Timing control solenoids

Hey guys, I have a 2013 Toyota Tacoma 4.0 I need to replace the timing Control solenoids but the dealer is asking 215 per solenoid. Has anybody bought in the eBay solenoids I saw some for around 80 bucks 60 bucks they look OEM they look like Toyota original parts. Anyone have experience with those Here’s an example of what I’m looking at like it says supposedly it’s Toyota Original parts just wanna double check with you guys don’t want to install parts that might break down after a couple uses. Please help.

 

That's a good question to ask & issue to be concerned about.

In my case, I bought my 15530-0P010 (right side) and 15340-0P010 (left side) VVT actuators from this ebay vendor, ToyoLex Parts Connection:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/375542753832?epid=654672800

The parts are still sitting on the shelf & I haven't taken out my stock/OEM VVT actuators yet since they're still working fine, so I haven't had a chance to compare the actual parts side by side.

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The way I view it is that if a seller (like ToyoLex Parts) on eBay checks all these boxes, they're probably selling legitimate OEM parts:

- Has been on ebay since 2005
- Has over 60,000 sales. (Not 600 or even 6,000.)
- Has 99.6% positive feedback.
- Has a phone number & regular tech support hours posted clearly in their seller profile and in at least some, if not all, of their item postings on ebay.
- Specializes in selling Toyota/Lexus parts. That's all they do.

I figure if ToyoLex was selling fake OEM parts, more than a few customers would have noticed by now. Even if 99 out of 100 customers isn't a Toyota expert, probably at least 1 in 100 is a Toyota expert and would spot & call out ToyoLex for selling fake OEM parts on social media. (Reddit, Twitter etc.)

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Additional note on identifying counterfeit parts -- apparently, contrary to some youtubers who focus on differences in packaging -- box and label colors, differences in fonts and printing, etc. -- it is not uncommon for genuine parts to come in differently-styled boxes due to being sourced from different manufacturers. Apparently, differences in packaging do not necessarily indicate counterfeit OEM parts in all (or even most?) cases.

 

I do not recommend buying auto parts off Amazon/ebay, too many counterfeits and just plain shit parts on there. Get them from a dealer, dealer website, rock auto, or parts store.

If it claims to be new OEM or "compatible with" but is less than 1/2 the cost of the OEM part it's probably a counterfeit or shit part.

Just looked the OEM ones are about $141 each, a couple dealers have them slightly cheaper.

Rock Auto has Standard Motor Products ones for about $80