05/29/2026
God is good.
Our 2010 Toyota Sequoia has 240,000 miles on it now. We bought it at 115,000 miles. The two main things we have done to it are the fuel pump, a week after we bought it, and a water pump shortly after that. The Toyota dealership said, back then, we will now be good for another 100,000 miles. Well, its now been 125,000 miles since then. Looks like they were right.
This morning the Sequoia wouldnt start when we were trying to leave a donut shop in Republic. I tried starting it about 12 times over a period of about 15-20 minutes. It would run 2 seconds and shut off. I told Laurie that I'm betting it's the fuel pump again.
Laurie checked on a tow truck, while I contacted Toyota and another auto repair shop for prices on a fuel pump. I knew it would be close to $1600-2000 because its located in the gas tank.
So, after 15-20 minutes, I just prayed out loud with no warning to Laurie, asking God "Would you please let me get this home?" I turned the key and the vehicle immediately started. I wish I had a photo of Laurie's face. All the way home her mouth was open, she kept looking around, and her face looked like it was in shock. She said "I dont know what to say I'm so surprised."
She kept worrying it would shut down on the way home. She kept asking what will we do if it shuts down while we are driving it. I told her "Well, I didnt ask God for it to just start. I asked Him to let us get home." And we did do that. We made it home.
But we are going to probably need a fuel pump after we get a engine diagnostic done to be sure thats the problem. Toyota wants $2056 to replace the fuel pump. We will see what other places want.
God is good. Thank you for letting us at least get home with it.
THE REST OF THE STORY SO FAR:
I took it to Yocum Automotive in Republic, mainly because Toyota was farther away, and I could walk to Yocum. Also, they were basically the same price as Toyota. They kept it several days, ran diagnostics on it, tried numerous things and it never failed to start. They only charged me about $120 diagnostic fee.
I had told the wonderful gal that works the counter (sorry forgot her name) the story about me praying for the car to start. So, after they tried everything they could to find a problem she said "Maybe you're prayers fixed it."