How much does a car starter cost?

Was at work last night. Stopped at CVS, walked out, car didn't start. Girlfriend had to drive 40 minutes to come pick me up.
This morning, car started OK. We stopped at a place to get coffee; car didn't restart.
Got a tow, car guys say start. Price: $380.
Does that sound right?

 

High, but not out-of-the-ballpark high. A new starter could run around $150 depending on the type of car. Then if it's in a hard-to-reach spot it make take some extra labor to get the old one off the car and the new one on.

Could try to save costs by finding a rebuilt starter or taking the starter itself to someone for repair. A dealer probably won't do any of that.

 

I think mine is going too. You can buy some time by tapping the shell of the starter underneath your car with a hammer. My downstairs neighbor did it for me the other day. It apparently works all the time some of the time.

 

Just like this Panther cologne.

 

I'd have the battery checked before I shelled out $300-plus for a starter. Sounds more like a battery problem to me.

 

A car problem thread with no posts from ijag... what is this place coming to...

 

If it was the battery, it wouldn't start sometimes, but not others.

Least according to my limited car knowledge.

 

My bad. I thought you were talking an automatic car starter.
While we're on that topic, what's the price of an auto starter/alarm?

 

Customer got quoted around $580 to add a remote starter to his new Tundra. Should be less than that if you don't go through a dealership.

 

Rhody,

Just had my car let me sit in Wilkes-Barre a ew weeks ago. Had to replace the starter and the battery and it cost me $245. Granted, I go to a home-town mechanic who's a family friend and is always pretty fair. Didn't charge me for labor this time.

 

That will work MAYBE once or twice and that's it. I've tapped many a starter in vain in my day.

 

Do not get me going on NEPA. I had a car break down on the way to see Penn St one weekend. Broke down on I-80. Nursed it to a town off 380 just south of WB...of course I had to rent a car, hotel for the night and get a new engine. It was there for like 2-weeks because it happened during Thanksgiving week and garage was closed Thursday and Friday and couldn't get down during the week. Total cost $3,000. Yikes.

There is now way a starter/alarm costs 6-bills. I had one installed a number of years ago for less than half that. (just be sure you find a reputable place)