I just replaced my alternator with an original oem one and let me tell you its a huge and I mean really huge difference in power and performance. My car was running good on aftermarket but not as good as its running now with an oem Nissan alternator. For about 2 years when my original alternator died at 260,000 miles, I had gotten it replaced with an autozone alternator, and since then everytime I would put it in drive or reverse I would get severe vibrations and the idle would drop below the normal 600 rpm in drive or reverse but would fine in park. Now After the autozone alternator died after 2 years, I decided not to replace it under warranty but get an original one and now my car has no more vibrations in drive and the idle is now perfect in drive and reverse with no vibrations and now I cant even tell if my car running because its so quite. So just letting you guys know don't buy a autozone or remanufactured aftermarket alternator because they have various defects. If you can buy an original Nissan alternator which will save you labor and last you long as it lasted me.

Where/What website did you buy your OEM alternator? I think Nissan only does re-manufactured ones now. The one I got replaced in 2002 at 50k miles (due to that recall for possible fire potential) was a re-manufactured Nissan, and it has still lasted through now (237k miles)

This is the alternator I have in my car. It is made in japan and remanufactured here in the usa. Its original oem alternator by Nissan. The part number is NISSAN OEM-Alternator 23100-31U02R http://www.ebay.com/itm/NISSAN-OEM-Alternator-2310031U02R-/161551290208?hash=item259d350f60&vxp=mtr Then thers another one which Nissan sells and its also made in japan but remanufactured in mexico and that part number is 2310M-0L706R http://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-1999-Nissan-Maxima-Alternator-Generator-OEM-NEW-Genuine-2310M-0L706R-/321745076465?vxp=mtr and its sold for 190.00 vs the one I got sold for 334.00. Reason why I didn't get the one that was made in mexico was because the one from autozone was also made in mexico and it only lasted less than 2 years.

So many people bash Autozone alternators, but I've installed 3 of them in 3 different Maximas, and about 3 years later too, everything is still just fine.

My brother has had no issues with his AZ alternators

that my friend is what we call the luck of the draw. i had a napa alternator go bad in less than 3 months and under warranty i got another one. the replacement has lasted 2 years.

Its a hit or miss type of thing, I got my alternator from advance about a year and half ago and its solid. I went through 2 aftermarket starters with in 2 weeks from advance.

I've also used (new) Alternators from Advance and never had an issue with them.

I'm starting to become disenchanted with some OEM parts. The power window motor recently gave up the ghost on my Frontier. Not unusual after 9 years. Priced the parts from my local Dealer and aftermarket (NAPA, AZ, Advance, etc). Local Dealer gives me a significant discount on parts, but the price for the motor and regulator still came to $300 before tax (list was over $400). NAPA had the motor/regulator assembly for under $100. Web showed aftermarket was sourced overseas but I decided I would pay the extra money and go with OEM, thinking I would be getting a higher quality part.

Went down to Nissan Dealer and the Parts guy handed me the boxes...took a look at them and they were marked "Made in China". I declined to buy them thinking that if I was going to pay that much for parts made in China, I may as well go aftermarket.

Left Dealer and went directly to NAPA store...got the motor/regulator assembly for under $100 with a lifetime warranty....made in Taiwan. It fits and works perfectly...

Guess these Dealers have to make a bundle off the customers in order to support the lavish facilities they're building...

exactly, the nicer the showroom the more expensive the shop/

talkinghorse's story is so discouraging and sad.

I believe a poor diagnosys can lead too a premature failure...as well as a poorly maintained engine and bay....

I installed the NEW Duralast Gold alternator DLG13284 from Autozone last August and it's worked fine. My 40 month old 24F battery now reads 12.6V in the morning because it's getting charged better with this higher amperage alternator. Another positive aspect of this alternator is the Lifetime warranty. If it ever blows I'll easily install another one for free.

For most aftermarket parts New and Refurbished are totally different leagues. I would never buy an aftermarket Refurbished alternator nor starter.

same here, no issues so far.. and their warranty on them are pretty good as well

Yeah but OEM will maybe cost around 2 to 3 times as much.

its worth it, as long as the car runs nice and like brand new its worth it. Plus down the road I'll save a lot of labor with not having to replace it every one or two years. So if you think of the labor cost, it will add up or exceed sooner or later to the price of the original Nissan alternator.