Looks like my C6 Z06 needs a new starter. Looking for advice. Chevy dealer is quoting me almost $600 for the new part and 6h labor due to dropping the exhaust manifold. Total around $1600. Is this highway robbery, so to speak, or simply the realistic cost to do the job?

 

highway robbery... it's really not that bad of a DIY either if you are remotely mechanically inclined. Just did it on my z06 few months ago.

 

OEM part on Rockauto is going for $214 so yeah, I'd say they're ripping you off. It's not a job requiring a grand in labor either.

 

Definitely getting hosed. I did mine probably in 4 hours without lifts. Jacked it up, sprayed some wd-40 on the exhaust bolts/flange next day crawled under and used.a cheap harbor freight impact gun to remove the exhaust bolts. Just made sure I didn't strip them. Removed the starter fairly easily. Nor sure if it is significantly more difficult on a z06 than it is a reg c6 but, yeah it was one of the easiest things I have replaced on a car. The exhaust was the biggest issue in getting it back on to the cat back system.
There are some YouTube vids that walk you through.

 

I don't think it's high by dealership, I was quoted the same for starter, and 4 hours labor cause exhaust needs to be dropped, but they gave me a nice Military Discount on the complete repair 1,100.00.

 

having one replaced probably next week on the wifes GS....headers and exhaust manifold need to be loosened to gain access, its not a 4 hour job though.....I had my guy order her an OEM one because I hate my Powermaster on my Z06 and quite honestly will go back to stock whenever I get a reason to take it in. I'm probably looking at cost plus 2 hours labor maybe 3 since I am having him change the oil while its there

yeah $1600 is way to much

 

What do you hate about the Powermaster starter? Been thinking of getting one to deal with the heat soak from the headers.

 

I have the OG Pfadt headers as does she and she has almost 60K on the car, I have 120K on mine.....she doesn't drive hers enough to worry about the heat soak and if it only lasted 30K thats 6 years for her


for me personally, this one is noisy as f**k and every now and again it cranks and keep running without starting the car...so I have to shut it off and try again, sometimes once sometimes 2 or 3 times.....aggravating to say the least.

it could happen after driving for an hour or as little as 10 minutes......yeah, its probably a one off bad unit but I'm over it and because of that we aren't putting one in the wife's car. Chances are she wouldn't have the issue but if she does guess who gets to hear about it....every....freaking....time

 

It's crap to begin with in these cars. The first owner had the starter replaced at 20k and again at 30k. Then I replaced it at 40k because it would crank slowly after driving a while and starting again while hot. I thought it was on its way out and I was putting headers on anyway. So I put the DEI starter blanket on it and got the Kooks headers (great clearance) ceramic coated and still it's an issue. I exhaust wrapped the collector since it's directly below the starter, but that didn't really help. I don't know if it's worth pulling the header out to wrap the whole thing. I'd rather throw a better starter at it.

 

I swapped my headers about 6 times on vette for smog reasons and what not. I once accidently destroyed the selenoid on my oem one lol. Went to oreilly to get a $140 replacement and installed it in like. Idk 30 minutes? Less? Never had problems with it with my LT Headers TSP.

 

The stealership is earning their name with that quote.

 

6 hours labor sure sounds like too much, do you have an Indy shop nearby your home?

 

Smart of the OP to consult forum members first! If other people are willing to pay $1,600 for a new starter install, hmmmmm. I have a 2 post lift in my garage, and I'm coming out of retirement!!!

 

It's a crap price. I wouldn't pay it, but the cost of everything keeps going up.

Bottom line is, can you do it yourself? If not, you're at the mercy of what it costs you to get into someone's schedule now. Reality is, mechanics aren't hurting for work, they're hurting for qualified people. They solve that with paying more, which means customers pay more. If you can't do it yourself, you're kinda effed.

 

^^^This^^^^

I have 2 friends that each own shops, one really large and the other small. They are hurting to find qualified mechanics and they are covered up with business. The big shop average waiting time to get in is 3 weeks. The smaller shop a few days depending on work needed. BTW $1600 sounds like highway robbery to me but it is what is these days.

 

I called Wrench the other day. They came out of the house and did a diagnostic for $140 and will fix it with parts and labor at my house for another $722. For Southern California that's not bad, and I do not have to get it towed someplace and pick it up..I never even heard about them but apparently it's a group of mobile mechanics in many large cities.

I am still contemplating doing it myself but getting under jack stands and messing with the exhaust doesn't look too fun. If I had a lift I would definitely give it a go, now I am not sure. I did inquire about getting the starter rebuilt for about $147 which is about the same as I'm finding for new starters online. Going to GM online was a little over $300 for the starter.

 

really? Dude I'll go install a new starter for you for 700 bucks and ill drive 4 hours to get there and less than an hour to finish it. Call me.

 

Price seem high even for a dealer Are they are changing out the cables as well? I had a starting issue on my ‘08 that proved to be internal corrosion in the positive cable. Replacing cable will add time and cost to the job.

 

Thank you for the offer!
After talking with my buddy who is a retired Chevrolet mechanic I think I'll give it a go myself. Especially when he told me you do not have to remove the exhaust to remove the starter!

Just curious, how long would it take you to remove and replace the starter?

 

I'm 27 so I move a bit easier than yall assuming yall are older? But it would take me... let's see.

•Lift car (however you like as long as you fit down there)
​​​​​​•Remove 2 nuts from selenoid
•Remove 4 mounting bolts from starter
•Drop starter
•Do the same steps in reverse with new starter

Probably takes more time to jack the car up than to remove the actual parts.

I would say about 20 minutes.