Is The Starter Covered Under Warranty?
Is the starter covered under warranty? If your car is covered under a manufacturer or factory warranty, repairs are generally covered at no cost to you. However, most manufacturer warranties only last a certain amount of time or mileage, with most standard factory warranties ending at 3 years or 36,000 miles. If your car’s starter unexpectedly breaks and your manufacturer’s warranty expired, then you’ll left paying those costly repair bills on your own.
It’s important to check the warranty information for your specific vehicle before making any repairs. Some warranties may cover the cost of repairs, while others may only cover the cost of replacement parts.
Manufacturer’s Warranty
Starters are commonly covered by the vehicle’s Manufacturer Warranty. This coverage typically applies to defects in materials or workmanship during the warranty period. The warranty duration for a vehicle’s starter can vary. It may range from a few years to the vehicle’s lifetime. Check your vehicle’s warranty documentation or contact the manufacturer for coverage period.
Manufacturer warranties frequently include exclusions, such as coverage for typical wear and tear or damage resulting from accidents, misuse, or modifications by the owner. Should your vehicle’s starter experience a problem covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, you can usually get it fixed or replaced at an authorized dealership or service center. In order to secure warranty coverage for your vehicle, proof of ownership is typically required. This can be provided through your vehicle’s registration or purchase documents.
Extended Warranty
Consumers may choose to buy extended warranties for their starter. These are frequently provided by third-party companies or retailers and can offer coverage beyond the manufacturer’s warranty. Carefully review the policy to understand the coverage and circumstances for repairs under extended warranties.
The Mopar Maximum Care Warranty, also known as the “bumper-to-bumper” warranty, is the most comprehensive extended coverage available for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram. It extends your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram’s powertrain and basic component coverage beyond the 3-year/36,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty. Additionally, it covers more than 5,000 components, providing virtually complete mechanical coverage for your vehicle.
The only components not covered under this warranty include:
- Maintenance services and items used in such services.
- Glass, plastic lenses.
- Body and paint items, including soft trim.
- Wear items such as manual clutch assembly, brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums and belts are not covered at any time.
- Snowplows, winches and trailer hitches
How Much Does It Cost To Fix Your Starter?
The cost of rebuild parts for a starter can range from as little as $50 to as much as $350. A brand-new starter can range from $80 to over $350. For a qualified mechanic to replace or rebuild your starter, you can expect to pay between $150 and over $1,100. These estimates vary dramatically depending on the particular issue and the make, model, and year of your vehicle. Many vehicles have a starter that is easily accessible and can be removed and replaced in under an hour, others are far more complicated, as they can be housed other engine components, like underneath the intake manifold.
Signs That You Need A New Starter
A starter is critical to the basic operation of your engine starting system, so many issues with starting your vehicle can be signs that you need a new automotive starter. Here are a few common signs that your starter is damaged:
- Erratic cranking of your vehicle
- No response when you turn the key.
- Unusual noises when you start your vehicle.
The armature of the starter needs to be free from damage in order to work efficiently. Minor defects with this component can create unusual starting issues. If there are electrical or mechanical faults inside your starter, it may turn too slowly to reach the ideal cranking RPM of your engine. You may hear the engine turn over, but the process is too slow to fully start your engine.
Odd sounds, particularly grinding, could reflect a flywheel ring or starter drive gear failure. These internal components need to be repaired or replaced to restore your starting system. Finally, some internal starter issues can cause your starter to fail completely. If this is the case, turning the key in your ignition won’t produce any sounds or other signs of starting your engine.
