I am getting ready to order new spark plug wires, spark plugs, rotor & cap for my 94 4x4. I have always been told by Toyota mechanics that you must use toyota tune up parts or you will be sorry. Has anyone found this to be true?

Yes, Toyota OEM parts are the best.

Plug wires are expensive, so if it were me, I'd do a continuity test and look them over good, and if they check out, re-use them.

It depends on what you are replacing. Cap/rotor, no, spark plug wires, not really. Oem will last you a lot longer than Napa/Kragen, but is it worth the extra price, only you can answer that.

When it comes to sensors, thermostats, coils, alternators, starters, than yes only use Toyota, especially for sensors and thermostats. Coils. alternators, starters, etc., are like the plug wires, wont last as long.

snowtoy's right. i see alot of people try to save money by buying cheaper parts through the major parts chains, but end up spending more by bringin it to us when it doesn't turn out working right. it makes people kinda angry when they bring their freshly tuned up car in complaining of slight issues, then i turn around an recomend the same parts that they just replaced. i dont like doin it, but it usually fixes it. i would never recomend using any type of sensor other than stock, same with electrical items, because chain stores usually develop a part, and then duplicate them for different makes and models. i'm kinda kickin myself in the butt right now, because my autozone alternator is starting to give me issues, and its only been on there for 20k. i wish now i woulda bit the bullet and bought an oem for another $40, but oh well, to late now.

last week i want through the part number thread and ordered up a bunch of crap from https://www.1sttoyotaparts.com/ they offer like 20% off i think. great deal. and when you can find the part numbers yourself it saves time dealing with local toyota parts counters (mine sucks)

x2 what Snowtoy said.

With where I live, by the time 1sttoyotaparts sends anything, I'm better off hitting up our parts people at the dealer here. Thankfully no idiots work there. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Absolutely! Tune up parts from Toyota are the best. I have run off brand plug wires and cap and roter but they don't FIT or last like OEM parts. Toyota, Nippondenso or Denso is tops. A while back I went to AZ and got a starter in a hurry. It went TU in about a year, then I had to find another stock starter off of the bay, and even used it is still working fine. Now gears and parts of the drivetrain are a different story. There are lots of good parts out there. I use Timken bearings. I think the old saying "ya get what ya pay for" is pretty true.

I would rather tune up my truck with toyota parts from the junk yard then by the cheap after market stuff..

I really do mean this.

alt, starters, even cap and wires if they are in good shape.
the only plug wires that I have had go bad got physically damaged.

I personally work at a Toyota dealership ( Downeast Toyota in Brewer, Maine) and I don't know home many times We've seen a car/truck come in running rough and the only problem was crappy plug wires. This is how good factory Toyota wires are, a few months back a 1988 pickup came in for a cooling leak, the truck still had the ORIGINAL 1988 plug wire, yes they are dated, and the thing ran like a top.

For me it usually comes down to how hard the part is to get to. Plugs and wires I usually just get the generic cheap ones, but then again I replace mine often (every other year about) just for the piece of mind. Usually my guideline is: if I don't want to have to do it again, I get a toyota part, if its something I do a lot, I go generic. Things like hoses (pcv, idle air, etc) that are on the top of the engine I feel should definitely be toyota even though they are easy to get to for several reasons:

1) The ones on my truck were 22 years old, and still in good shape so I figure these should last just as long.
2) Perfect fit means less skinned knuckles installing things.
3) Only cost a few bucks more, granted if you do a lot of parts it adds up.

One thing you can be sure of though, if you go with toyota parts you won't regret it, with generic parts it could go either way.