My minivan alternator died at a rest stop in Nebraska, and I wish I checked the battery cables first

Last month I was driving back from visiting my sister in Lincoln when the van just shut off near the Ogallala rest area. I called a tow truck, paid $180 to get to a shop, and they said the alternator was toast. Cost me $420 with labor. Then my buddy pointed out that the battery terminals were corroded and loose, which can mimic alternator failure. I'm second guessing whether I got taken advantage of or if that was a fair fix. Has anyone else dealt with a similar roadside repair call and wondered if it was really necessary?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_diana3d ago

@jana_shah makes me think of the time my cousin's alternator died and it was really just a dead raccoon in the engine.

jana_shah3d ago

Learned that lesson the hard way too. My old SUV died in a random parking lot and the shop swore it was the alternator. Turns out it was just a corroded ground cable, cost me a fraction of what they charged for the "real" fix. I always check the battery connections first now, even before calling anyone.