Slow start, now no start plus white smoke

[speedlever]

That sure sounds like the right place for the starter:



Just for the record, if I'm gonna have white smoke, I'd rather it be from the starter than from the tailpipe.

Diagnostic checks:


More diagnostic checks:


R&R the starter:

[RustyH]

As bad as this sounds, you might be lucky. If this is a starter issue, it should be a lot easier and less expensive than dealing with a blown head gasket. Good luck!

[RonRidgeline]

Bingo! Dealer's tech diagnosed it as the starter just an hour ago. I asked about other starter options (upgrades). Service manager said there were none. :-( I've never had a starter die on me this early (58,000 miles). Labor and parts are going to be $670.

Thank you all for your help!

[speedlever]

I see the Mitsubishi starter online for ~$366 or so. There's also a starter core for ~$215. Not sure exactly how that works. But I don't think replacing the starter is that difficult on the RL.

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...VIN+Number+---

P/N for 2008 RL:
Gasket p/n: 31270-RJA-A01
Starter p/n: 31200-RJE-A01

[IanRTL]

I'm sure the dealership prices for the starter are somewhere around the prices for a new alternator - $450-500 or so. Add in 1 to 1.5 hours of labor and that sounds about right. I do know that reman'd starters are MUCH less expensive on Rockauto.com. You can get a Beck/Arnley unit for a little over $100 after you return your core. You might want to think about taking this route. Rockauto ships really fast and you could have an independent shop install it easily and less expensively if you're not comfortable installing it yourself. It would be easier than an alternator because you don't have to remove the serpentine belt. Just a thought!

[RonRidgeline]

Thank you all for your replies!