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Starter Repair & Replacement Service
A well-maintained ignition is key to reliable, dependable performance from your SUV, pickup, minivan or sedan. A car starter is a powerful electric motor that is used to start or ‘turn over’ an engine. When the ignition switch is engaged, power from the battery is delivered to the solenoid, which sits on top of the starter. Essentially, a starter generates the spark needed to get the engine running.
How can you tell if you need a car starter repair? When you engage the starter and all you hear is a click, click, click, but the motor never kicks on or takes a while to start up, it is possibly time for an alternator or starter repair. If your battery terminals are corroded or the cables have become worn or frayed, it may cause a failed starter.
First, you will want to confirm if your vehicle battery is dead. If you do not have a battery tester in your trunk or garage, head over to a NAPA Auto Parts store or NAPA Auto Care center where an associate or technician can perform a battery test. If your battery has enough charge, your power issue is potentially from a bad ignition switch or blown fuse
Signs of a Bad Starter
An automotive starter can fail from common wear and tear. The teeth of the pinion gear or flywheel can wear down and become no longer useful. Additionally, extreme temperatures can cause the solenoid to create electrical arching or mechanical sticking. Signs your vehicle needs starter repair:
- Check engine light or battery light is illuminated
- Slow cranking or no cranking
- Starter spins but engine doesn’t turn
- Grinding noise while driving
- Headlights and electronic displays fluctuate in brightness or are dimmer than normal
If you ever see or smell smoke from the starter or anywhere under the hood, reach out to your nearest NAPA Auto Care center immediately.
Starter Repair & Replacement at NAPA Auto Care
If you are experiencing signs of a bad starter, the ASE-certified technicians at NAPA Auto Care are trained to perform tests of your starting system components, which includes the starter, alternator, ignition switch, spark plugs and fuses. This full inspection also helps eliminate other issues that may have led to the malfunction of your automotive battery or starter.
With any automotive starter replacement, our NAPA experts will thoroughly explain your vehicle’s condition, identify which issues are urgent and provide a comprehensive estimate. Car starters for sale start as low as $150 for a modern commuter vehicle like a Nissan, but can reach to more than $300 for a luxury vehicle like a Mercedes-Benz. Labor is an additional $250 to $400, which totals $500 to $700 for a car starter replacement.There is no typical routine maintenance cycle for replacing a starter, and you may never need to replace the original starter in your vehicle. But, if you do experience issues, don’t waste time searching for a “starter repair shop near me.” Here at NAPA Auto Care, we back up our quality repair work with a free 24-Month/24,000-Mile Peace of Mind Warranty. This warranty is offered across the entire nationwide NAPA Network and covers parts and labor on qualifying repairs and services.
