How to Save Money and Keep Your Older Vehicles on the Road

Most fleets are made of a combination of older and newer vehicles. The newer vehicles are straightforward and reasonably affordable to maintain, but the older vehicles get more challenging and expensive to repair every year. Luckily, there are cost-effective ways to maintain these older vehicles, with some are more advisable than others. Read on to learn how to keep your older vehicles on the road all while saving money.

Avoid Any “Budget Options”

Many buyers look to budget remanufacturers and local rebuilders to save money. In our experience, what you save on the front end will come back to bite you in the long run.

Most of these budget options are built with low-quality parts and lax technical specifications. They save money by using parts other manufacturers won’t touch. The initial price may be attractive, but you will burn through multiple units and several repairs when a single OE unit from a reputable manufacturer would still be running smoothly.

Choose NEW or FACTORY-REMANUFACTURED to save

Many of our suppliers offer factory-remanufactured units at a reduced price point. Not as cheap as non OE, budget brands, but that’s probably a good thing. These factory-remanufactured parts will outperform budget brands every time.

We urge our customers to buy new, but factory-remanufactured is a good compromise the best solution for buyers seeking quality starters and alternators at a lower price.

The factory-remanufacture processes are methodical and closely monitored because the manufacturer reputation demands it. Some manufacturers, like Delco Remy, have dedicated remanufacture plants where technicians with unique expertise handle the processes.

Rebuilt for the Current Generation

When a manufacturer rebuilds an alternator or starter, they introduce any new generation updates so the product remains up to date. This isn’t possible for budget remanufacturers to mimic, and impacts the reliability of their products.

What happens when an alternator or starter gets remanufactured?

  1. The unit is disassembled and all components are cleaned. Some are painted or treated for corrosion resistance
  2. Wearing components are replaced.
  3. Electronics are replaced.
  4. The unit is tested at key points during remanufacturing and once the full process is complete.
  5. The process is documented from start to finish.
  6. Validation testing is performed on all changes made to update the product.

The difference in quality means you get dependability, consistency, long product life, fewer warranty issues and more time on the road.

Speak to a Heavy-Duty Vehicle Expert at Elreg

So if you’re looking for a way to spend less keeping your old vehicles on the road, consider talking to us about factory-remanufactured starters and alternators. It’s the best way to save some money without sacrificing the quality and dependability you need in your working fleet of vehicles. Learn more from Elreg today by reaching out to our team!