Does replacing a starter cost 1500$?

I have a 07 tundra with 174k miles on it . I had to jump start the truck couple of times last week but it started and ran just fine.

however today after we were in different part of town it gave up - it doesn’t start. Had to tow it to nearest mechanic shop (brakes plus)

they quoted 900$(labor)+650$(part) -1500$ : does it cost this much to replace a starter ?

I have no experience in doing these nor have tools required to pull it off at home.


The part they will be replacing is denșo 428000-4640 : is this the correct part to use ?

 

Woah! I've seen the oem replacement part around the 200 range, if you don't go oem price drops under the 200s. Every mechanic has different hourly rate so labor can vary. YouTube and a few runs to your local auto parts store will cost you way less.

 

About 5x more than it should be.

 

Sounds like California prices. I would expect $800-1000 parts and labor

 

I am from Dallas. McKinney

 

It is a pain in the ass to change. The manifold is in the way.

But this brings me to the real question.

You had to" jump it a couple times" and it started? If it runs from jump starting, that is not a symptom of a bad starter. It makes me think bad battery.

 

They said battery is ok.

 

Alright.
I'd still get a second opinion just to make sure.

 

Not if you jack up the passenger side of the engine.

 

If you know this, then you know why the dealer gets the long dollar.

 

They don't call em stealerships for nothin

 

I think the stealership price is 179 more or less..
Personally I don't feel comfortable jacking up the engine.. too many variables, and with me anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Can be done without pulling the manifold. Do need at least 4 extensions. Pulling those heatshields, use some tape around thise extensions or put cardboard on that frame rail.. or lose them.. lol

 

I've changed mine on my 5.7 and it's not a job for someone who's not skilled in doing automotive repair. If a shop uses the recommended procedure (removing the exhaust manifold) and charges $150/hr then $900 is about right. The price for the starter seems high but shops often charge retail plus. Still that's more than doubling the price. My guess is they know that you'll pay to have it towed to a different shop (which will cost you money and time) and figure they have you over a barrel. Mine has the trans cooler that makes it harder. I was able to get it out without removing the exhaust manifold or jacking the engine but it was a bit of work. For that kind of money I would want a warranty.

 

Need more info on your truck to be able to confirm application, etc. (more than one engine on these trucks)...

Here's the one for the 5.7 just for contrast:
https://www.lithiatoyotaparts.com/o...kcmEmeT0yMDIxJnQ9dHJkLXBybyZlPTUtN2wtdjgtZ2Fz

Here's the one for the 4.7:
https://www.lithiatoyotaparts.com/o...0dW5kcmEmeT0yMDA3JnQ9c3I1JmU9NC03bC12OC1nYXM=

Here's the one for the 4.0:
https://www.lithiatoyotaparts.com/o...0dW5kcmEmeT0yMDA3JnQ9c3I1JmU9NC0wbC12Ni1nYXM=

So, it looks like they are quoting you pretty steep on parts. I was just under $1,200 parts and labor for having mine done on my 08 SR5 5.7

Labor at $900 is about right, these things are a bitch to get to and to get off. I'd print out the OE pricing and just go back down to the shop and try to negotiate some better pricing on the part... The pricing on aftermarket parts has been sideways for the last few years and you can often times get OE parts from the dealer much cheaper than Napa, etc... I do believe the OE unit is Denso though, so maybe they are quoting you an OE part w/mark up, plus labor. If so, that's still triple of what you can purchase the starter (and solenoid) from Toyota for...

Good luck!!!!

 

They did say they have to take off the exhaust manifold and replace the part and put it back which is 7-8hr job


Thank you for sharing the link of the parts. It’s 189$ vs 550$ is 3X.

the mechanic I usually take my truck is at least 10miles away : will call him Monday to get a quote from him before giving a go ahead with the current shop

 

Yeah, unfortunately, most shops are doing 2- 2.5 times MSRP on parts for the last couple of years as their price point.... Had a Toyota dealer local to me quote a friend over $200/per front rotor (from Napa) for a brake job that was sitting at just over $600 (no calipers). We looked it up and was able to grab the rotors, hardware and pads (from Toyota) for about the same $$$ they were hitting him on a single rotor

https://www.lithiatoyotaparts.com/oem-parts/toyota-2007-2020-toyota-rotor-435120c020?c=bD0xJm49U2VhcmNoIFJlc3VsdHMmYT10b3lvdGEmbz10dW5kcmEmeT0yMDA3JnQ9c3I1JmU9NC0wbC12Ni1nYXM=

So, all in all, they are in line w/what many are doing... But, if you have a guy you trust or dealership that you trust (that does work at a reasonable price), it's a much better option... Plus, some shops will use a service or their own tows trucks to transfer a vehicle sometimes if you're having work done at their place. Don't forget about AAA, and even some Auto Insurance Companies will have tow service as part of your policy; often w/no deductible and is non-chargeable (usually it's under the same coverage that your windshield repair/replacements fall). That may help absorb the cost to have it moved if you decide to.

 

The shop I usually take my truck to is asking for 1869$‍♂️ they are saying apart from just the starter 28100-0S050(350$) they will other parts , exhaust gasket and labor(1270$)

can we trust mobile mechanics from wrench or autonation or your mechanic to pull this off. All of them have a ~1300$ for the total cost of the job . I am reading mixed reviews about mobile mechanics for smaller jobs not sure how they can pull off this big job though

 

It’s expensive because it’s arguably the worst starter to replace ever.

 

$1900 is freakin' high....

If you're asking for an opinion on this decision, here's what I think...

The place the truck is at is $1500.. it is a national chain (somewhat); so the likelihood of them being around to handle a warranty claim on it if something goes awry seems more plausible than hoping that an independent mobile mechanic might still be around in a year or 12,000 miles or whatever you're getting for a warranty on the replacement

 

Agreed. I am going to talk to the brakesplus to have the Toyota replacement part from lithiatoyotaparts.com (230$-including shipping) instead of there recommended denso part that would cost 530$. At least will save something on the part

 

I would expect that Brakes Plus would either not do or guarantee the job if not using “ their” part. I wonder if they know the exhaust manifold will need to come off and the gasket will need to be replaced

 

They are getting the same Toyota part(28100-0s500) but for 352$ (when I can get it for 230$ from the link shared above) instead of 530$ they first quoted me and had to go with that : if not - they won’t cover warranty(bcz they provide warranty only to the parts they get)

yes they said they will have to remove exhaust manifold and gasket to get to the starter.

they have me 100$ discount on labor

so total comes to (807+365+ other misc) - 1253$ : includes all parts required

I told them to go ahead with the job.

Thank you all for your responses.

 

Awesome!!! I know $1200 for a starter sucks, but it sounds like they are at least being reasonable for you

 

I'm sure they know that there's a chance they can do it without removing the exhaust manifold in a fraction of the time. If so they most likely are still going to charge you for the time quoted. Almost every part has the amount of time needed to replace it and all the other parts that also will need to be replaced. I'm sure it's on-line and simply searching for the part comes up with all the information. From there a shop might pad the hours. For example, if you live in the rust belt they could assume the bolts will be much harder to remove. On top of that if they've done it before they may of ran into difficulties and now add a couple of hours.

 

Yeah, that's not too terrible considering what it takes to do it correctly (meaning, properly installed with no subsequent eternal heat shield rattle). You're not getting taken advantage of, that's for sure.

Our LX570 has 180k. I am probably going to pay someone to replace the starter at 200k. It's a smaller vehicle than the Tundra. From what I've read, replacing the starter is a bit worse on the 200/570 platform.

 

I did mine a few years ago. I have an 07 4x4, 5.7 I work at a shop and was able to do it without pulling the manifold. Having access to a lift makes it a lot easier, can't imagine doing this sort of thing on the ground. I think it called for 5 or 6 hours labor time. I got a new starter from Toyota for around $200. Heat shields were kind of tricky, but they are very durable and can be bent/manipulated to remove or install. Youtube has some videos on this subject as well. I think it's safe to say $1000-$1200 is fair. As long as you get a warranty!

 

Alright, there’s a whole lot of speculation going on… I didn’t read everything; I work at a shop, give me your year make and model and I’ll tell you the labor time and oem starter price.

no, a shop isn’t gonna only charge you 2 hours if they jack up the motor on one side, they’re going to charge you book time because that’s how it works. If we get a huge discrepancy in book time vs actual time (because the book time might be wrong) then we might drop the hours down accordingly

we charge $150 an hour so it’s damn close to dealership rate and we generally only use oem now because aftermarket has gone to shit with the economy, we sell the part for what the dealer sells for, no extra markup. Lemme know your vehicle info and I’ll tell you what the fair price is tomorrow when I get a second

 

2007 Tundra 4WD, 4.7L V8
Starter = 200~240$
Labor = 150*5.2 = 780 (You would also need intake gaskets if you have a 4.7 because starter is under the intake)
Total = ~$980 + tax (depending on starter price, those numbers are just a ballpark, can't pull from repairlink until I'm at the shop)

2007 Tundra 4WD, 5.7L V8
Starter = ~480$
Labor = 5.2*150 = 780
Total ~$1260 + tax

The reason that the 4.7 starter is so much cheaper is because both options are remanned, Toyota probably doesn't make new starters for that anymore, theyre all remanned, the 5.7 didn't give me a reman option on AllData, only a new manufactured one, thus the much higher price; so that being said, yes their estimate is largely accurate but I think they're overcharging you for the starter