Should I Use Aftermarket Lighting Accessories On My Toyota?
There is a wide variety of aftermarket lighting accessories available for Toyota vehicles. However, as we'll show you in this post, it's important to be careful when adding these accessories if it's not a Toyota lighting kit.
Recently, The Car Care Nut tackled a major issue one Toyota owner faced when opting for aftermarket lighting accessories. Specifically, he shows how this owner fried their fuse junction block after installing aftermarket lighting.
Let's take a closer look and learn how to avoid suffering similar consequences when adding lighting equipment to your Toyota vehicle.
Common Issues With Aftermarket Lighting Accessories
One of the key takeaways from the video is that aftermarket lighting accessories often lead to electrical problems, including one or more of the following issues:
- Blown fuses and relays due to poor-quality wiring
- Fried electrical components, such as the fuse junction block
- Faulty connections that compromise the vehicle’s electrical system
- Voltage spikes that can harm sensitive electronics in the car
The owner in this video installed an aftermarket lighting system that overloaded the vehicle's electrical system, eventually causing significant damage to the fuse junction block. That led to a $750 repair bill and time-consuming repairs, which could have been avoided.
What Causes Aftermarket Lighting Problems?
"I always tell my viewers to avoid aftermarket parts whenever you can - not all of them are good...and be VERY careful with aftermarket accessories!"
- The Car Care Nut
The Car Care Nut highlights a few reasons why aftermarket lighting accessories tend to cause these issues:
- Non-standard wiring: Aftermarket parts often come with wiring that isn’t designed to fit Toyota’s electrical system, leading to compatibility problems.
- Poor quality materials: Many aftermarket parts use cheaper materials, which wear out quickly and fail to handle the electrical demands of the vehicle.
- No built-in safeguards: Unlike OEM parts, aftermarket accessories may lack safety features, such as fuses or overload protection, which can lead to damage when things go wrong.
The Care Care Nut also explains that OEM Toyota parts are rigorously tested to work seamlessly with the vehicle's systems. Toyota's engineers ensure that each part is made from high-quality materials and equipped with all the necessary safety features.
Diagnosing Aftermarket Lighting Problems
If you’ve already installed aftermarket lighting and suspect an issue, there are a few things you can do to diagnose the problem:
- Check for blown fuses: Inspect the fuse box to see if any fuses related to the lighting system are blown.
- Look for wiring damage: Check the wiring around the lights and fuse box for signs of melting or burning.
- Test electrical components: If you notice your lights flickering or going out, it could be a sign that the aftermarket parts are overloading the system.
Why OEM Toyota Lighting Is The Better Option
Throughout the video, The Car Care Nut consistently emphasizes the importance of using OEM Toyota parts when replacing or upgrading lighting systems. That is because OEM Toyota parts are designed to fit perfectly with your vehicle’s wiring and electrical components, eliminating the risk of damage. OEM parts come with warranties and are backed by Toyota’s rigorous testing standards.
Olathe Toyota Parts Center Has Lighting Accessories For Your Vehicle
If you're looking to upgrade or replace the lights on your Toyota vehicle, check out the Olathe Toyota Parts Center. In addition to great deals on lights and lighting accessories, we also have helpful guides like this Toyota Headlight Buyer’s Guide.
We also have a number of free resources that can help you diagnose common Toyota trouble codes and a Toyota VIN decoder to provide info about your vehicle. Got questions? Contact us, and our friendly staff will be glad to help!