78 Corolla wagon 'deluxe' 2TC - 1588 / starter

:banghead:

I had to have a key made for my lil brown beater - and in marking the blank key, our boy jiggled it a bit 'too too' in the ignition. I know this because when I went to start the mighty bucket, it made a whirring, dentist-drill sound. Then it seems to connect or mesh with something and the car starts with it's normal little song. (I do have to rotate the key toward 'off' a little to get the whir to go away.) For fear I was frying something, I've been compression starting - and I'm over that...no inclines at the grocery store.

So, I took it to a friend-recommended repair guy, who checked it out & said the starter was gone and - this is the best piece of the pie! - the part alone was $195!! He then quoted 3 hours labor - another $180. My BS meter was swingin and beepin until I looked online. Starter roughly $75 - the jerk!

What I can't seem to find is the standard 'book rate' for the install. Now, it occurs to me - duh! - might it be just the ignition? Or is the whir truly indicating the starter? I believe naught that comes from whats-his-name's mouth, so why not double check even the diagnosis?

Clearly, I am in need of whatever guidance I can sweet talk you fine folks out of. Another hour in this meat grinder, and I will lose what's left of my feeble little brain....

Thanking you in advance -

Tracie

grab a multimeter, and check the volts at the remote wire on the starter, (you'll need a helper to start the car while you observe the voltage), after the car starts, the remote wire voltage should drop to 0 volts, if there is any amount of voltage than the starter is still being enganged..... now diagnosis....if there is still voltage on the remote wire on the starter after the car starts, you're problem is somewhere between the ignition switch and the starter.......if there is no voltage to the remote wire after the car starts, you're problem is in the starter.....hope this wasn't too confusing....