This is just a general ***** and moan thread arising from the fact that I think the universe should be a better place.
Thanksgiving day I realized the alternator on my 79SD was not putting out enough to keep up with the headlights, heater and radio. I decided to order an alternator from the Ebay supplier I had bought an alternator for my 77 300d from. It was working fine in the 300d and the price was right. I ordered the alternator. After waiting three weeks and exchanging numerous e-mails with the seller, my alternator ended up at the seller's door without ever having been delivered to my house. Since I had already waited 3 weeks, I declined to have him send it out again, got a refund and went to Pep boys. Since their alternator did not have a pulley, they took the pulley off my old one and mounted it on the new. When I got it in the car I noticed a rattling sound. They had not installed the pulley correctly. When I took it back, y offered a substitute alternator but said I would have to pay their service department to take the pulley off the alternator they had initially sold me and put it on the new one. Since they had installed the pulley incorrectly, I politely told them where to put their alternator and got a refund.
I went up the street to Import Parts Warehouse and purchased a rebuilt from them. It's been in the car about a week and half and it completely failed today, producing no output at all.
I expect I'll wake up with boils in the morning.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13