What Spare Parts Do You Keep in Your Toyota?
From fuel pumps to panty hose, we find out what kind of useful stuff YotaTech members keep in their Toyota trucks.
The folks here at YotaTech are what you might call a handy bunch. From complete tear downs to saving trucks others might have otherwise written off, our members can do just about anything with a Toyota truck. And as any enterprising shadetree mechanic knows, having the right spare parts on you can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a long walk home.
So naturally, we were curious as to what the folks here at YotaTech keep on them at all times. And so was irv, who started this thread and posted some ideas of his own.
“I just picked up a few fuel filters, a clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder, a fuel pump, an ignition control module (GM type – I did the conversion to a GM style module), a cap and rotor, and set of spark plugs. Just to leave in a box behind my seat in the Xtracab. Along with a good assortment of tools, of course.
I’d like to be able to repair most anything that may go wrong while on the road at least well enough to get home without needing to ever resort to a tow truck. Interestingly, the fuel filters have been the single most convenient thing to keep extras of for me. They seem to clog up every couple years or so. Anything you would add to this? What do you keep in your truck for spare parts?”
The OP also offers some interesting pointers for carrying these parts without taking up too much space.
“The slave cylinder, master cylinder, fuel pump, fuel filters, and ignition control module fit nicely in one of those little Army surplus ammo containers. At some point I’ll need these parts, and with the Xtracab it really doesn’t hardly take up any room. So it’s totally worth it to me.”
We were obviously intrigued, and so was everyone else. In fact, the responses started pouring in hot and heavy.
“I only carry a spare tire, jack, a few tools and an old alternator belt,” says gsp4life. “So far, even if I didn’t have any of that stuff, I’d have been OK. The 4Runner’s never had a flat!”
“I carry an alternator and power steering belt and a fuel pump,” adds wallytoo.“No other parts. I do carry tools and a compressor. Only carry the fuel pump because of my run of 7 or 8 pumps in two years. Although the current pump is over 18 months old with more than 25k miles on it, so it seems to be working. In lieu of carrying a bunch of parts, I do all the routine maintenance and inspect the truck weekly. I also immediately address any issues that pop up, or solve “new” noises right away.”
Belts, fluids, and radiator hoses are all popular items to carry along. And quite a few folks simply carry their old belts/hoses with them when they change them out, because this is a no-cost emergency plan. But others go the extra mile and keep some bigger parts on hand in case disasters happen.
“A starter and fuses,” adds se7enine.
Quite a few folks even carry panty hose as a makeshift temporary belt replacement. The upside? It only takes a minute to install, unlike a proper replacement belt. So you can get home quickly and install the real thing in the comfort of your garage, as wallytoo points out.
“The pantyhose can be “installed” without loosening the alt/ps idler/ac idler. Temporary fix to get home to replace it.”
So far, some pretty excellent pointers. But we want to know – what kinds of spare parts do you keep in your Toyota? Or do you have any DIY tips to share? Head over here and chime in with your best advice, or check out the latest from our forum members!
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