2002 Starter

2002 Toyota tundra starter needs to be replaced. I want to do an OEM and not remanufactured. OEM seems to be pretty hard thus far to find one just got off the phone with the local Toyota dealership service department asking about that particular part they had to use the Vin number and even with that they said we have two in stock and they don’t know which one, they said something about having to look at the other one. Seems like there should be a better solution. Any advice source to go check out I understand Denso is a manufacturer but they also have manufactures. I’ve got two coon dogs, but I think we’re barking up the wrong tree somewhere here. Thanks for all your help.

 

Denso is OEM brand, they manufacture in-house. Save your hard earned dollars. Look up your part number at www.densoautoparts.com

Just don't be stupid by ordering the part on scAmazon or fleaBay. Knockoffs galore.

But before you replace the starter, are you 1,000% sure the starter is the problem? 2 out of 3 times when people come to this forum troubleshooting no-start situations, it is NOT the starter. And that's a hella lotta work to get to the starter if you have the V8.

 

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Oh, and "two in stock". There are two flavors of starter for our trucks. 'cold weather package' 2.0 and the normal 1.4, IIRC.

That's probably the difference. They're interchangeable. 2.0 is longer in length and a tight fit, bitch to install from those I've seen do it.

 

There was a regular, and a cold weather or "HD" version of the starter for the 2UZ-FE. 1.4 and 2.0kw respectively I believe. The one I recently ordered from Toyota was a reman OEM also.

 

Agree here. OP are you sure it's the starter? He's right it usually isn't the starter but people throw one on at the first sign of trouble.

 

This video will help walk thru the most-near-identical to your truck regarding startup//starter diagnostics, which fuses are necessary to start the truck and get power to the starter, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=0jWouSQYTnU​

And this one is not identical to yours, but it shows a similar way of testing the starter by manually jumping juice to it at the relay socket (start at 9m49s mark if it doesn't auto-jump), and also walks through restoring grounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dm9W0XR4I0#t=9m49s​

 

New starters, either Toyota or Denso branded, are NLA.

If the starter needs to be replaced, your best bet is a Denso reman, in either the Toyota or Denso box. The Denso reman starters are good quality.