fastegg

I have spoken in my other post about my clicking solenoid. I note on ebay USA you can get 'brand new' aftermarket starter motors for under $100 and under $100 freight. Has anybody used these as a replacement ? Are they close to OEM quality ? Does anybody know anything about them ?

*** I also note that some starters are quoted at 1.2kw and others right up to 2kw... Does this mean anything or is it a bit of BS ?

jaaa

I put one in in July and I ordered the cheapest brand new one from Amazon that I could. I think it was around $100 and I believe it was a Denso. Has worked great since the install(now that wasn't fun taking the intakes out). Shipping was free because it was Amazon prime. Not sure how that would work going all the way to Australia. Have a friend coming back from the US?

Stereorob

just invoking the S word on these cars angers me and makes me want to break things

brybo86

I would not cheap out on the starter.... Go with the Denso....

The work/time/frustration involved in starter replacement is easily worth more than a few bucks in your wallet

RA40

iTrader: (6)

After many decades with an easy to reach external starter that was near trouble free, Toyota moved it to shift engine bay space concerns. Look what the trade-off is. On old cars that translates to broken harness connectors and vacuum nipple fittings breaking off from removal. What once was about a 20-30 minute job is now multi hour. Sucks for those who have had more than one go south.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

This is what I got.

dicer

The last one I did was many years ago, and it was a rebuilt one from Oreillys and has held up just fine. And was a better choice than just replacing solenoid parts. But if you can get a new Denso for 100 from amazon do it, that's cheaper than the rebuilt one.

fastegg

I just found out there are 2 different types of starters with 2 different mounting bolt patterns on the same 1UZ engine and I guess the only way I'll know is to wait until Ive got it off to see which one it is ?

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

upper left looks right (correct) for a 1995-2000 ls 400 (drive gear is centered, NOT offset)
upper right (off set drive) does not look like a LS 400 to me.
1990-1994 LS400 has a slot below drive gear like this photo (but is centered)
PS WHAT I DONT KNOW IS IF RHD (ENGLISH CAR) WOULD BE DIFFERENT.. CANT YOU GO TO A PARTS HOUSE AND LOOK AT ONE??

Stereorob

we shouldn't even be looking at these. its like stirring up bad juju.. looking at starters could cause one of our cars to make the starter stop working! I don't even wanna look at this! lol

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

yes a remanufactured Denso brand unit is the way to go. Denso is the OEM part, though of course it's hard to tell if OEM parts were used to rebuild it. the amazon link looks good and JDM/USDM (RHD or LHD) starters are the same.

UNCNOR

iTrader: (1)

Replaced the starter in my 97LS last December.Purchased a Denso remanufactured, also part number 280-0165, from rockauto.com for $104.79 plus core of $36.00 and shipping to Florida was approx. $8.00.I expect it to last until the car tops at least 400K.Spend the money on quality,you'll be glad you did.Good luck.

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

you sound like a broken record, all this starter bunk...
that is not the worst thing that can happen to a Ls.
ENGINE, Tranny, heater core, evaporator core are all worse.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I saw that when I was searching but I needed that starter immediately and amazon had it in my hands in less than 24 his.

aptoslexus

There are youtube videos on rebuilding Denso starters. There's not a lot to it. Most of the internal parts are probably just cleaned up and greased. The things that are replaced are the brushes (maybe) and copper contacts around the plunger. I'm guessing they probably put about $10-$15 worth of parts into these starters that you're paying over $100 for. If you had a half hour of time, I think you could rebuild your own and save a C note.