# Looking for substitutions for this part

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-substitutions-for-this-part/83275>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [January 21, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-substitutions-for-this-part/83275 "2014-01-21T20:47:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 8:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-substitutions-for-this-part/83275/21 "2014-01-22T08:37:50Z")

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Junior, the answer is “yup”. Once I have a nomenclature I use a search engine to look for the correct part from an aftermarket supplier. It’s usually available far cheaper than the dealer’s price.

This rarely fails me, although it did last year. I had the schematic and wiring diagram to create a harness to connect driving lights to the OEM harness, and I even researched the connector part number. But, alas, it was a proprietary part and Toyota would not sell just the connector, I had to buy the whole harness at some absurd price.

I even tried looking in connector manufacturer’s databases, but was unable to find the generic part… if there even is one.

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**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-substitutions-for-this-part/83275/22 "2014-01-22T23:48:06Z")

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Looks like you either dig deep and buy the Porsche part (maybe there’s an online Porsche club you can join and get a discount from a sponsor dealer?) or you cobble up something using a piece of old tire tube or shoe sole or sidewall rubber from a used up tire. Your choice. Finding something similar, like from a small appliance parts depot, is a very long shot and the time and effort you will spend isn’t worth it to most of us.

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**Author:** ![JuniorMint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5fc32e/32.png) [@JuniorMint](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JuniorMint)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-substitutions-for-this-part/83275/23 "2014-01-23T07:17:00Z")

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@Bing @Mustangman and whomever made the excellent suggestion to check McMaster-Carr - they have _precisely_ what I have been looking for, and importantly, easy to navigate. I had never heard of them, or at least never looked into it or remembered. Thanks also to the creative tinkerers’ for their ideas, also appreciated!

It does seem I will get the genuine parts, but I’ll hope to get a sample of block rubber for later. Also the idea to freeze it and use soap when cutting was excellent @Mustangman

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