Which Starter To Keep

[Outbounders]

So if you'll notice in the picture I have two starters....
I believe the smaller of the two is a 1.4 OEM and the bigger is labeled as a Denso reman. Which is the 2.0. Have two cruisers at the moment and wondering which is better to rebuild first to put on my daily. From everything I have read seems to me like the reman is rebuildable but didn know if the OEM is just that much superior that I should rebuild and keep it on. Any opinions are welcomed, except for those stating Amarillo, Texas sucks..I live here and am WELL aware ha! Thanks

 

[Outbounders]

I'm doing this to remove the cheap POS Mexico starter I installed a few weeks ago to get me goin. Funny story...wasn even the starter!

 

[Red Merle]

I'm doing this to remove the cheap POS Mexico starter I installed a few weeks ago to get me goin. Funny story...wasn even the starter!

Couldn't you just rebuild both of these and then return the cheap Mexican one for the core?

It would basically just be a rental and you could rebuild the OEM one now and then have the Denso one as a spare.

 

[Outbounders]

Couldn't you just rebuild both of these and then return the cheap Mexican one for the core?

It would basically just be a rental and you could rebuild the OEM one now and then have the Denso one as a spare.

Yes I can and will but wondering which is better. The other will go on the cruiser I sell eventually. So I'm just trying to figure out which is the better starter for me to keep.

 

[Red Merle]

Yes I can and will but wondering which is better. The other will go on the cruiser I sell eventually. So I'm just trying to figure out which is the better starter for me to keep.

I am a believer in the idea that anything Mr. T put on these trucks initially will be a good option. The only exceptions to that would be things like the power steering cooler, the OEM brake booster, OEM mufflers and tail pipes, etc. Those are better parts, but the sticker shock makes a lot of people seek alternatives.

I would put the Toyota one back on and keep the Denso one as a spare.

 

[Joshwho44]

Yes I can and will but wondering which is better. The other will go on the cruiser I sell eventually. So I'm just trying to figure out which is the better starter for me to keep.

I would rebuild the 2.0 kW, but you can get all the rebuild parts for both starters here: Alternator Parts - Starter Parts - Repair kits...or you could buy a reman Denso 2.0kW (280-0169) from Amazon for $145 (no core) and keep the other as a spare.

 

[LINUS]

Plunger/gear on the 1.4 looks newer, but IDK since I'm not there. The tag for the rebuilds alone I'd prefer the 2.0 but since you're rebuilding both it's really a 6 of one / 1/2doz the other to me.

Not like you're trying to crank a diesel so if 'bigger is better' pick that - whichever had less wear overall would suit me fine since we only need a new, real Toyota starter every ~100-150K.

Whichever you pick as the longterm you might grab extra rebuild kit, $15 is cheap when down the line it goes NLA item. We're losing parts support pretty quickly.

 

[Outbounders]

Check out that image... This is the 1.4. Pulled it apart. Turns out it is fubar'd. Is this even rebuildable?

 

[Outbounders]

Yeah this one will require wayyyy too much work to rebuild. Notice the broken bolt...Major water ingress happened at some point. That scares me about opening up some other things...

 

[cruiserdan]

The best 1FZ starter is the 2.2kw used in 1993 only. Followed by the 2.0. I wouldn't bother with a 1.4 unless your only other available option is shoe leather.

 

[Outbounders]

The best 1FZ starter is the 2.2kw used in 1993 only. Followed by the 2.0. I wouldn't bother with a 1.4 unless your only other available option is shoe leather.

@cruiserdan have you ever seen a starter look this bad? Probably use this to get my core money back on the Mexican crap I bought. Ha

 

[cruiserdan]

It clearly has been subject to significant water exposure, possibly a flood victim. That core is not in what Toyota would consider rebuildable condition and would have no value as an exchange for a factory reman starter. If you carefully reassemble it you may be able to turn it in to wherever you got the reman from and get the core charge refunded. If you take it back in its current state they will probably laugh at you.

 

[Hornd]

Just an FYI Denso Remans are about $100 on Rock Auto and they often substitute new starters if remans run out.
I got the 2.0KW about 3 months ago and it was new so you stand a good chance.
Denso is OEM supplier, but I think remans are done stateside, not Japan.