[Shop-talk] Starter problems

[Randall]

> To sum this up you're probably looking at 2 things: driving style, 
> and parts supplier.

I agree entirely, but I would add "luck of the draw" to the list.  A few years ago, the alternator went out on the wife's old Toyota
and I picked up a rebuilt one at a local independent parts house.  I've been dealing with them for many years and never had a
problem.  But this time, the replacement alternator died again within a matter of weeks.  I assumed that meant I had overlooked some
problem, so I went over the entire charging system carefully, even replaced the battery, clamps and fusible link.  But the next
replacement again failed within a matter of weeks, as did the one after that and the one after that.

Then I got a good one, and it is still working today (although we've since passed the car along to a family friend).  Same
rebuilder, same supplier, no other changes to the car.  I assume the rebuilder got a batch of weak diodes or something, but ???

Randall