“It’s like saying, ‘I can’t justify doing an oil change.’” That’s how one exasperated mechanic summed up a baffling back-and-forth with a customer who just couldn’t decide whether to spend $400 to fix her 2010 Nissan Altima’s starter.
In a viral clip, mechanic Mark Morales, owner of Morales Automotive near Tampa, Florida, shares the agonizing details of a call with an indecisive car owner who couldn’t grasp the seriousness of a malfunctioning starter.
“If you haven’t had any other issue, the car should turn on,” Morales recalls of his assessment of the Altima that wasn’t going anywhere. “She’s like, ‘So now there’s a part in the engine that’s messed up?’ I’m like, ‘This is getting nowhere.’”
A No-Start Diagnosis, By the Book
Morales explains that after towing the 2010 Altima to his shop, he performed a standard load test on the battery, which showed just 50 percent capacity. Even with a jump box attached, the engine still cranked sluggishly, what Morales described as the telltale “errrrup” sound of a dying starter motor.
To rule out any grounding or electrical issues, Morales checked the battery terminals and performed a resistance test on the negative terminal. Everything checked out. The starter, on the other hand, didn’t. It struggled to spin the engine, even when turned by hand.
According to repair guides like those from Advance Auto Parts and NAPA Auto Parts, sluggish cranking and no-starts with no click or ignition are classic signs of a failing starter—especially in high-mileage vehicles.
Once Morales diagnosed the starter issue, he expected a quick go-ahead. Instead, he found himself walking the customer through a spiraling web of doubt.
“She says, ‘So do you think it’s worth putting in a starter?’” Morales recounts. “I’m like, ‘Ma’am, whether it be a new car or an old car… if the starter fails, you’re not going anywhere unless you put in a starter.’”
Her hesitation centered on the car’s age and mileage, as it was 14 years old with over 170,000 miles. She worried aloud about how long the vehicle might last and whether a $400 repair would be throwing good money after bad. Morales’ response was blunt: if it’s your daily ride and the only issue is the starter, it’s absolutely worth fixing.
According to RepairPal, the average cost to replace a starter in a 2010 Nissan Altima ranges from roughly $450 to $800, depending on labor rates and parts pricing, putting Morales’ quote on the low end. By comparison, the average cost of a used car in the U.S. sits at over $31,000, according to iSeeCars, making even a modest repair seem like a bargain in today’s auto market.
What turned a routine repair into a viral moment was the customer’s logic loop. Morales says she kept asking the same basic questions, seemingly hoping for a different answer.
“She said, ‘How long is the car going to last me?’” Morales recalls. “I’m like, ‘You said you’ve been using it every day.’”
It’s a situation many mechanics are familiar with, where a repair recommendation turns into a therapy session. While the issue is mechanical, the hesitation is emotional and often financial. The fear isn’t just that something else might break, but that the owner will be trapped in a cycle of never-ending costs.
There’s data to back that fear. SimplyFleet found that the average annual maintenance cost for vehicles is over $1,500, depending on mileage and the level of upkeep. However, experts also note that spreading those repairs out can still be far cheaper than taking on a new car payment, especially if the vehicle’s engine and transmission are otherwise in good condition.
The Altima in question showed no signs of deeper issues. Even the owner admitted she had been using it without problems, aside from a broken A/C unit she had been planning to fix before the starter issue.
Is It Worth Fixing?
When evaluating whether to fix an aging car, mechanics and consumer advocates recommend a simple rule of thumb: if the repair costs less than half the vehicle’s current value, and it returns the car to working condition, it’s usually worth doing. According to Kelley Blue Book, a 2010 Altima in fair condition is still worth between about $3,500 and $5,000, depending on trim and mileage, meaning a $400 starter replacement makes solid economic sense.
But the real takeaway from Morales’ video might be about decision-making under pressure. With today’s high car prices and repair costs, many owners are forced to weigh emotional uncertainty against practical necessity. A starter may be a small part, but it can spark a bigger conversation about how we think about value, and how much anxiety a check engine light or dead crank can generate.
Motor1 reached out to Morales via email. We’ll update this if he responds.
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