Sucellus

This spring my starter went out -- it began to make this clicking sound and fail to start the car. At first it would start after a couple tries, but this degraded until finally it would take half an hour and a lot of rocking the cab back and forth before I'd have any luck. So I figured I should probably do something about it. Well, although it was apparent that it was probably only the contacts that needed to be replaced, like any good modder, I started thinking of how I could get a better starter in there if I had to drop the thing anyway.

I found some info online that there was a 1.8 kw starter available for our rigs, but the info was not very specific as to whether it would work on a manual or only an automatic - like it came off of. I decided to chance it and ordered the thing anyway as I found one for a good price. I talked to the local mechanics and they were all nearly refusing to try to put the thing on. "You would have to replace the bendix" or "you would probably need to rebuild the starter entirely" was all they would keep telling me. Finally I found someone who was willing to at least try.

So, the outcome was that it bolted right up. No modifications were needed at all to make the starter fit on my 5 speed 5vz-fe truck! So I thought I'd post here in case anyone else ran into similar confusion.

Original (1.4KW Denso) Toyota Part # 28100-62050

Upgrade (1.8KW Cold Weather Spec. Denso) Toyota Part# 28100-62030-84
Can be found on All Tacoma Extended Cabs.

Texas_Ace

Interesting, though does it crank any differnt/better?

Sucellus

It cranks well. Hasn't been cold enough recently to note a marked difference, as I'd imagine the cold weather would show that more. But this winter I'll go up to the mountains, and when it's below 0 deg. Farenheit that should give me a better idea. I see how the title could have been a bit misleading. Don't know but maybe someone else has had a chance to actually compare them functionally.

Ron Helmuth

That is good to know for those of us in cold weather climates. So would that starter be found on all extended cab (only) Tacomas from 95.5-2004?

Not the double cabs-4doors?

And so did it end up being your contacts after all or did you check them out on the new 1.8 starter?

Thanks for making us all aware of this and I may just involve some Tacoma guys to get their take on it.

mt_goat

My truck came with the cold weather package, I guess it had an up-graded starter too.

Sucellus

Yeah, Toyota usually offers a cold weather package. I couldn't find the info at the moment -- it took me quite a while researching it when I was getting ready to order the starter to make sure I got one I thought would work. But the package included an upgraded starter, better battery (with an optima red-top I should be ok there), heated mirrors, and possibly heated radiator or wiper fluid if I remember correctly. This at least covers the battery and starter for me.

I don't know exactly which vehicles came standard with the 1.8kw starter, other than the 4th gen. extended cab tacos. They had two different flavors though -- one by Denso and the other Bosh. I figured that as mine came with a Denso I'd go that way, always like Denso parts if I can get them anyhow. Often parts yards will list the part numbers, so with the info above you should be able to get the right one regardless of which vehicle was the donor.

With the optima (which is a plasma cell battery and as such probably won't freeze), and the starter I should be in pretty good shape. I don't think it will get below the freezing point of anti-freeze here, but if I were in Alaska or something I might get an aftermarket radiator heater as well.

The contacts were pretty much warn down to nothing on my original 1.4kw starter, so the simple swap took care of it for me and it hardly cost anything as I was able to procure the new starter from a parts yard.

SpeedBro

1.8 are on automatic, and 1.4 are on manual, I don't know why

but I've replaced my starter on my 4runnner, and I put a 1.4 tacoma starter on my automatic 4runner, and the truck start even at -35° celcius, so no big difference

Boris

Texas_Ace

Interesting, my guess is that the extra power is because the auto have th turn the Tourqe converter all the time which is extra drag.

Sucellus

Yeah, think TA got it right on the Torque converter consideration. If I were to do it again, I might look at the Mean Green Starters. Looks like they have some light weight powerful starters. They are well know for their alternators, so probably a good bet.

mt_goat

I guess either way I have a 1.8kw starter since I have the cold weather package and an auto. I still have my 93 3vze starter up in the attic.

pattycakes77

iTrader: (2)

does anyone know if the contacts are different for these two starters? i'm going to replace my starter soon (aftermarket crap) and buy the 1.8kw and rebuild it with a new starter contact kit, just wanted to know if there was a difference between the contacts before i confuse my local toyota parts department guys

thanks.