For every car owner in Kenya, the “Check Engine” light or a sudden grinding noise from the suspension brings a familiar sense of dread. Finding the right spare part in Nairobi can often feel like a gamble—balancing between overpriced showroom parts and questionable “second-hand” items from backstreet dealers.
Your brakes are the most critical safety feature of your vehicle. In a market as large as Nairobi’s, especially along busy hubs like Kirinyaga Road, the influx of counterfeit spare parts has reached an all-time high. Using “fake” brake pads doesn’t just cost you money in the long run—it puts your life at risk.
At Taleon Autospares Kenya, we believe an informed driver is a safe driver. Here is our expert guide on how to distinguish genuine brake pads from dangerous counterfeits.
If the deal feels too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Authentic brands like Akebono, Bosch, and Asimco invest heavily in research, high-grade materials, and safety testing.
Counterfeiters often focus on the part and get lazy with the box. Look for these subtle errors:
Once you open the box, the part itself tells a story. Genuine brake pads have a high-quality finish that fakes cannot replicate:
Modern manufacturers are fighting back with digital tools.
It sounds strange, but your senses can help:
The easiest way to avoid counterfeits is to buy from a supplier with a reputation to protect. At Taleon Autospares Kenya, we only source from verified manufacturers and authorized distributors. Every part we sell is a promise of safety.
In the Kenyan automotive market, the Toyota Premio and Toyota Fielder aren’t just cars; they are financial assets. Known for their incredible resale value and “unbreakable” reputation, these two models dominate our roads from Nairobi to Namanga.
However, as we move into 2025, the market is shifting. With the recent announcement that Toyota Japan will discontinue the Fielder and Axio series by late 2025, owning one today requires a smarter approach to maintenance and parts sourcing. At Taleon Autospares Kenya, we’ve helped thousands of owners keep these workhorses on the road. Here is everything you need to know about buying and maintaining them this year.
The Premio and Fielder share the same DNA—the legendary 1NZ-FE (1500cc) or 2ZR-FAE (1800cc) engines.
Taleon Tip: With production ending in Japan this year, “Ex-Japan” parts for these models will become even more valuable. Stocking up on genuine sensors and body panels now is a wise move for long-term owners.
Even the most reliable cars have “weak spots.” Based on the parts we sell most frequently at our Kirinyaga Road shop, here is what typically goes wrong:
Most post-2010 models use a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). In Kenya, these often fail because owners use the wrong fluid or skip service.
Some older models tend to “eat” oil. This is often due to worn piston rings or a clogged PCV valve.
Kenyan potholes are the natural enemy of the Fielder’s stabilizer links and bushings.
Keeping your Toyota running shouldn’t break the bank. Here are current market rates for common Ex-Japan and New parts:
| Part Description | Condition | Estimated Price (Ksh) |
| 1NZ Engine (Complete) | Ex-Japan | 130,000 – 150,000 |
| CVT Gearbox (New Model) | Ex-Japan | 105,000 – 120,000 |
| Nose Cut (Fielder 2014+) | Ex-Japan | 85,000 – 110,000 |
| Ignition Coils (Set of 4) | New/Genuine | 12,000 – 16,000 |
| Brake Pads (Front) | New (Asimco/Akebono) | 2,500 – 4,500 |
| Side Mirror Assembly | Ex-Japan | 8,500 – 12,000 |
Buying a locally used Premio or Fielder? Don’t pay until you check these three things:
Located in the heart of Nairobi’s auto-hub on Kirinyaga Road, Taleon Autospares is more than just a shop.
Don’t settle for “fake” spares that will leave you stranded on the highway. Trust the experts who know the Fielder and Premio inside out.
For the average Kenyan motorist, the debate between “Japanese Reliability” and “European Luxury” is more than just a matter of taste—it is a matter of long-term financial planning. Whether you are navigating the bumper-to-bumper traffic of Mombasa Road or cruising the highlands of Limuru, the parts you put into your vehicle determine its lifespan.
If you drive in Kenya, your car’s suspension system is likely the hardest-working part of your vehicle. While we often focus on the engine, it is the suspension that determines whether your car survives a trip to the village or a daily commute through Nairobi’s construction zones.
Owning a car in Kenya is an empowering experience, but it comes with unique challenges. From the sweltering heat of Mombasa and the dust of the Rift Valley to the stop-and-go congestion of Nairobi’s Uhuru Highway, our driving environment is demanding.
At Taleon Autospares, we see hundreds of drivers every month facing expensive repairs that could have been avoided with five minutes of simple maintenance. Your vehicle relies on various fluids to lubricate, cool, and power its systems. When these fluids run low or become contaminated, your car’s lifespan drops significantly.
Here is the definitive guide to the five essential fluids you must check weekly to keep your car running smoothly on Kenyan roads.
If your engine is the heart of your car, the oil is its blood. Engine oil lubricates the moving parts, reduces friction, and helps dissipate heat.
Kenya’s dusty environment means that air filters can only do so much. Microscopic dust particles eventually find their way into the engine, where the oil must “trap” them. Furthermore, idling in Nairobi traffic for hours causes engine temperatures to spike, thinning out poor-quality oil and leading to engine wear.
Taleon Tip: Never “top up” with a different grade of oil than what is already in your engine. If you aren’t sure which oil your Toyota or Nissan requires, visit us for a professional recommendation.
The Kenyan sun is unforgiving. Without a functional cooling system, your engine can reach temperatures high enough to melt gaskets or warp the engine block within minutes.
Many Kenyan drivers make the mistake of using plain tap water. Tap water contains minerals that cause “scaling” (buildup) inside your radiator and leads to rust. Genuine Coolant contains rust inhibitors and has a higher boiling point than water.
When you hit the brakes to avoid a sudden matatu maneuver or a deep pothole, you are relying on hydraulic pressure. Brake fluid is what creates that pressure.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air. In humid areas like the Coast or during the Kenyan rainy season, moisture enters the system, lowering the boiling point of the fluid. This results in “spongy” brakes or, in worst-case scenarios, total brake failure.
Does your steering wheel feel heavy? Do you hear a whining or “groaning” noise when you make a sharp turn into a parking spot? That is your power steering pump crying for help.
In Kenya, we do a lot of active steering to navigate uneven roads. This puts constant pressure on the power steering system. Low fluid can cause the pump to burn out, leading to a repair bill that costs tens of thousands of shillings.
This is the most overlooked fluid, yet it is vital for visibility. Between the dust of the dry season and the mud splashes from trucks during the rains, a dirty windshield is a major safety hazard.
Don’t just use dishwashing liquid and water. Household soaps can contain chemicals that damage your car’s paint and clog the tiny spray nozzles. Use a dedicated windshield washer concentrate that can cut through road grime and oily residue.
| Fluid | Ideal Color | Main Risk of Neglect |
| Engine Oil | Amber / Honey | Engine Seizure (Total Failure) |
| Coolant | Pink / Green / Blue | Overheating & Cracked Block |
| Brake Fluid | Clear / Light Gold | Brake Failure |
| Power Steering | Reddish / Clear | Heavy Steering & Pump Damage |
| Washer Fluid | Blue / Green | Poor Visibility & Accidents |
By the time the dashboard light comes on, the damage is often already done. Spending 10 minutes every Sunday morning checking these five fluids can save you hundreds of thousands of shillings in the long run.
At Taleon Autospares, we stock only the highest quality, genuine fluids and spare parts to ensure your vehicle survives the unique challenges of Kenyan driving. Whether you need a specific grade of synthetic oil or high-performance brake fluid, we’ve got you covered.
Drive safe, keep it topped up, and keep your car healthy!
In Kenya, “Ex-Japan” is a gold standard for used spare parts. Taleon Autospares specializes in high-quality, tested parts sourced directly from Japan. Whether you are looking for a replacement engine, a “nose cut,” or a gearbox, their parts are known for having lower mileage and better maintenance history compared to local “second-hand” alternatives.
