I'm replacing my starter finaly today since I've been putting it off for a while but today is the day.
I got a few prices and they are all around $180-$230 and thats for a new or remanufactured one.

Also is it as simple as it looks? I see 2 large bolts and one large battery wire and one smaller one.

 

It's a piece of cake. The toughest part is getting a socket on the top bolt.

Take care,
~Chris

 

Yeah, replacing the starter is so easy that even I did it!!! LOL Just one word of advice, make sure you get the starter for the proper transmission type!!! I made the mistake of going to Pep Boys first and they gave me a starter for a manual transmission. I spent an hour trying to wedge the thing on there before it finally broke, so I took it back, and they gave me another starter--- which happened to be for a manual transmission as well!!! Duh! I told them several times that I had an AUTOMATIC, but I guess they weren't paying attention. Needless to say, that one didn't work either so I went to Autozone to figure out what was going on and they told me the starter I had was for a manual transmission. I had spent the better part of 3 hours trying to fit a manual tranmission starter onto an AOD!! They just so happened to have an auto starter in stock so I went out to my truck and threw it on there in about 10 minutes. Yes, it is a piece of cake as long as you have the correct one!

 

I've found that the easiest way to get the top bolt is to use a couple extensions on your 1/2" ratchet and go at it from up top, i usually lay right on top of the intake and kinda hang upside down next to the starter

$200 for a starter? Just for kicks get a price from a dealer there usually about double that

-Jon

 

$180-230 for a starter? I just put one in my 90 I-6 4.9. Got one at Auto Zone for $33.59 with a one year warranty.
On the in-line six, you have to crawl into the engine compartment to get to the top bolt(helps if you're a contortionist), and the bottom bolt is blocked by the tranny line, exhaust, and frame.
I was given a used starter from a friend, who said it would fit. After screwing around with it for 20 minutes, called him back and asked if it was for a manual. Yep, it was. Too bad I have an AUTOMATIC!
Some people just don't listen.

 

ok got it for $130 with a life tme warrantee....for some reason the starter is different then a $50 one they had in stock for a 95...the guy said it's probly something to do with the OBD-II change in 96'.

Starter was off and new one was on in like 15 minutes.

Both the bolts were very easy to get too, nothing in the way

 

I had one of those $30 autozone starters, good thing they have a 1 year warrenty because they seem to go bad every 11 months, at least in my truck.

-Jon

 

I got a Lifetime warranty for it from AutoZone so I'll never have to buy a new starter ever again, but might have to replace it more then often LOL

 

Have lurked here for some time and find it very informative, could not resist on this one.

Thats a bunch of money for an electric motor, and I don't believe the technology to get the power plant turning has changed that much, even to this day. One path to take with starters and alternators is get your unit rebuilt. Most every town in a industrial or agricultral based area has a shop or several that rebuild electric motors. Find the one that does automotive or the like and have it reworked. One I have used for my alternator did the R&R and rebuild for $65.00. Unless there is a catastrophic failure the case is good and the parts that fail are few. I know my alternator was rebuilt far better than a over the counter remaned unit would ever be and fit was not an issue. Just my two cents on a repair that I treat a little different.

 

Welcome to F150online.com
I did think about trying a few shops but the lifetime warranty is what suckered me, when this wears out I just exchanged for another one, and when that one wears out samething, so in the end I would be saving money by just paying the $130 to begin with and never having to spend money on a new starter for my truck again.

Been doing the same thing for years with brake pads I get from Auto Zone, ya they may not be the best but as long as I don't get them down to the metal I have free brake pads for the rest of my trucks life too.

As for my alternator I'm going with a local shop here.