Pontiac Optima Car Starter Repair at your home or office.

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Car Starter Repair Service

How much does a Car Starter Repair cost?

On average, the cost for a Pontiac Optima Car Starter Repair is $438 with $256 for parts and $182 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1990 Pontiac OptimaL4-1.6LService typeCar Starter RepairEstimate$712.64Shop/Dealer Price$845.11 - $1231.97
1991 Pontiac OptimaL4-1.6LService typeCar Starter RepairEstimate$700.93Shop/Dealer Price$831.10 - $1216.24
1990 Pontiac OptimaL4-2.0LService typeCar Starter RepairEstimate$700.93Shop/Dealer Price$831.13 - $1216.30
Show example Pontiac Optima 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.

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Meet some of our expert Pontiac mechanics

Real customer reviews from Pontiac owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(124)

Rating Summary
120
4
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TJ

27 years of experience
362 reviews
TJ
27 years of experience
Pontiac Montana V6-3.4L - Starter - Sarasota, Florida
Again, TJ provided excellent service, congenial and friendly, genuinely interested in doing a good job. I was very pleased with his work.

Alex

21 years of experience
160 reviews
Alex
21 years of experience
Pontiac G6 V6-3.5L - Starter - Lisle, Illinois
Alex was prompt, friendly and very informative. Let’s not mention the fact that he completed the task in less than 30 minutes. I found my new mechanic!

Victor

36 years of experience
230 reviews
Victor
36 years of experience
Pontiac G6 V6-3.5L - Starter - Rio Rancho, New Mexico
He did a great job. My car is running again thanks to his quick diagnosis and repair.

Alex

16 years of experience
89 reviews
Alex
16 years of experience
Pontiac G6 V6-3.9L - Car Starter Repair - Austin, Texas
Alex was early and helpful, assisted with diagnostics and was able to troubleshoot the issue quickly. I thought it was the starter, he found out it was just the battery and was able to complete the repairs quickly and professionally. He was also able to point out some future issues I might have, most I knew about considering the age of my car.

Excellent Rating

(124)

Rating Summary
120
4
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120
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Number of Pontiac Car Starter Repair services completed
1364+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Pontiac MECHANICS
800+
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