Ah okay I see, I didn't see two different denso numbers at first!

Will the 1.8 still fit through the wheel well? Or will I need to go straight down? I don't have a sway bar in the front and someone mentioned to me that it might be easier to go down.

Okay that makes me feel better, I mean maybe it's silly but I just didn't know like was there also a special/stronger flex plate to go with the 1.8kw one (i.e. you can only run the 1.8 with said special flexplate,etc.). But if it doesn't matter or if I already have the 1.8 then I guess it will be fine either way.

Last time I checked the flex plate it has zero cracks or rust so if she was meant to have a 1.4kw I was going to stick with that to baby her...lol. Really hope I don't ever have to change that thing...

Both will fit and bolt up. same thing with the alts.


The later years had a slight higher output. Not info needed in this thread about the alts but figured I mention it.

I temporarily put an late model alt on a 98. For many months. Then bought a remfg denso..

Now you got me thinking that i should upgrade my starter in my 5 speed when it clunks out. ;)



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I couldn't tell you to be honest. I haven't had to change a starter on one of these yet. It's the same flexplate for both starter versions. I would be highly surprised if you don't have a 1.8kw starter. Almost all v6 automatics got the 1.8kw starter.

Okay so maybe I'm just wearing too much about the flex plate. Especially if most of them already have the 1.8kw then it's probably completely fine.

Well big thanks to everybody!

Also for some fun random trivia... during my searches and test drives of ls400s I came to realize that the LS's start extremely fast. Almost comically fast. With all this talk of starters and kilowatts I actually looked it up to see what the rating was for the ls400 starter.

I was thinking: "man if a 4Runner is 1.8kw then that LS one must be like 3kw or something crazy high"

Nope... Just 2.0kw. Which is higher than 1.8 for sure, but I mean I don't think I've ever heard a starter turn as fast as the ones in LS400's... Assuming they have good batteries. I mean most ones intest drove probably started their v8's in like 1.0-1.5 seconds. Crazy.

I think ours take so long to start because the fuel pump doesn't start pumping until the ecm sees engine rpms from the starter engagement. Most other manufacturers prime the fuel pump when you put the key in the on position.

Lots of vehicles start the fuel pump on ign on. So they start really fast. As ours need to sense the rpm before the fuel pump relay engages.


I could be wrong. I agree with 3bears it's the manuals that use the smaller starter. Which doesn't make any sense as the v6 are the same engine.



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As best I understand, the 1.4kw is basically only used on 4 cylinder manuals without the cold weather package. If you have a v6, an automatic, or the cold weather package it is very likely that you have the 1.8kw. But even Toyota themselves don't seem to be 100% on that.

I am going to have to verify. As that makes sense. I can't see a different starter on v6 auto vs manual. Now makes sense 4 cylinder be different. As different bell housing and engine.

I don't own any 2wd or 4 cylinders. However, I do have v6 autos and one factory 5 speed v6.

I do see in rock auto lists both starters in the 3rd gen 4 runners snd the lower kw says manual.

Its also possible that the factory V6 autos have one starter and the factory v6 manual a different.

We find out here..

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I used parts.toyota.com to see what is listed by Toyota parts
V6 checked (3.4L) used model year 1997 and checked with 2000
Looks like its mostly manuals have the 1.4 starters as suggested
as the starter for them
Where the Autos have 1.8 starters suggested.

I know if I was replacing any 3rd gen with a remain I would replace with
the higher amperage one.

So I don't know if they used to use the smaller ones in the earlier year then switch to the higher ones only in the later years.

I will check my manual 5 speed down here to see which starter it has.. :-)

I agree that is quite possible the dealers don't know which one would be in your vehicle and if bought used we wouldn't know if someone changed it to the higher starter either..

Interesting topic indeed this one is..:-)

Oh wow I didn't know that. Maybe it wastes less fuel? Well hell, I was mainly referring to the spin up speed of the LS400's starter. It turns that v8 over with authority like I've never heard in a starter... lol

Check out this video, the quality if shit but if you just listen to the audio you can hear that starter turn over the engine at an absurd speed. This is just almost as fast as the two I test drove. I think they were in perfect condition with strong ass batteries I guess.

1992 Lexus LS400 Nightime Start-up & Rev - YouTube

It's a safety feature in case of crash or rollover damage. If your engine can't spin. You really don't want a fuel pump on. Thus it cuts the fuel off in case of fire..

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You can buy a contact and plunger kit and rebuild your current starter in about 10 mins once you have it out - it's not complicated

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Yeah that's what I'm going to do. The old one will become a spare.

I did that about 14 years and 100k miles ago on mine. About 4 hours work total (very difficult removal, for a 15 minute job). If it happens again, I wonder if that alone would fix it, or there is more to a full rebuild, and, at 23 years and 210k, it would be time for that. Do you know if the Denso reman's get more replaced on them than the contact and plunger?

I will probably pre-emptively replace my alternator with a Denso reman, and was thinking of doing the same thing with the starter.

Well I may be able to learn about that soon when I take apart the old one to rebuild it. I'm sure it has bearings and other parts that would need to be replaced, maybe? I'll post pictures once she's apart.