Buick Riviera Car Starter Repair at your home or office.

Our mobile mechanics offer services 7 days a week. Upfront and transparent pricing.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(37)

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Customer Ratings

(37)

Car Starter Repair Service

How much does a Car Starter Repair cost?

On average, the cost for a Buick Riviera Car Starter Repair is $252 with $112 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1999 Buick RivieraV6-3.8L TurboService typeCar Starter RepairEstimate$606.32Shop/Dealer Price$722.75 - $1063.94
1993 Buick RivieraV6-3.8LService typeCar Starter RepairEstimate$369.95Shop/Dealer Price$427.77 - $597.12
1996 Buick RivieraV6-3.8L TurboService typeCar Starter RepairEstimate$595.45Shop/Dealer Price$709.67 - $1048.16
1992 Buick RivieraV6-3.8LService typeCar Starter RepairEstimate$369.95Shop/Dealer Price$427.80 - $597.16
1995 Buick RivieraV6-3.8L TurboService typeCar Starter RepairEstimate$595.45Shop/Dealer Price$711.15 - $1050.74
1991 Buick RivieraV6-3.8LService typeCar Starter RepairEstimate$369.95Shop/Dealer Price$427.94 - $597.41
1997 Buick RivieraV6-3.8L TurboService typeCar Starter RepairEstimate$595.45Shop/Dealer Price$709.69 - $1048.19
1998 Buick RivieraV6-3.8L TurboService typeCar Starter RepairEstimate$595.45Shop/Dealer Price$709.67 - $1048.16
Show example Buick Riviera Car Starter Repair prices

What's a car starter motor and how does it work?

The starter motor is a powerful, compact electric motor that will turn a car’s engine over at about 200 RPM in order to start the engine. The starter is at the terminus of a circuit that includes the battery, the ignition switch, a neutral safety switch, relays and fuses.

When you turn the ignition key to start, or press the start button in some vehicles, the starter circuit is completed and the starter will run. Most starters have a small pinion gear that engages a larger ring gear on the flywheel when the starter is powered on. The pinion gear turns the engine flywheel at about 200 RPM. Since the flywheel is directly connected to the crankshaft, all engine components will then turn in sync and the engine starts.

Starter

When to replace the starter?

Starters are relatively durable but most will eventually fail in one or more of the following ways:

  • Intermittent operation of the starter. Starters can develop bad spots on the armature which will cause intermittent operation. This causes the starter to work sometimes and other times when you turn the key nothing happens.
  • Starter turns too slowly. Internal electrical and mechanical faults can cause the starter to draw too much current and in some cases the current drawn will exceed what the battery can supply. A consequence is the engine may not start as rapidly.
  • Unusual noises on starting. If you hear any type of grinding or other unusual noise while starting the engine, that should be investigated as the noise could reflect an internal starter failure or the noise could be due to pinion gear failure or flywheel ring gear damage.
  • Starter doesn’t function when turning the key. In some cases, the first symptom of a starter malfunction is a complete failure of the starter motor. This happens when you turn the ignition key to start the car, the starter motor does not function at all.

How do mechanics repair the starter?

  • If the starter is determined to be faulty, the battery must be disconnected prior to commencing any work. Once the battery is disconnected, the wiring to the starter is disconnected.
  • Starters are bolted to the engine block or the transmission case. Generally, there are two bolts. The procedure to access the starter varies across car models and can require removal, or lowering, of other vehicle components.
  • Once the starter is removed and a new starter is installed, the mounting bolts are tightened to the OEM factory torque specifications, the electrical connections are cleaned and re-attached to the starter and the starter is tested to confirm normal operation.

Is it safe to drive with a starter problem?

Once a vehicle engine is running, the starter is not in use. However, if you know that the starter is malfunctioning or working intermittently, you may be left stranded if you turn the engine off and the starter doesn’t function when restarting the engine. Should you know or suspect a problem with the starter, it is best to have the problem repaired to avoid being left stranded.

When replacing a faulty starter keep in mind:

  • Prior to replacing the starter, simple diagnostic tests should be performed to ensure that the problem is a faulty starter versus a weak battery, faulty neutral start switch, or other faulty electrical component in the starter motor circuit.
  • Starters draw large amounts of current from the battery, much more than any other electrically powered device in your car. This makes it important that the electrical connections to the battery are inspected, cleaned, and tightened as necessary. Cables to the starter should also be inspected for corrosion and replaced as needed.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Buick mechanics

Real customer reviews from Buick owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(37)

Rating Summary
33
2
0
2
0
33
2
0
2
0

Chris

15 years of experience
82 reviews
Chris
15 years of experience
Buick Riviera V6-3.8L - Starter - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Chris had a no hassle repair for my car and did what I asked. And he did it quickly. It it so convenient and much cheaper than taking it in somewhere else. Thanks!!

Sha

44 years of experience
39 reviews
Sha
44 years of experience
Buick Riviera V6-3.8L Turbo - Car is not starting - Lithonia, Georgia

Greg

23 years of experience
624 reviews
Greg
23 years of experience
Buick Riviera V6-3.8L - Serpentine/Drive Belt - Phoenix, Arizona
Excellent excellent very nice to have someone who shows up and knows what they are doing. Got my 97 riviera back on the road. GOOD JOB!!!!

Matthew

13 years of experience
183 reviews
Matthew
13 years of experience
Buick Riviera V6-3.8L - Brake fluid is leaking - Indianapolis, Indiana
Matthew arrived before 10 and was very professional. He was able to do our inspection in a short amount of time and was able to determine what needed to be done.

Excellent Rating

(37)

Rating Summary
33
2
0
2
0
33
2
0
2
0
Number of Buick Riviera services completed
407+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Buick MECHANICS
800+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

Top Automotive News & Stories: August 4-10
This week's top auto news: even more car recalls, Jaguar's sales growth, new electric car tech, sleek Aston Martins, and more.
Child Seat Safety Laws in Illinois
In In the interests of your child’s safety while in a moving vehicle, he or she must be properly restrained. This is not just common sense; it is the law. Summary of Illinois child seat safety laws In Illinois, the...
Rules of the Road For North Carolina Drivers
While While you may know the rules of the road in the state in which you are licensed to drive, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you know the traffic laws in other states. Even though many are based on common...

Do wiring harnesses need to be replaced?

As automotive electrical systems increase with each model year, so does the amount of wiring required to operate them. BMW says their current models can contain up to a mile of wires weighing as much as 130lbs! All of this...

engine fault workshop light is on.

Hi there. The engine fault workshop light means that the engine light is on and active with a fault code. Get a code reader and scan the computer to the vehicle to determine what codes are stored in the computer....

I have a 1991 Cadillac DeVille running very poorly very bad fuel economy she runs very poorly no power almost almost like it's bac

Hello. From what you are explaining it sounds like you have a fuel system issue. It sounds like you are getting too much fuel. It can be caused by a leaking fuel injector, but most of the time it is...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com