Owner reviews for starter motor

Denso does make re-manufactured starters for that model but they are a bit pricey.

The Denso part number for the starter is: 280-6006. Do not use a generic one from the parts store. Denso is the only brand I would use for starters.

I installed a 02J VR6 starter after cleaning up and regreasing the the bendix and solenoid. Testing of the starter:

some starters may have a resistor bypass connection.. that when the solenoid plunger is pulled in.. the R terminal is connected to cranking battery power.. this wire is hooked to the coil positive.. where the other wire to the coil positive comes thru a resistor.. this allows the coil to get higher voltage while cranking.

So for those who want to know a mk4 tdi manual starter does fit in a mk4 1.8t manual car! The starter is a bit longer so make sure you have clearance for it. It fit fine in my car but it's a mk2 so not sure if there is clearance issues in a mk4. I had to adjust my boost piping a bit to not hit the longer starter but, that's no big deal. Keep in mind this starter cranks like a mother ****er but, does require a strong battery in some cases more cranking amps. My car doesn't get driven much so the battery wasn't at it's full capacity so I charged it up and she cranked like hell!

MkIV 2.0 auto trans starter. Bolts right up to an 020. Spins the engine faster than the original did. And, it's smaller and lighter, too. I put one in my Scirocco a few years ago, when I replaced the trans & clutch.

So, after a fun summer and fall of some great worry free driving something came up.... it wouldn't start properly. So naturally I took the battery to advanced auto parts to test it, it worked fine and passed, then tested the starter, and was reading a bit slow, can't quite remember the cranking speed but it was in the low 100's RPM. So after days of having to pop start the car, yes I know.... poor clutch! I got a brand new REMAN Bosch starter, and installed it. For the next two days it started just fine

The starter in my GTI died and I had to push start it. It worked fine but I had a few lights on the dashboard (ESP and something else I think). The starter was the only thing wrong with the car so I think the lights were related to not turning the key to start it.

I've already replaced the starter 2 time in the last 3 years, with a rebuilt Bosch starter. I don't think a rebuilt starter should go bad this fast. I put about 15,000 miles a year on the car. Even a chepo starter from the local parts store should last longer than that. So I'm done with Bosch.

In the process of rebuilding my starter too since the Bosch Reman I bought crapped out on me.