2006 Jetta replace alternator pulley or alternator?

My pulley is bad on '06 Jetta TDI at ~80k. Pulley and tools are about $100, when I can get the whole alternator with pulley with lifetime warranty from Autozone for $118 (is this possible? NAPA is $389!). Not sure about OEM vs. Duralast alternator, any advice?

Thanks in advance!

Don't buy the tools! Visit a repair shop specialising in alternator repairs. You might want to have only youw own pulley, nothing more. Also, it's a good idea to replace brushes at the same time too. This whole thing costs cheap (except the pulley itself..)

I can do the work myself, and save some money. The pulley is about $60, tools $30. I am just trying to decide if the $118 autozone duralast reman alternator w/ pulley will be as good as the OEM alternator currently on the car. If so, I'll probably just switch out the whole thing (lifetime warranty on new alternator, not sure if that applies to the new pulley).
Anyone have experience with Duralast remanufactured alternators? It says 140amp, which should be more than sufficient.

many people have had trouble with the reman alternators. I think most people would agree you're infinitely better off replacing the pulley and keeping your original alternator right where it is. Same thing with c/v axles. you can get a whole Chinese axle for less than or the same as one replacement OEM CV joint, but you get what you pay for.

Decided to replace just the pulley, hopefully it works out and I don't have to replace the tensioner

Anyone know if this alternator pulley uses the m10 triple point, or the T50 torx? BRM 2006 Jetta.
Thanks!

http://www.idparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=37_134&products_id=564

http://www.idparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=123_129&products_id=1118

Bill

thanks 40x40. I already have a new pulley, and the spline tool, just need to know if the BRM pulley/alternator needs the triple square or the T50.

At specialised alternator workshop I payed less than $25 for:
-Pulley replacement (brought mine);
-Brushes and rings I think;
-Labour (R&R, bushes+rings).

That's cheaper than buying that overpriced POS metalnerd tool and having to DIY. Have professionals it done for you right for less!

Henrick said:

that overpriced POS metalnerd tool and having to DIY. Have professionals it done for you right for less!

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Professionals? $25? POS?

Only one thing this post proved....

Dunno513 said:

Professionals? $25? POS?

Only one thing this post proved....

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Yes. The workshop is famous and well respected due to good job and reasonable prices around here. They do hundreds of alternators a week. And prove me that tool isn't overpriced.

Henrick said:

Yes. The workshop is famous and well respected due to good job and reasonable prices around here. They do hundreds of alternators a week. And prove me that tool isn't overpriced.

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Ask the shop what they paid for their tool. If they got it from Snap-on, they probably paid ALOT more than $29.................

Ol'Rattler said:

Ask the shop what they paid for their tool. If they got it from Snap-on, they probably paid ALOT more than $29.................

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Indeed, I agree with that. But they use it a lot so it doesn't hurt each customer to pay much. What I'm trying to say is that you gonna spend $29 for a tool and it is verly likely you'll use the tool only once. After that it'll collect dust on a shelf. Sometimes it might be cheaper to pay someone who is skillful (whose this is main job) to replace the pulley.