You’ll likely need a starter replacement if your car struggles to start.
Wondering how much that’ll set you back?
Let’s review the starter replacement cost, the factors that affect the average cost, and whether it’s better to repair or replace your malfunctioning starter.
This Article Contains:
- How Much Does a Starter Replacement Cost?
- What Factors Affect the Starter Replacement Cost?
- What Are the Common Signs of a Failing Starter?
- Can I Drive My Car with a Faulty Starter?
- Is It Better to Replace or Repair My Starter?
- 4 FAQs about Car Starters
How Much Does a Starter Replacement Cost?
Replacing a bad starter motor could cost about $200 to $1450. This includes $50 to $350 for a new starter and $150 and $1,100 for the mechanic’s labor charges.
However, these figures could be lower if you catch the car starter issues early. You could also save a lot by buying a rebuilt starter instead of an OEM starter (Original Equipment Manufacturer).
If your vehicle’s starter fails unexpectedly, you might also need to pay for a tow to an auto repair shop or dealership — unless you opt for a mobile mechanic to come to you instead.
Now that you have a rough estimate of the average starter replacement cost, let’s look at factors that affect these prices.
What Factors Affect the Starter Replacement Cost?
These factors can affect the average cost of a starter motor replacement:
- Type of car: Your car’s year, make, and model can impact replacement costs. For example, a Honda Civic’s average starter motor replacement cost is about $465 to $785, while it’s $560 to $980 for a Honda CR-V.
- Part quality: An OEM starter will cost more than an aftermarket replacement starter, whether for a Honda Motor Company or Toyota car.
- Additional repairs: The starter motor replacement cost can also depend on whether your vehicle needs a new flywheel ring gear. If a ring gear is required, it could add to the total replacement cost.
- Labor cost: The labor cost could also vary based on your location, the establishment providing the auto services, and how easy it is to access your car starter. The starter motor on most vehicles is easily accessible, but other starters are mounted around engine components that are hard to access — like under the intake manifold.
We’ve covered how much a starter replacement can cost and what can affect it. Let’s now go through some common signs of a bad starter.
What Are the Common Signs of a Failing Starter?
If you spot some of these bad starter signs early on, you might be able to reduce your car repair costs:
1. Engine Won’t Start
When the starter motor begins wearing out, it won’t generate enough power to turn the crankshaft, and your vehicle could have starting issues.
Note: If you have to turn on the ignition multiple times before your car’s engine runs, this is most likely due to a problem with the starter relay. In this case, replacing the starter relay might resolve your car’s starting problems.
2. Smoke
If you see smoke while trying to start your vehicle, that could indicate an overheating starter motor. This could cause electrical problems like short circuits.
3. Clicking, Whirring, Or Grinding Noise
Unusual noises when starting your car — such as a whirring, grinding, or clicking sound — are common signs of a bad starter motor. These noises could sometimes be due to pinion gear failure or flywheel ring gear damage.
Next, let’s review whether driving your vehicle in this condition is safe.
Can I Drive My Car with a Faulty Starter?
Driving with a faulty starter motor is possible because once your car’s engine is running, the malfunctioning starter motor won’t be in use. But, if you have a starter problem, your vehicle might not respond whenever you try restarting the engine.
In general, if your starter has failed, it’s critical to get a starter motor replacement soon.
However, you may wonder: Can a faulty starter be fixed?
Read on to know more.
Is It Better to Replace or Repair My Starter?
If you suspect a starter problem, get a professional mechanic to inspect your vehicle’s starter motor. If it’s not too bad, some internal components of the bad starter motor could be easily repaired at a fair price. For example, it’s possible to replace damaged solenoids, brushes, bearings, or connections.
However, replacing the entire faulty starter motor is easier than replacing the other parts, like the windings and armature.
But here’s the thing:
A starter repair is a good option when the part is under warranty. In other cases, although repairing the parts may be slightly cheaper, it’s less cost-effective as the repaired starter may not last as long as a new or rebuilt one.
So, a mechanic will mostly suggest replacing your failing part with a new or rebuilt starter (if you want to save on costs).
Have more questions?
We’ll answer them.
4 FAQs about Car Starters
Here are answers to some common starter-related queries:
1. How Does a Car Starter Work?
The starter motor is a part of your car’s starting system.
When you turn on the ignition, the car battery sends power to the starter solenoid, which closes the connection between the starter electric motor and the battery. This pushes the starter gear (pinion gear) forward to mesh it with the ring gear of the flexplate or flywheel.
From here, the starter electric motor turns the crankshaft and sets the other engine components in motion.
2. What Are the Parts of a Car Starter Motor?
Knowing a starter’s internal components can help with troubleshooting the cause of failure and determining whether a repair or replacement is necessary.
An automotive starter motor mainly includes these parts:
- Starter solenoid
- Armature and commutator
- Plunger and shift fork
- Starter drive gear
- Electromagnetic field coils or permanent magnets
- Brushes
- Bearings and bushings
3. What Causes Starter Problems?
Here are four common causes of starter motor failure:
- Faulty alternator, dead battery, or corroded battery terminals: Because the starter requires battery power, it won’t function with a dead battery or bad alternator. The starter motor may also not receive enough power to start the engine due to corroded battery terminals. You might need an alternator or battery replacement.
- Worn parts and oil leaks: Starter components wear out over time, causing starter failure. This can also happen if an oil leak ends up reaching the starter motor. You could get a mobile mechanic to fix the leak and do an oil change if necessary.
- Faulty wiring: If the wiring is faulty, excessive current from the battery might damage critical starter components like the solenoid.
- Incorrect installation: If the motor isn’t correctly installed, it might not mesh with the flywheel properly. This could result in starter motor failure and further damage to the engine flywheel or pinion gear.
4. How Does a Mechanic Replace a Starter?
Although replacing a starter motor can seem like an easy DIY project, it involves electrical work that could lead to damaged components when done incorrectly. So, if you don’t have the necessary know-how, it’s best to leave the replacement to a professional mechanic.
Still, here’s how a mechanic would replace the starter motor:
- Turn off the ignition switch. Then, safely disconnect the car battery — the negative battery cable first followed by the positive battery cable.
- Locate the vehicle’s starter and disconnect all the mounting bolts that hold it to the engine block.
- Disconnect the wiring to the starter motor.
- Remove the failed starter motor.
- Mount the new starter and tighten each bolt that holds it in place.
- Reconnect the car battery — the positive battery cable first and then the negative battery cable.
- Turn on the ignition switch and monitor any unusual noises or potential issues.
Resolve Starter Problems with AutoNation Mobile Service
Unusual noises and erratic cranking are signs of starter failure. When this happens, consider getting a replacement starter installed.
Can’t get your car to a mechanic?
AutoNation Mobile Service can come to you!
We’re an auto repair and maintenance company offering convenient bookings, upfront pricing, and a 12,000-month, 12,000-mile repair warranty.
Contact us to get auto services like starter repair, battery replacement, or an oil change done right from your driveway!