I recently had a no-start issue while away from home and had it towed to a shop that advertises with the local PCA chapter. They confirmed the starter motor has gone bad ($500 in labor to tear-down and test). They're now quoting $800 in labor to replace the part (part cost separate). That seems steep to me given the seemingly straight-forward DIY. Has anybody had a shop take care of this for them recently and care to share whether it should cost $1300 in labor? I'm located in the Chicago suburbs.

 

Hold tight for info. We have some experienced folks who've done the job and some who had it done at a shop.

 

It's straight forward, you think, because why?
Belt and Alternator come off, spilling some coolant in the process.
Air box, throttle housing come off.
PS reservoir comes off spilling some PS fluid in the process.
AC compressor may have to come off as well
One of the intake bellow has to come off to make room.
Some of the AOS hoses may have to come off to clear the starter
Starter wires disconnected
Starter bolts removed.
Starter wiggled out.
Reverse process and fill up whatever fluids you spilled.

This is not the easiest starter to get to. It is easily 3 hours to complete and Chicago is expensive area. Although they should have given some credit on the diagnosis since you are fixing it with them. But that is just my opinion.

 

Thank you that is helpful. Obviously I’m not a professional so insight into how complicated something “is” v. “Looks” is valuable. On another note I got a revised quote for $1,000 for the entire diagnosis, and r&r (excluding part cost) and given the description above that doesn’t sound unreasonable to me.

Thanks

 

OEM Starter Motor at Pelican Parts is $284.75. Can't imagine the labor being more than 3-4 hours? So tops $750-$900 for replacement at Indy shop if you supply the OEM part.
Some shops enjoy screwing customers on the cost of parts as a way to bank more $$ so in some cases you can't supply your part.

 

Yes I encountered that as well but fortunately they are allowing me to bring my own part to the party with typical caveats.

 

^^FYI I always purchase from Rennpart.com RL Sponsor - They are fantastic company w/great deals and super fast shipping. Owner over the top in customer service.
Not sure if they sell the starter.

 

Thanks for the referral; I will check them out. While we’re on the subject of parts, how do folks feel about remanufactured starters? They look to be about $385 w/ core charge v. $500 or so new.

And also a bit off topic, I will be looking for a shop to do a PDK 12-year service soon and interested in any Chicago-area recommendations.

Thanks again

 

Is there a reason you would purchase a remanufactuered starter for $385 when a new OEM is only $284.75 from Pelican Parts?
I'm not following your logic - Please help me out

 

The OEM starter costs ~$1500.00. You can get it directly from Porsche with 38% discount: 1997-2012 Porsche Starter Motor 996-604-103-02 | OEM Parts Online (same price as suncoast, sunset etc).

Pelican parts sells same starter for $1229 Pelican Parts Search: 996-604-103-02

Or as Grove mentions get the Bosch labeled equivalent (OEM starter is Bosch) for $284

I just had the starter replaced, 3 hours labor.

 

OP,

for my 997.2 4S, per AllDataDIY, starter is $930 and calls out 2.8 hours.

The dealers in my area will charge far more than the $930 and will charge at a minimum the 2.8 hours + shop fees, environmental fess + any other ADP they can think of.

Not a terrible involved job it appears:
1. disconnect the battery
2. remove the air cleaner box
3. remove the resonance tube.

 

Thx Deven
Wow I had a close guess at 3.5-4 hrs

 

Hang on- they already charged $500 to teardown and test ? Lost me there - sounds like at this point they had direct access to the starter or even pulled it out to test ( its like, 2 bolts at this point ) whether if it was the starter motor, relay, or wiring , surely replace starter LABOR to reassemble can't cost more to put back together than "pull apart AND test " ??

 

Of the 13 Porsches I have owned I don't recall ever having to service a starter ?

I get a kick out of people having a car/toy at minimum twice the cost and complexity of others . Then crying about taking care of it .

A professional shop has overhead . Who pays labor if the self supplied part fails early ?

I would recommend self evaluation before you hate on shops trying to make a go of it . Cost above parts are far from profit .

I am not a person in the auto repair business . I am in real estate and construction .

 

The starter in my '08 C4S went kaput earlier this year. Instead of replacing it I took it to a local (Charlotte) shop that rebuilds starters, alternaters, etc. They did the rebuild in one day for less than the cost of the Bosch starter. The rebuilt unit looked brand new, there were no issues/concerns with the part not being correct or fit properly, and I supported a local, family owned business. Winner winner...

I did a quick search and found many such shops around Chicago.