FYI:
Planning to purchase some parts.
I always use genuine Toyota parts.
Calling the company I found online, in a major city 2,000 miles away,
toll free, with a parts person who has 11 years experience and has
never given me the wrong part number (unlike my local dealer). I
obtained prices of $123.29 and $176.09 for the parts I'll be
purchasing.
In fairness to the local dealer, and because I would prefer to spend
money locally all other things being equal, I explained what I am
doing, gave them the 10 digit part number for each item and received
prices of $217.43 and $234.78.
The online company has free shipping over $100 and no sales tax when
shipped out of state.
For those who don't have a calculator nearby, with tax, the difference
is $185.62
Found them couple of years ago when I had a long list of parts to
purchase and sent a list requesting price quotation to a number of
authorized dealers.
By the way, this is typical of the local dealer, not an isolated
example.

Daniel wrote:

What's the website of the company you found online? :)

By the way, what's your opinion of parts from say, Napa Auto Parts?
(Do they have a Napa in your neck of the woods?)

Napa parts are usually the gold standard for non-dealer parts. But
Napa also sometimes sells more than one line. For example, buying a
fuel pump for my Corolla, I was asked if I wanted the cheaper or the
pricey pump.

I compared them and for the extra $12, the more expensive pump seemed
much better. They have two different lines of filters, etc.

For ignition parts, my mechanic uncle told me never to buy anything but
original Toyota. I also only buy Toyota-rebuilt water pumps, etc, as
most of the rebuilt junk I have gotten elsewhere has been just that --
junk.

timbirr@mailcity.com wrote:

I'm debating whether to get genuine Toyota radiator hoses for my '96
camry, or go for Napa parts.

No more rebuilt junk for me, thanks... :)

onehappymad...@yahoo.com wrote:

My independent mechanic uses NAPA parts 98 percent of the time. I think
the last NAPA hoses he put on my rig were GOODYEAR. They've held up
well.

One caution, if you are talking about a "universal fit" hose, they only
fit after a fashion. With Toyota, you might want to pay the extra few
dollars to avoid the headache of wriggling a uni-fit into place. But
for the Camry, I imagine Goodyear/NAPA has an exact fit.

About 7 years ago, not wanting to hassle getting a one-size fits all
battery cable, I went to Toyota where they wanted $70-something for the
official Toyota cable. I went to NAPA, got one that as a bit too long,
but was $8.....Cable is still working fine.

On the other hand, the NAPA air filter "fits" my camry sort of, but
it takes several minutes of fussing with it. Next time, for the extra
$5, I'll go with Toy, which drops right in.

I suppose everyone has their favorites.
I've been very pleased with Lincoln Frash at Butler Toyota in
Indianapolis, IN, 800-692-6396, http://www.toyotadiscountparts.com/ --
I'm sure there are many others, also good.
Yes there is a NAPA nearby, and I have a NAPA water pump in my '77
Toyota truck, installed by the radiator shop after the Pep Boys water
pump bearing fell out causing instant loss of coolant. The NAPA part
has been fine -- however . . . I don't think you're going to improve on
Toyota quality. I've seen people getting over 500,000 miles out of
their Toyotas, and they use the factory parts. I did install a NAPA
electromagnetic fuel cutoff jet for the carburetor on that vehicle
since Toyota no longer carried it for that year, but personally I
prefer higher quality over lower price.
Would especially recommend the Toyota coolant hoses -- although at
140,000 miles and 12 years, the originals are still fine - I keep
checking them regularly, but there is no softness, swelling, splitting
or deterioration of any kind.
Generally if you look at parts side by side, you can spot the
differences. For example, when I purchased the car, and learned how to
check the air filter, the old part looked like accordion folded school
notebook paper. The Toyota part was vastly superior. I understand they
use three gradients of filter media to hold the coarser particles
first, then progressively trap finer particles to maximize the
compromise between filtration and air flow efficiency. Since I
appreciate that sort of thing, I buy the Toyota original equipment
replacements. If you trade in regularly, or only keep cars a couple of
years, probably doesn't matter. Once had a college professor in a
capital budgeting decision class that put forth the idea that
economically, it is always less costly to perform repairs, than to
replace a car. Now if you were using our local dealer that may not hold
true, but since I do all my own work, I have no doubt that keeping the
car in flawless condition, besides being personally rewarding to drive,
is also a money saver.

Daniel wrote:
Wise professor of yours.

Good prices on air suction hoses at toyotadiscountparts.com ($72 vs.
$96)... what's the shipping charge for orders less than $100? I might
never go to the dealer again... :)

onehappymadman@yahoo.com wrote:

Last time I went to the dealer Parts department to get some Toy
antifreeze, I asked them for a transmission pan drain plug. (I'd
stripped mine slightly, using a 3/8" Allen wrench instead of the 10mm
hex wrench, last time I changed my tranny oil.) Those guys showed me
an engine oil drain plug, then when I told them that wasn't it, they
showed me *another* engine oil drain plug.

Sigh.

along the same lines. been having troiuble with the starter on my 97
corolla. called my local toyota dealer, asked how much to relace the
starter . after a couple of minutes came back and said with parts and
labor $450.00. called a local garage with a good reputation thay said
around $200.00. guess you know who got the work. of course if the
starter gives out after 6 months that would not be good. but willing to
take the chance. so far it is working great.

NAPA carries Gates. Gates belts and hoses are excellent prodcuts and I
use them regardless of the car make.

Toyota belts and hoses are Dayco, Mitsuboshi or Goodyear. (look at
what's printed on them). So I'd go straight to NAPA for belts and
hoses.

I don't use remanufactured pumps, even from Toyota. NAPA's Airtex pumps
have been fine, with a lifetime warranty..

johngd...@hotmail.com wrote:
I could be wrong, I could swear it was a Goodyear from NAPA, and maybe
they vary regionally. I would not reject a Gates product,
though....indeed, I might be inclined to think they might be better
than a Goodyear.

I've not have any problems with remans from Toyota or Nissan, but lots
of problems from other sources.

For rebuilds like alternators, steering rack, starters, NAPA is fine
(often with 3-year warranties). Bosch makes a line of new alternators
and starters with 2-year warranties and 24/7 roadside assistance. I'd
chose NAPA for the price and warranty and they've worked fine. Sure,
the $450 Toyota starter is good for 1-year/12K miles if they install
it.

For domestics, NAPA often carries the exact same part you can buy at
the dealer counter. I always use the "NAPA" line, which is the premium
line instead of "Stop-rite", "Filter-rite" or something like that for
the budget-minded consumers. But less expensive rotors such as
Raybesto's Raymold line also work very well so far.

for a pair of hood support struts, from IN to CA shipping was $8

see other recent post:
usually new solenoid contacts for around $20 will fix a Toyota starter

Daniel wrote:
You know, I need a pair of those too. I've been using a block of wood
to keep the hood up - my hood support cylinders are shot too.

But at $45 each (left and right)... let's see... block of wood, or
$90... block of wood, $90... I think I'll stick with the block of wood
for now. :)

2 starters at 200.00 = 400.00.... still 50.00 saving on the cost of parts in
case the first one goes!

onehappymadman@yahoo.com wrote:
Yes, I had the long stick of wood also - but what if I had to open the
hood out on the road one day?
When it got to the point that the hood began falling the instant it was
raised I replaced the hood struts. Tremendous difference. Let go of the
hood and it springs up into position near the end of travel.