I am ashamed to say this, despite my friends warning me about Autozone Lifetime Warranty starters, I still purchased one. After the 4th one being replaced, I've had it. The last 2 I returned, the wire inside the starter housing, the one that connects to the car's starter switch wire, broke off. The exhaust manifold heat shields and starter heat shield are being utilized. That said, what brand starter do you guys suggest I get?

all i can say is autozone electronics are crap for something like starters and alternators i either go to oreily or i simply find a good used one from the forums. but I would deffinately think twice about the autozone electronics. duralast sux

If you can get ahold of a stock one, you can replace the starter contacts easily. That is what usually wears out on Toyota starters. The part# is 28226-64110 and you need two of them. The pair will cost about as much as an Autozone starter, but you'll keep the rest of your original starter.

OEM toyota rebuild kit

go to the junk yard and grab a OEM starter off a Aw11 and just rebuild it using the kit

Or you can get a remanufactured Denso from NAPA or Carquest

^^x2 on rebuilding the oe..

Thanks for the input guys.

I ended up buying a Denso one. I'm going to use the Autozone warranty replacement as a core exchange. I will update this thread if the Denso one fails or if it keeps going.

" I'm going to use the Autozone warranty replacement as a core exchange."
After four replacements, I'd give 'em hell first. If the store manager says they can't give you a refund, ask him for the contact information for his zone manager, and press the zone manager. Sometimes, if you reach the right guy they'll do the right thing. Four replacements is inexcuseable.

And sadly not unique to Autozone.

+1 on DIY rebuild.

(same goes for the alternators, dammit)

pick up a starter from a 1g engine, ill have to look around i have the part number somewhere. youll also need an adaptor plate to space the start back a bit. it uses a reduction gear so it is a much stronger starter for higher compression setups.