what are these parts for ?

So I just removed my skid plate because I am bringing the Runner tomorrow to the stealership for the first free oil change. I tried unscrewing and re torque-ing both oil filter case and plug so i know if they will overtighten it. They unscrewed easily!.
Anyway, what is that metal thing attached to the filter case? I don't see any purpose for it...


I also removed the spare tire the other day to clean and lube everything under there. I saw this black square thing with attached cables.. it looked like a multi cd player LOL... I forgot to take a picture, sorry.. so what might be it?

 

I believe that you are talking about metal cover which is oil filter cap. since inside this housing is just filter and will be full of oil, unscrew this filter cap and drain any oil inside filter using plastic drain tool which will come with new oil filter prior to removing oil filter. So minimum oil will spill out when you remove oil filter. I hope this will make sense. There are several youtube video to explain removal of filter cap for reference.

 

I'm talking about that little metal thing attached on the side of the oil canister that looks like a middle finger.. LOL

 

It is the marker so the metal pointing up should be where metal sticking out is. so you will not over or under tighten the filter housing.

 

That’s the theory that gets thrown around anyway. Maybe its intention is for stupid oil changers to have a visual so they don’t over tighten the housing. But that doesn’t always work with Toyota techs LOL.
Toyota actually has a torque spec for it: 18 ft-lb and for the oil drain plug 9 ft-lb. That’s what I used when I had the plastic housing, and the pointer didn’t always line up perfectly. If you install the metal housing it doesn't have that little pointer clip.