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CostHelper > Cars  > Starter Motor Replacement

Starter Motor Replacement Cost


How Much Does Starter Motor Replacement Cost?

 
low costAverage Starter Motor: $100-$400 (Part Only)average costEasy-Access Vehicle: $150-$600, installedhigh costDifficult-Access Vehicle: $300-$2,000, installed

A starter motor is one component in the system that starts a car; when the key is turned, energy from the battery is sent to the starter solenoid and from there to the starter motor, which then cranks up the engine. In the past the starter solenoid and starter motor were separate components, but on most modern vehicles they are a single unit. Symptoms of a starter motor problem include a clicking or grinding sound when turning the key in the ignition, or if the engine starts slowly or doesn't start at all.

Typical costs:

  • A starter motor for an average passenger car typically costs $100-$400 for just the part, depending on the make and model of vehicle and whether the part is aftermarket (produced by a company other than the vehicle manufacturer, and typically less expensive) or OEM (original equipment manufacturer, produced by the vehicle's manufacturer and typically more expensive).
  • A starter motor for a limited-production or luxury vehicle can cost $250-$1,200 or more for just the part, depending on whether it is aftermarket or OEM. For example, AutoZone charges $120 or $144 for an aftermarket starter motor for a 2008 Ford Focus[1] .
  • Labor to replace a starter motor on a vehicle with relatively easy access typically takes about 30 minutes to two hours at $50-$120 an hour (ranging from an independent mechanic to a dealership). This brings typical total costs (parts and labor) to install a starter motor on an easy-access vehicle to $150-$600.
  • For example, RepairPal[2] estimates replacing a starter in a 2008 Toyota Camry costs $264-$482 in Trenton, NJ and $266-$484 in Sacramento, CA, with parts accounting for $208-$111 of the total and labor costing $56-$73, depending on location.
  • For a vehicle where the starter motor is buried under other parts that must be disconnected and removed to reach the starter motor, labor can take six to eight hours at $50-$120 an hour, bringing typical total costs to $300-$2,000, depending on whether the part is standard or rare, and aftermarket or OEM; and whether the work is done by an independent or chain repair shop, or a car dealership (typically more expensive).
  • For example, RepairPal[3] estimates that replacing a starter on a 2008 Lexus LS460 costs $1,225-$1,454 in Trenton, NJ and $1,149-$1357 in Sacramento, CA, with parts accounting for $641-$709 of the total cost, and labor costs of $508-$745, depending on location.
Related articles: Car Battery, Car Battery Charger, Alternator, Ignition Switch Replacement, Ignition Coil Replacement, Towing a Car

What should be included:
  • Replacing a starter motor can be relatively straightforward or difficult and time-consuming, depending on where the starter is located in the engine, and how many other parts have to be disconnected and removed to reach the starter motor. AutoZone provides a how-to video[4] and AutoMD offers a general overview of the process[5] , estimating the the do-it-yourself project takes about 2.1 hours and is of moderate complexity.
Additional costs:
  • The total cost may include a labor charge of an hour or so (at $50-$120 an hour) for diagnostic testing to determine whether the starter motor should be replaced.
Shopping for starter motor replacement:
  • Popular Mechanics explains how to diagnose a bad starter motor[6] and AutoZone provides a video explanation[7] of the diagnostic process.
  • A starter motor can be replaced by a car dealership, an independent repair shop, or car-repair chains like Pep Boys[8] or Sears[9] . Both the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence[10] and the International Automotive Technicians Network[11] provide a searchable directory of repair shops.
  • Consumer Reports lists tips for finding a good mechanic[12] .
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Replace starter
Amount: $1,265.00
Posted by: Arador in Plano, TX.Posted: February 12th, 2021 08:02AM
Car Make: ToyotaCar Model: Tundra
Car Year: 2006Auto Shop: City Garage
Starter just clicked without turning over engine. Battery also needed to be replaced. Starter is under manifold on top of engine in Toyota's
$75 Manifold Gasket
$170 Battery
$228 Starter
$690 Labor
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Need a new motor
Amount: $1,900.00
Posted by: Gummmy408 in San Jose, CA.Posted: December 13th, 2020 02:12PM
Car Make: HondaCar Model: EX
Car Year: 2000Auto Shop:
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Car stater
Amount: $528.00
Posted by: [email protected] in Woodbridge, VA.Posted: September 23rd, 2019 09:09AM
Car Make: Donge ramCar Model: Cv
Car Year: 2014Auto Shop:
That's icluded labor and material.
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Motor got water in it
Amount: $1,500.00
Posted by: MamaLuv in Newyork, NY.Posted: April 29th, 2019 07:04AM
Car Make: DodgeCar Model: Durango
Car Year: 2009Auto Shop:
Everything else on the car is good transmission good but the motor is bad it got water in it.
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Car starter
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: MarciaBonita in Chicago, IL.Posted: February 10th, 2019 09:02AM
Car Make: Mercedes BenzCar Model: 230 c class
Car Year: 2007Auto Shop: CarMax
My car does crank all the way. After trying 2 start it about 2-3 times, it is as though the battery is dying. I had AAA 2 come 2 give be me a jump but the AAA auto assistance told me that the battery was good & that it may be the starter. I’m trying to get a sense of how much it will cost for parts and labor at any auto repair shop other than the dealership. Thanks!
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Starter motor replacement
Amount: $480.00
Posted by: Tanqueray in Miami, FL.Posted: January 11th, 2019 01:01PM
Car Make: BuickCar Model: Enclave
Car Year: 2015Auto Shop: NA
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Starter motor replacement
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Fred Anders in Schoharie, NY.Posted: August 5th, 2017 01:08PM
Car Make: HondaCar Model: Civic
Car Year: 2008Auto Shop: Lia Honda, Albany, NY
OMG! This was ridiculously expensive. Yes, the starter motor on a '08 Civic is hard to get to, but I never figured it would cost this much!!!
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car starter
Amount: $50.00
Posted by: freezed in warren, OH.Posted: June 10th, 2017 09:06AM
Car Make: cadillacCar Model: sedan deville
Car Year: 1993Auto Shop: a&r
got the starter myself and these guys put it in and also gave a mechanical update on my vehilhle
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External Resources:
  1.  www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Starter/_/N-93xl9?filterByKeyWord=starter+motor&fr...
  2.  repairpal.com/estimator
  3.  repairpal.com/estimator
  4.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym9bgqbH-_4
  5.  www.automd.com/14/how-to-replace-a-starter/
  6.  www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/maintenance/how-to-replace-a-cars-starter-mot...
  7.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSTOmMAEjrg
  8.  storelocator.pepboys.com/pepboys/
  9.  www.sears.com/automotive/v-1020005
  10.  www.ase.com/Landing-Pages/Car-Owners/Find-a-Repair-Shop/Shop-Locator.aspx
  11.  autorepair.iatn.net/
  12.  www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/how-to-find-a-great-car-mechanic/index.htm
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