Toyota Parts Blog » Toyota Parts

Are Aftermarket Parts Safe For Your Toyota?

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:00:41 +0000

This is a loaded, but important question.

There are plenty of aftermarket parts and accessories for your Toyota. But are they better than Toyota OEM parts and accessories? More importantly, are they safe?

The answer is complicated.

There are plenty of aftermarket parts that are perfectly fine for your Toyota. Many of the parts do an adequate job. However, do the parts allow your Toyota to run at its best? In many cases the answer is no.

This is because the engineers who designed the Toyota vehicles did not make the aftermarket parts. There have been instances where aftermarket parts do not properly fit a vehicle. With OEM parts, you don’t have to worry about this because the manufacturer made them.

This is not to say that all aftermarket parts are bad.

But why should you take the risk, when there are so many OEM parts available on the internet at comparable prices?

When it comes to your Toyota, it’s better to play it safe and go with the OEM parts. They may sometimes cost a little more, but it’s worth the investment. Your vehicle will run better and be on the road longer.

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for Toyota Camry parts or Toyota Tundra parts, go with the OEM parts.

What type of parts do you buy for your Toyota? Leave your comments below. We would love to hear your opinions on this issue.

The Best Toyota Vehicles For Large Families

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:00:54 +0000

When it comes to finding the right vehicle for your family, Toyota has plenty of options.

Here are some of our favorite Toyota vehicles that are great for families. These vehicles are great for carpooling, family vacations and more!

Toyota Sienna – The Toyota Sienna is one of the best-selling minivans on the market today. It has won the Motor Trend Minivan Comparison Test and has some of the best steering and handling.

The Toyota Sienna comes with some great accessories including rear-seat entertainment. Also, Toyota Sienna parts are easy to find. You can learn more about the Sienna by watching this video.

Toyota Land Cruiser – The Toyota Land Cruiser has plenty of space for long road trips with the family. When it comes to Toyota SUVs, the Land Cruiser has everything in it. Options include:

Voice Activated Touch Screen DVD Navigation System
Six Disc CD/DVD Changer
XM Radio
iPod Connectivity

These are just a few of the features available in the Land Cruiser.

Toyota 4Runner – The Toyota 4Runner is a great option for families looking for an SUV at a great price. The 4Runner is one of Toyota’s most popular SUVs. They’re very reliable, and it’s very easy to find Toyota 4Runner parts.

In this video, you can see how you can pair your smartphone with the 4Runner navigation system.

These are just a few options. What Toyotas do you think make the best family vehicles? Leave your comments below.

How To Find Cheap Toyota OEM Parts

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:23 +0000

There’s a myth about Toyota OEM parts that needs to be corrected.

Many people think that OEM parts are too expensive for their car or truck. This is NOT true. In many cases, you can find genuine Toyota parts at nearly the same price as generic Toyota parts.

All it takes is a little online research.

To find cheap Toyota OEM parts, you need to search online sites like Google or Bing. Thanks to the internet, there is more competition for Toyota parts straight from the manufacturer.

It’s not like the old days where you had to buy parts from the dealer near your home. This means a great savings for you. Most importantly, you’re getting better quality parts.

If you want to find cheap Toyota OEM parts, we recommend taking the following steps:

Step 1: Search the Internet – Doing a simple Google search will help you dig up tons of Toyota parts dealers across the country. Just enter a search term such as “Toyota OEM parts” or even a specific model such as “Toyota Sienna parts.”

Step 2: Compare Prices – As you visit the different sites, be sure to see how parts prices compare. Remember to also look at shipping charges. Some may offer certain shipping deals at different times throughout the year.

Step 3: Follow on Social Media – Some parts stores have profiles on Facebook and other social media sites. Become a fan on these types of sites. A lot of times they’ll offer special discounts.

Following these three steps will help you to find the best prices on genuine Toyota parts. To find great Toyota OEM parts, visit Toyota Parts Center. There, you’ll find lots of quality Toyota parts.

The Top Holiday Gifts For Toyota Owners

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:00:47 +0000

Having trouble getting a family member or a friend a holiday gift? If they own a Toyota, you may want to consider Toyota accessories.

Here are some of the best accessories for Toyota cars, trucks and SUVs.

Toyota Camry – For the Toyota Camry, consider getting Camry door still enhancements. These aluminum trim enhancements protect your Camry’s interior and include a custom silk-screened Camry logo.

Toyota Prius – There are lots of great Prius accessories. For a holiday gift, consider getting the Prius rear bumper applique. This helps to protect the Prius bumper from scratches. It provides great scratch protection.

Toyota 4Runner – The cargo tote for the Toyota 4Runner is a great gift idea. It’s reasonably priced and helps keep any 4Runner organized.

Toyota Corolla – For a Corolla owner, consider the Interface Kit for iPod. This kit allows you to install a custom iPod charger in a Corolla’s glove box. It’s great for that person that listens to a lot of music.

Toyota Tundra – A Toyota bed mat is always a great option for any Tundra owner. Toyota’s bed mat is custom molded to perfectly fit the Tundra. The Tundra bed mat keeps cargo in its place.

Any of these ideas would make great holiday gifts. For more ideas, visit the Toyota Parts Center Accessories Page.

How To Find The Best Oil Filter For Your Toyota Truck

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:00:40 +0000

At Toyota Parts Center, we’ve done a little research to help you find the best oil filter for your Toyota pickup truck.

We’ve torn apart and analyzed five different oil filters for the Tundra and eight different oil filters for the Tacoma. Here is what we found.

Toyota Tacoma Oil Filter Comparison

With the Toyota Tacoma oil filter, here is our Top 3:

Toyota OEM
Wix
K&N

The Toyota OEM, Wix and K&N filters are all great filters for your Tacoma. These three rise to the top when compared to Bosch, ACDelco, MicroGard, Fram High Mileage and SuperTech.

Here’s why we like the Toyota OEM, Wix and K&N filters.

Filter Surface Area – These three filters had the largest filter surface area to help filter out more oil impurities.

Bypass Valve – Of the eight that we compared, these three had the best bypass valves. Each of the valves functioned at a high level.

Filter Materials – The materials used in these three filters was less paper-like, less crumbly when cut, and generally sturdier.

So which did we like the best? They are all good filters. However, the Toyota OEM ($4.33) comes in at a lower price than the Wix ($6.99) and K&N ($13.99) filters.

If you can find a Wix or K&N filter at a similar price to the OEM filter, they are worth considering. However, you’ll get more value out of the Toyota OEM parts.

You can read the full report here: Toyota Tacoma Oil Filter Comparison

Toyota Tundra Oil Filter Comparison

When it comes to the Toyota Tundra, we examined five filters. Here is how we would rank them.

Toyota OEM ($4.33)
Wix ($6.99)
Fram Standard ($6.44)
MicroGard ($6.59)
Fram ExtraGuard ($9.49)

Like the Tacoma, the Toyota OEM and Wix filters had more surface area as well as a better bypass valve. The Fram and MicroGard were solid filters, but need not meet the high levels of the Toyota OEM and Wix filters.

The Fram ExtraGuard filter we tested did not fare well. It had inconsistent manufacturing and loose surface particles as well as the smallest surface area and highest density.

To read the full report with our research, click here: Toyota Tundra Oil Filter Comparison.

The Truth About OEM Parts

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:00:35 +0000

You’ve probably heard mechanics talking about OEM parts or Toyota OEM parts. But do you know what this means?

OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer. These are parts that were actually built by the manufacturer.

For instance if you’re looking for Camry parts, OEM Camry parts would be made by Toyota. Car parts not made by the manufacturer are often times referred to as generic or off-brand parts.

So when your Toyota needs new parts what should you get … OEM or generic?

You should go with OEM parts and it’s not just because we sell them. Here’s the truth about OEM parts.

OEM Parts Fit The First Time – With OEM parts, you don’t have to worry about the parts not properly fitting. That’s because the manufacturer specifically designed the parts.

OEM Parts Are Quality Made – Every OEM part meets manufacturer’s specifications. No corners were cut. It’s all about quality.

OEM Parts Perform Better – These are the parts that were specifically designed for your vehicle. You can be sure that they’ll help your car perform at its best.

OEM Parts Come With A Warranty – Most OEM parts are at least backed up with a one-year warranty. You don’t get that with most generic parts.

Sure there are some that will say OEM parts are more expensive than off-brand parts. But you get what you pay for. With generic parts, the quality is not as great … you don’t have much selection … and you don’t always get a warranty.

In our opinion, go with the OEM parts!

How To Prepare Your Toyota For Winter

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:00:32 +0000

Before you know it, it will be December. And in many parts of the country, there will be snow and ice!

Is your car ready for winter?

If it’s not, be sure to follow these five car care tips for winter!

1. Replace Wipers – Visibility is very important during the winter months. Be sure your Toyota’s windshield wipers are in good working order. Also check to make sure that the windshield washer reservoir is filled.

2. Check Your Tires – Make sure that the tire pressure and tire tread is at proper levels. It’s important to have a good set of tires on your Toyota during the winter months. You may want to even consider snow tires.

3. Perform A Maintenance Inspection – Before winter, be sure to check the battery and any belts and hoses. If you have any major repairs, try to get them done before the winter months. Be sure to use quality Toyota parts and Toyota accessories.

4. Check Coolant – You’ll want to make sure that your engine coolant is a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. You can check this by getting an antifreeze tester at any auto parts store.

5. Have A Car Kit – For emergencies, you’ll want to keep a warm blanket, gloves and a hat in your vehicle. You’ll also want to consider these items in your car emergency kit: a shovel, flashlight, jumper cables and a first aid kit. Also be sure to have a great ice scraper in your vehicle.

Following these tips will help get your Toyota ready for the winter months! What types of winter preparations do you make? Leave your comments below!

Discontinued Toyota Models That People Love

admin — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:00:38 +0000

Do you remember this commercial?

It was for the Toyota Tercel. Does it bring back the memories? The Tercel is just one of several discontinued Toyota vehicles.

For a trip down memory lane, here are some other discontinued Toyota models that people love.

The Toyota Tercel: From 1978 to 2000, the Tercel was Toyota’s subcompact car. The car saw five model generations. The name in Latin means “one-third” as the Tercel was a slightly smaller car than the Corolla. The Echo eventually phased out the Toyota Tercel in 2000. You can still find Toyota parts for this vehicle online.

The Toyota Celica: The Toyota Celica was a four-cylinder sports car that was popular from 1970-2006. In its more than 30 years on the road, the Celica had seven model generations. In Latin, the car’s name means “heavenly” or “celestial.” On the internet, you can still find Celica parts for this popular vehicle.

The Toyota Supra: The Toyota Supra ruled the road from 1978 to 2002. Production of this fast sports car stopped in 1998 in the United States, but it continued to be produced in Japan until 2002. The car started out as a variation of the Toyota Celica, but it became its own model in 1986. There are been rumors that the may be rereleased. However Toyota refutes these claims.

The Toyota MasterAce: The Toyota MasterAce was a unique looking van that was produced from 1982 to 1989. The van had several name variations including Toyota Van and the Toyota Space Cruiser. The Toyota Previa eventually replaced the MasterAce.

The Toyota Corona: Production on this car started in 1957. While it was discontinued in the United States in 1983, it continued on in other parts of the world until 2002. The Corona was a mid-sized car. It had a popular run in the United States until the Camry replaced it, which was slightly larger.

Common A/C Problems For Cars And Trucks

admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 07:00:34 +0000

Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need your Toyota’s air conditioning.

If your car or truck is blowing hot air, you should get it checked out. If you’re thinking about fixing it yourself, here are some common problem areas to check.

Low Refrigerant – The refrigerant in your vehicle could be low. This is a common problem. If this is the case, you’ll need to get a refill. Also be sure to check for any leaks.

Compressor Issues – The compressor is a pump that helps separate the high pressure and low pressure sides of the A/C system. If there’s a burning smell under your dashboard when the A/C is running, you may have compressor issues.

Evaporator Issues – The evaporator helps to remove hot air from your vehicle. It also helps to remove any heat from the refrigerant. Many times there can be a leak in the evaporator, which causes cooling issues.

Condenser Issues – The condenser looks similar to your car’s radiator. The condenser helps to cool hot gases traveling in your A/C system in to a liquid.

When replacing any parts on your Toyota, be sure to use Toyota OEM parts. These parts were designed by the manufacturer and will help to keep your car or truck in great shape!

Signs That It’s Time To Get The Brakes Fixed

admin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:00:12 +0000

It happens approximately every 10,000 miles. A lot of times it starts with a

grinding sound when you apply the brake pedal.

It means it’s time for new brakes. If your car is experiencing any of the symptoms below, it probably means that it’s time for new brakes.

A Sinking Brake Pedal: If your brakes do not respond like they once did, it’s probably time to visit a mechanic. If your brake pedals is sinking to the ground there is probably an issue with the brake pressure.

Grinding Noises: If you’re starting to hear grinding noises when you apply the brakes, it’s likely that the brake pads are worn. You’re hearing that grinding sound because the pads have been worn to the metal and need to be replaced.

Knocking Vibrations: If you’re feeling strange vibrations when you apply the brakes, it means that your rotors are probably warped. This happens because the brake pads are unable to hold onto the surface of the rotor. The rotor needs to be smooth to work properly.

When replacing your brakes or any parts on your vehicle, be sure to take it to a certified mechanic. There, you will get the expert service to get the job done right.

Also, you’ll be sure that they use quality parts.

For instance if you own a Toyota, you’ll want them to use Toyota OEM parts. OEM parts are designed by the manufacture and help keep you car on the road longer. For example, if you own a Toyota Prius, you would want to find OEM Prius parts.

How often do you replace the brakes on your vehicle? Leave your comments below.