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Sat Oct 20, 2012 6:07 pm

I'm on my 4th starter from Autozone. It's a autostick rebuilt and they have been everthing from bad right out of the box to having the whole pressed in end cap comming off. Last unit worked for maybe 8 drives now it's dead. They replace them no problem but I need something that last. Are the Bosch units worth the price? Thanks

Sat Oct 20, 2012 6:11 pm

Opps, it's a 1965 with a dual port in it.

Sat Oct 20, 2012 6:16 pm

Short answer is yes.
I went though 3 before giving up and finding a rebuilt Bosch autostick starter at the local VW shop. It works great every time.

Sat Oct 20, 2012 6:57 pm

Yup, they are that bad. The 1st autostick starter lasted me 11 starts. The 2nd did 7 times. The third started 3 times. I got a bosch reman unit after that.

Sat Oct 20, 2012 7:34 pm

They were that bad back 15 years ago when I was a still a mechanic!

Sun Oct 21, 2012 4:56 am

Thanks, thought maybe I was the only one.

Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 am

Remember, a return costs that store money, so I personally think their overall quality has improved over the years.

I just installed an all-new AutoZone starter in Mrs. Cusser's 2005 Yukon three weeks ago. We were out of town, and small town had AutoZone, O'Reillys, and one independent auto parts place. It was a Saturday, O'Reillys only had rebuilts, Autozone had all-new and rebuilts, new was like $15 more. So I went with all-new, both had lifetime warranty.

For me, I didn't want a 90-day or maybe 1-year warranty from that independent parts store, didn't even call to see if they had one in stock, but 2005 GM is likely used on several models.

If I traveled to larger town 20 miles away, maybe other store like NAPA or CarQuest, but likely not lifetime warranty either.

Pre-2000, I did buy an AutoZone starter for a 1988 Suburban, and it was fine.

All that stated: I've only used genuine Bosch rebuilt starters and generators in my two VWs. I got mine locally at BAP Parts in Phoenix, so in my case I'd call them again and see if they still have those. Mine's not my daily driver, so I'd even go shipping route on those before trying chain store part - especially the generator, as that's a more-involved R&R.

Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:49 pm

I'm on the second o'reilly starter in my 6v '66 and it is now acting up and needs to be replaced again. And i put a carquest starter in my '70 bug and now and then it will not crank over. These rebuilt starters are crap

Sun Oct 21, 2012 2:15 pm

My 1998 Frontier has a rebuilt CarQuest starter in it, for about 7 years now, 180K miles on it. Tough to generalize, depends if the starter (or generator) is completely rebuilt, with armature turned, new bearings, new brushes, etc., or just sloppily with just "what's wrong" fixed.

Sun Oct 21, 2012 4:26 pm

I have DECENT luck with the Orileys stuff.

Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:39 pm

Keep taking them back and tell the MGR. you are not satisfied and it is costing him $$$.

Sun Oct 21, 2012 6:58 pm

I've got 1-1/2 years on my Autozone starter in my daily driven '63. No issues.

Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:16 am

X2 to sxuxrxf. My AAP rebuilt autostick starter on my woods buggy is 1.5 years old and still working. Luck of the draw, I guess. I did take it apart to check the fields and windings before I installed it. Both "looked" either rewound or new, not just cleaned and installed.

Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:42 am

WOW! I can't believe someone finally posted this.

I thought I was the only one cheap enough to ever have even tried some of their parts in my VWs over the years.

To sum up my experience= my last 2 cars, ALL alternators and starters come from BOSCH NEW. I on my '67 bug (2003-2007) I went through 3 starters from Autozone...2 from Schucks. I went through 3 of their "rebuilt" generators. That was that car only!

When you think about the cost and the lifetime warranty, it doesnt seem that bad. When you actually have to replace your starter or generator twice the same winter in Colorado when the temps at night are -10*....you are wishing you would have paid for the damn Bosch one to begin with. I have had to call into work because I couldnt get my crap started before. I have had a generator crap out while I was driving to see a medical specialist. The parts always seem to fail at the best possible time!

I personally think 80% (if not more) of them are "rebuilt" by folks that don't really know what they are looking for. They might replace a brush, maybe a bearing, give it a coat of spray paint and send it on its way. I have received rebuilt starters that had the drive pinion so chewed up, you had to try the key multiple times because it would get caught or not catch properly the flywheel gear teeth at all.

Thats my experience with the cheap stuff. The new factory stuff= very nice with little drama.

Mon Oct 22, 2012 3:56 pm

Thanks to all, going for a Bosch unit tomorrow. Glad to hear I'm not the only person who thought that rebuilt means rebuilt not just passed off as good. Had the same experiance with the hyd. brake switch that I got. First one leaked on the first pump of the brake, took it back and got the higher priced one and it was fine. You would think that as a company these auto parts stores would be having a cow over the cost involved with switching units out for life, but guess it doesn't show up on someones report. Thanks again everyone.

Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:08 pm

Not sure of the money trail on this, but the automotive OEM's who have bad parts returned from the production line charge back the supplier who eventually eats the part. For US based suppliers, there's a surcharge of up to $250.00 (by contract) for each occurence charged back to the supplier. There's lot of incentive to make it right the first time, but maybe the Chinese have found a way around paying return fees and chargebacks. During Honda's recent 2004-2005 Pilot recall for defective low beam wiring, the supplier is contracturally liable for these costs.

Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:21 pm

Can get the Bosch one through Advance Auto. Never had any issues at all.

Mon Oct 22, 2012 5:59 pm

I prefer Autozone when faced with one of the box stores. Our local one is not bad helpful staff. Having said that!, I went thru 4 PS pumps on my Toyota before found one that worked. Every one of them howled, groaned or wobbled. Total crap. Had to go to O'Riely's

For the bug I normally use mail order and prefer Bosch.

Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:39 pm

Not VW specific, but on cheap "rebuilt" electrical parts I've had the new paint rub off on my hands - revealing the old grease beneath...

Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:35 pm

one of the major factors you should consider when deciding on to use "rebuilt" or new, is how hard it is to change. If you only want to do it once, then buy the best possible part. I'd never skimp on a transmission or generator/alternator. Starter not nearly as bad. Are you capable of push starting if it doesn't work? If so you aren't completely up a creek.

You don't skimp on main bearings, or engine internals. You can on spark plugs, valve cover gaskets, or fan belts, because they are easy to change if they go bad.

If you don't know how to do this stuff, buy the best ONCE.