Genuine TRD parts off eBay?
 

Just dropped $55 bucks on a radiator/fuel cap, but already having second thoughts as to how legit these things actually are. How can I know if it's fake or not? Looking to get more TRD parts later on (strut bar, oil cap, ect.) Who do you guys buy from that you trust?

Thanks,
Carlos.

You won't till you get it, which it's probably not. Also if it's from Hong Kong or China it's definitely not legit.

Be careful, I almost got stuck with a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate and a flash drive that were fakes. Funny how eBay tolerates shenanigans with sellers of pirated software and hardware (not even a slap on the wrist).

Just from my personal shopping, I like Japanparts.com. They still have 16% off all aftermarket parts including TRD that have been going on for awhile. They have always been good to me.

It really depends, I have bought a lot on eBay, and I always get the real deal, unless I buy replicas by choice of course ;-)

My friend bought a new used engine for his MR-2, from eBay and it's working great ;-)

Cheers from Norway

They're sneaky. I don't know about the radiator cap, but I know for TRD shift knobs most of the ones that say "Genuine TRD" in the listing are really fakes. Price isn't even that good of a consideration - there were plenty of fakes priced higher than the real ones.

It's not going to be easy. The fake shift knob, for instance, comes in a box that looks just like the real one, and says "Made in Japan" even though it's made in China.

Most auctions for this stuff includes stock photos from TRD that show genuine parts.

IMO I'd only be confident if the auction included a picture of the genuine part that was clearly taken by the seller. If it's just stock photos taken from other websites, I'd be cautious.

eGay sucks.. You're already spending a lot for a couple of caps.. Which are most likely fakes.. Why not pay a bit more, maybe less and buy from a reputable shop.. You already have genuine toybaru "caps". Why bother..

^This

If they didn't ship from Japan they are most likely fakes.

Funny part is that the real one is made in italy and also labled like that. So they do not only lable the fake ones with a fake made in japan, but they do even fake lable it wrong ;-)

Always pay attention to the seller's feedback. You will see comments that reflect if they sell fake or oem stuff

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

Why are you spending $$ on parts that no one but you will see and do NOTHING?

This is honestly a legit question, I seriously don't see the point.

Some people at meets like to show what they have under the hood. This is a very old tradition that still lives today. I personally don't because mine is stock in the engine compartment. But if I had a SC or Turbo, I would probably show it at a meet.

All i have to say is.. " you get what you pay for on ebay":bonk:

The fuel filler cap is purely cosmetic, but the genuine TRD radiator cap (and likely the fakes as well) are a higher pressure cap than the 1.1 bar factory cap. They are 1.3 bar which raises the effective operating efficiency of the cooling system by raising the boiling point a bit more but also by reducing bubbles and spot vapor barriers that can occur in certain high temperature areas.

I get that, and I have had modded cars for years. I have never however looked under someones hood and said to myself "I love the supercharger/nitrous/turbo/headers/etc., but what I REALLY love about this car is the radiator and oil cap..."

Good info about the pressure difference though.

Simply to have a little TRD theme under the hood :)
Already have the intake, might as well get other small parts to go with it.
Thanks for the input guys! :thanks:

Update***
Got my parts yesterday, but having trouble putting on the radiator cap.
Anyone else had trouble with this?
Any advice to help put it on?
Thanks.

Push down and turn??? :iono:

Lol ive tried that but it pops right off :(

Does it turn like it is supposed to before it 'pops' off? If it turns, I would check that the tabs are in the correct position. (Pushed in far enough to hold like its supposed to.)

Are you sure it's the correct type of cap? There are several different TRD caps for different types of radiators. If the cap doesn't look like you stock one with a small inner plug and short depth it's probably a cap for some other car and radiator type. The difference is in the spring so it should physically look the same as your stock cap.

[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/k3lmau.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/2s0lmkn.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/2l9tp90.jpg[/IMG]

Now that I take a closer look, the tip does look bigger, but I thought that's how it was supposed to be :/

As you can see from my build thread I have just a few TRD parts!

My supplier preference to ensure service and genuine parts are:
1. Local TRD supplier (we get club prices and freight is cheap)
2. Japanparts.com (careful as most stuff for RHD, ok for me though)
3. Nigel JDM Parts (most stuff for LHD)

I only use Ebay or places like Dx.com or Alibaba knowing that it is likely to be fake. I got $8 seatbelt pads but have since swapped out for genuine ones. Now my only non-genuine TRD parts are carbon overlay on my steering wheel (TRD don't make one), my Monster mats and Aluminium floor plate.

I'll take a radiator cap photo for you to compare to yours in the morning (night time here).

Yes, I'm a big fan :wub:

Here's photos of the genuine one for you to compare. Comes off and goes on really easily.

Fuel "cap" I wouldn;t worry about - even the genuine one id simply a plastic cover that goes over the original fuel cap.

http://iforce.co.nz/i/4bffdboa.a0d.jpg

http://iforce.co.nz/i/wifxymku.vh0.jpg

eBay just a platform. Pick sellers carefully and you'll be fine. Bought tons of TRD stuff from Japex-Trading, first from eBay and then directly - all 100% genuine and at reasonable price. Ships from Japan.

I have also bought from japan parts. They are a little expensive but its all real and gets shipped to you quickly

Looks like I got the wrong radiator cap then :/
Thanks for cleaning that up.

eBay crappy TRD stuff
 

I've had good luck and bad luck on eBay when it comes to "Genuine" TRD parts. I bought a genuine 86 arm rest and had it shipped from Japan and it was definitely legit. I am very happy with that purchase and it certainly costed enough to be genuine.

However, most recently I bought a "Genuine" TRD shift knob and I can tell you that it does NOT feel genuine at all. The red threading is a different shade than they boot (it's a little lighter and not as thick), and it's VERY light when compared to the OEM FRS knob. I understand the idea of wanting to save weight and all, but it's my understanding that you want a shift knob to have a good weighty feel.

Rule of thumb: get your genuine parts from Japan (especially from eBay) and avoid anything from China.