Hi all doc here it's been a while since posting my Jags been in storage for 6 month's to many cars and hate using it for short trips

I'm in a bit of a predicament decided to take her fur a run couple days ago and the alternator died

My indie had diagnosed the bearings as being noisey when I did the suspension late last year

​​​​​​As I wasn't using her I hadn't thought about her till the day I took her for a drive

My issues are being in Australia these cars are sparse on the ground and especially scrap yards what they want for a second hand unit is ridiculous
I then thought I'd get it recoed after much searching no such thing over here and the guy's that where prepared to have a go have no guarantee

I have decided against getting a record one from overseas as core charge adds to the cost

I found a new aftermarket Denso on eBay UK but they don't ship to Australia and with exchange rates the US is the better priced option

​​​​​​I found a company in the US that sells an aftermarket Alternator with lifetime guarantee so this peaked my interest as none of the others give such a warranty so in my mind their products must be a fairly good quality to apply such a warranty as well as the Aussie US free trade agreement for items manufactured in the US makes the most sense financially

The only issue I can't figure out which state their in and if I buy the the unit they don't have a international shipping offer which forces me to use a freight forwarder and using some of their calculators the freight is ridiculous

I used to have mates that lived in the US but due to covid they've all moved back to Aussie

I'm still investigating other avenues but thought if there was a member on the west coast of the US as I live in Brisbane that had some time on their hands so that I could order and have it delivered to their address and they inturn send it on to me in Aussie through USPS or are able to figure out the most cost effective way of shipping the alternator and that I can send them the money or through PayPal to facilitate this

I realise it's a big ask and I've tried searching the forums on what choice alternator to make that's why I've gone with the brand new aftermarket with lifetime warranty any members with knowledge here feel free to chime in

A PM would be best I think to keep addresses private

Thanks in advance regards doc

 

absolutely nobody local can repair yours? it’s a denso/toyota

 

As I explained a few said they'd have a go no guarantees and I had a similar issue with the abs module learned from that just get another

 

Hi doc,
It sounds like you need to make contact with some of the Aussie members, I'm sure I've seen some here. I know ABS modules can be tricky, but with noisy bearings in the alternator, they should just be able to be replaced. I've done this on several Japanese alternators, and they are fairly simple, with no tricks hiding inside. Can you see the Denso part number on the alternator? There's probably a Toyota or Mitsubishi that uses the same one.

The other thing to try is used parts from Japan. They ship to NZ so are bound to ship to Australia. My car was imported from a site called beforward.jp and the link I would use to look over their parts for x350 is: https://autoparts.beforward.jp/searc...RIES/GH-J72RA/
The J72RA is the Japan designation for the car. They've got one alternator there for about $350.

The third option is to try here in New Zealand. Suppliers I use include Rodney Jaguar Rover, Beacham, Jaguar Workshop, but you can look for them online. That's the closest overseas place for you, and your dollars buy more here!

Regards
Pete

 

Thanks Pete I've been researching and most provide a 12 month warranty here in Aus for generic and $600au. The US unit I'm looking at offers a life time warranty also Aussie has a free trade so no duty or tax and the US unit is 135$ US. This makes it a worthy price when second hand over here they want $500au and the cars are older already. The bearings in mine died because the car sat for 4 years while i was away OS I'm doing some research and have found the manufacturers of Denso in Europe as they have factories in Japan,China and Poland.Ive got my old friend living in Poland talking to the manufacturers. I've got my feelers out around the world I've been playing with jaguars for a long time lol

 

What about these? (in Aus)
Brand New Alternator for Jaguar XJ X350 4.2L Petrol AJ8FT 2003 - 2009 | eBay
New Genuine BOSCH Alternator For JAGUAR XJ8 4.2L X350 BXH1238A | eBay

 

I'd make sure that lifetime warranty is valid if exported from the US... it probably isn't.

 

The worst problem for fixing alternators is getting the pulley of the shaft.
Once inside the alternator they are not complicated and can be fixed.
Lots of Chinese made new ones around that "might" be 100% easy to fit.
Typically around AUD250, I have one on my XJ-S coupe.
The US $135 alternator is almost sure to be Chinese at that price.
I would guess Landrovers have similar engines and alternators to the X350 etc.
Try them for new or 2nd hand ones.

 

I'm sure there are automotive electrical specialists in Australia that can overhaul the unit. The problem with many of the aftermarket units is they aren't compatible with the vehicle's modules and can leave the instrument cluster with a permanent warning lamp on.

I personally would stay away from any Chinese units.

 

Sorry but "Chinese" has come a long way. Long gone is the sentiment of "cheap chinese". Perhaps you are stuck in a time warp of the heyday of this car?
Separately, Last time I had an alternator reconditioned it cost more than the alternator was worth. I'd go with a new one, of whatever source.

Lifetime warranty is a feel-good joke.
1) How long are you planning to own this car? As long as it's old already, plus more?
2) Warranty might involve sending the old unit back for replacement, which is 2x freight. I understand you were worried about saving on freight?

Australia has 5x the population of NZ. It's not possible you can't source an alternator locally. It's not like (with a real classic like a mk2 or something) it has to look the same. The only thing I see about an X350 alternator is that the "regulator" is attached to the car, and not within the alternator.

All in all, I'd go for a new one, even if Chinese. I mean, those sly Aussies in Coober Pedy probably pulled it out of a rusty truck and sold it at the corner store 1000 miles away after a bit of Opal Polish, or in the case of New Zealand we probably replaced the commutator with No8 fencing wire and hoped it beds in...the Chinese on the other hand , they invented... FIREWORKS!

TLDR: Buy a new one, preferably locally. Being a Jag has nothing to do with a mere alternator.

 

Thanks for all the pointers. The reason I like the lifetime warranty comes across they're confident in their product that's the way I see it.

They also state made in USA which means tax free for Australia as we have a free trade agreement with the USA so exchange and freight costs only.

I'll never use the warranty at the price they're asking I'll just buy another and still be ahead.

I also won't be doing the work myself I'll be getting my indie to do the work the cars there already my days of working on cars are long gone.

I like to calculate my time at a hourly rate and that if it takes me approx 8 to 10 hours as I've never done one on a Jaguar before + cursing frustration and maybe halfway through the job finding that I need another component,clip , tool or whatever.

The job then is not only 8 to 10 hours but a couple of days of frustration getting the so called part, component, clip or speciality tool that might be needed.
I've learned long ago Murphy and I have a great relationship when it comes to cars

Then the thought of crawling on the ground or bending over for that time whilst still recovering from a major motorcycle accident in late 2020 and another accident December 2021

I'd rather put my skillset to sourcing a brand new part at a good price supply it to my Indie let him fit the item.

If there's a part,tool or clip or whatever is needed he'll most likely have that item he'll also if something's not right notify me of the situation and remedy that issue to a standard that gives me the confidence the jobs done to a standard that I'm not capable of that feeling is priceless in my eyes

 

Lifetime warranties are basically a math game. They know that most folks don't keep a used car more than 3 or 4 years, and most parts like alternators, brake pads, other parts with these warranties last longer than that anyway. Since "lifetime warranties" are to the original purchaser only, it wouldn't be your warranty anyway if someone else bought it and shipped it to you. Lifetime warranty should not be in any list of considerations for you, unless it applies to your country and the product is delivered to your country.

 

My personal experience with Chinese parts and tools proves they aren't worth buying, regardless of the vintage of the vehicle or person working on it.

This is misinformation. Being a Jaguar does have everything to do with installing the correct alternator or living with a permanent instrument cluster warning lamp for the charging system.

 

Again thanks for the replies. I've decided to go a different path I have a mate in Poland communicating with a couple companies as it turns out most of the shops in the UK and Europe send their equipment to Poland to be reconditioned having a mate there is a benefit. I'm talking about getting an upgraded output version 180 amp instead of 140 just checking prices and availability