does not list a PN for the 2.4 but the 2.2 PN is 210-0552 and is 140 + 13 shipping on amazon, which I believe is compatible with the 2.4. Acdelco claims to be a nippondenso reman unit but since acdelco gets parts from different suppliers all the time, not sure where that was remanufactured. Typically they are ok though as they are the OEM replacement at the dealership. 3342624A is 220 on rockauto with a 46 dollar core you get back making it 175 or so.

 

I was guessing because the LNF alternator is pricey on rockauto. I assumed he had LSJ and assumed LSJ alt would be similarly expensive.

 

Alt's in general, ones that arent some special design with multiple charging stages, shouldnt be more then $200 dollars on any car, for a name brand. The LSJ denso alternator 2100667 is actually cheaper then the 2.4 alt, 130.99 after core. The bosch AL8821X still difficult to get anywhere but $225 on summit. I'm a bigger fan of the bosch alts but either denso or bosch is the way to go when replacing the alt.

I would assume that the LNF alt is more expensive because of limited production, only being available for 2 years in the cobalt.

 

So I got the car back today... They put in a new ECM because they got codes P0622 & B1325 which led them to believe there was an intermittent internal problem with the ECM. Drove it home today and so far so good. Hope that its all good to go now!!

 

Wow really? Its really hard for a car our year to get a bad ECM, but it can happen well good luck and thankfully you had insurance

 

Very curious diagnosis lol

 

Thanks everyone for the help!

 

I know I havent posted back here for a while on my problem but I read some were that they run a little higher ie 15 volts during the colder time of the year. So here I am in Nebraska so I held off for a while but it is still running @ 15 volts. Do you think I should start looking at grounds and cleaning them up or its still my alternator. I kinda gave up on the 1 dealership because apparently they didn't think 15 volts was too high and I dont have a problem. At least my charging sys light / batt light hasnt been on for a while. Knock on wood. I think im going to take it to the other one in town and hopefully they will change the alternator under my extended warranty for a $100 as apposed to buying the OEM alternator.