Dumpster Fire Starter - To pay or not to pay?

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
11/05/2018 at 17:20 • Filed to: Project Dumpster Fire

There are two universal truths in life. One: I am a cheap bastard. Two: Replacing the starter in an 8-valve c900 is one of the worst automotive experiences of my life. And now the Saab needs a new starter... again.

So what to do Oppo? Here is the breakdown:

Do it myself:
Part: $100
Time: ~ 1 weekend, maybe 2
Cost: Move the Alfa, Civic, and Cabriolet out of the way; Time not spent working on other cars

Pay to have it done:
Part: $150 w/ 2 year warranty
Time: ~1 week shop time, almost none of mine
Cost: $300 labor + $150 part

DISCUSSION (22)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/05/2018 at 17:23

Sovande > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/05/2018 at 17:26

Shop.

I recently had the same dilemma with the upper radiator hose in my Volvo. Not hard to do, but a pain in ass that would involve coolant on the ground and then a painful process of bleeding the coolants system. One day at the shop and it was done. Plus they did a complete inspection of the car and told me everything else looked good.

It was really satisfying to slide the card, get in the car and drive home.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/05/2018 at 17:29

From the comments:

What’s your favorite Fire Starter?

- Charmander

- Cyndaquil

- Torchic

- Chimchar

- Tepig

- Fennekin

- Litten

- Keith Flint

facw > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/05/2018 at 17:29

I don’t know what your time it worth, but it seems like having the shop do it is a much better deal. This is particularly true if you know it is a pain in the ass.

I think just paying, and using the extra time to play with your doggo is a good idea.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/05/2018 at 17:31

Rabbit hole... Two Wheels Good!

Keith Charles Flint (born 17 September 1969) is an English singer, musician and dancer, best known as a vocalist and dancer for the band The Prodigy. Flint performed vocals on both of The Prodigy’s number one singles – “Firestarter” and “Breathe” – which were released in 1996. More recently he has had success as a motorcycle racing team owner and manager – with his Team Traction Control winning three Isle of Man TT races in 2015 and competing in the British Supersport Championship running Yamaha YZF-R6 motorcycles.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/05/2018 at 17:46

Changing a starter is that hard? In most cars it is a simple couple of bolts holding it in and the electrical connections to power it. I guess there must be a lot of disassembly required. I’d say just always park on a hill and start it that way lol.

Urambo Tauro > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/05/2018 at 17:49

Does the $100 starter on the DIY side of this comparo not have a warranty?Obviously your wrenching time isn’t warrantable, but what about the part itself?

And since this isn’t the first starter replacement... what can you tell us about the failed starter? Do you remember what brand and “grade” it was supposed to be? Is there a better one available? Or can you maybe get a local shop to rebuild yours with quality parts?

My brother’s 900 has the starter in a totally different spot, so unfortunately I don’t have a good sense of just how much of a nightmare it is to DIY yours. Hard to comment on whether it’s worth having a shop do the work.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/05/2018 at 17:49

That was quite the rabbit hole haha

jminer > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/05/2018 at 17:50

Two questions:

1. Can you afford $500 to pay someone to do it?

2. If I paid you $500 would you do the work to my car?

Thats how I've had to start looking at jobs like this. The answer for me usually ends up with me doing it, but less than it used to.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/05/2018 at 17:52

Cy ndaquil or BUST

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
11/05/2018 at 17:54

So. Much. Disassembly.

I did it just before I started writing on Oppo and it took.... 4 weeks? You have to remove the transmission skid plate, transmission dipstick, turbo support brace, turbo oil return (which there is not enough room to remove), turbo air intake, turbo output , waste-gate solenoid, distributor cap, and the flywheel cover... and that is just the stuff I am remembering.

It was... un fun.

But yeah, after that it is just two bolts.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/05/2018 at 17:56

time > money

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > jminer
11/05/2018 at 18:00

Oh I like this game!

Question 1 is always a little sticky. Sure I can afford it, but that is $500 (or rather $400) I could, theoretically, spend on another car’s parts.

Question 2 is a hard one. After much deliberation I think I’d say “no”. Fun fact: there was a Volvo/ Saab mechanic present when all this went down. I asked him if he wanted to do it or he wanted me to take it to his competitor. He wanted me to take it to his competitor haha. We’re friends, so he knew it was OK to say no, but yeah...

jminer > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/05/2018 at 18:17

Yeah, it was my wife’s idea a while back when I was bitching about the length of a job that I saved a few hundred bucks on but gained several weekends of grief by doing myself.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Sovande
11/05/2018 at 18:54

Did this with my Jaguar recently. Heater valve started leaking. I was thinking of replacing it 6 months ago when I replaced all the hoses. Could have Done it myself but I decided I really didn’t feel like it and so took it to my trusty J aguar mechanic. He pressure tested it too which was comforting.

shop-teacher > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/05/2018 at 19:55

I would pay for that one.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2018 at 20:16

I’ll ask my 5 year old about that...

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/05/2018 at 23:05

There are two universal truths in life. One: doggos are good. Two: pet the doggo.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/06/2018 at 03:53

do it yourself

86notchback > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/06/2018 at 15:34

The 8valve starter is in an awful place and weighs 2tons.... Do you already have a spare?

Paul E misplaced his star > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/06/2018 at 18:07

Could be worse: It could be a Lexus LS starter, buried under the intake manifold between the V of the 1UZ engine.

functionoverfashion > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
11/08/2018 at 12:38

Sounds like the starter job is similar to that of an E46 BMW. I’ve read a complete write-up on it, and I hope to be able to find it when I need to do it. Orrrrr I’m sending it to a shop for $500.

It does irritate me though, as compared to changing the starter on, let’s say, my truck. On my ‘72 I set a stopwatch when I walked down to my basement to grab tools. In 10 minutes and change I was walking back in with the tools to put them away, new starter installed and tested, old one in hand. TEN. Minutes.