# 1998 Nissan Sentra

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-nissan-sentra/17234>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 26, 2008, 7:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-nissan-sentra/17234 "2008-07-26T07:16:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cncop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@cncop](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cncop)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 7:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-nissan-sentra/17234/1 "2008-07-26T07:16:07Z")

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150k+ miles.  
  
 Starter?  
  
 We have radio, lights & fuel pump but nothing else.  
  
 Mechanic next door got it to start by smacking the starter.  
  
 He says needs a new starter.  
  
 $200 for the starter + 2-1/2hours labor. ($400 total)  
  
 I saw it, that starter is way down at the bottom of the engine & right tight to the fire wall. Not a place I’d want to go!  
  
  
  
 Is he overcharging us? He says it will cost at least $200 more if we take it to a shop.

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 11:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-nissan-sentra/17234/2 "2008-07-26T11:36:09Z")

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If he’s right on the time required, why should he charge shop rate? He doesn’t have a shop’s overhead to pay. Someone will tell you where to google for standard shop rate, job time, and starter cost.

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**Author:** ![cncop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@cncop](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cncop)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-nissan-sentra/17234/3 "2008-07-26T21:27:56Z")

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I checked the price for the starter, it’s pretty close to his quote. He is allowed to a bit of mark-up.  
But then, we did the math & he’s charging us $88/hour!!!

I think we need to renegotiate!

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**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-nissan-sentra/17234/4 "2008-07-26T22:06:33Z")

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2 1/2 hours? Maybe for a DIYer who has never done it before, but not a mechanic. WHy don’t you call a shop or two for estimates?