Upgrade The Weak Factory Lights & Improve Your Truck’s Appearance
While $5000 suspension kits and head-to-toe body armor can seem like the best ways to improve our rigs, sometimes it’s the little details that make the difference. The internet likes to bash cosmetic upgrades for their lack of function, but let’s be honest, we all want our trucks to stand out.
Enter YotaVerse, founded in 2016, was established to provide Toyota owners with top-quality products at great prices. I installed their LED sequential turn signals on my 3G and it has quickly become one of my favorite mods. The installation only took about 15 minutes, and everything was plug-and-play. With that, let’s get into it.
How Do They Work?
Sequential lights have become very popular in the automotive industry, and for good reason. Whereas stock lights only blink on and off for turn signals or hazard lights, sequential lights “move” in a pattern that’s eye-catching for both aesthetics and safety. It also adds a modern touch to your truck exterior.
Being LEDs, they are WAY brighter than the OEM turn signals that are halogen bulbs. This not only looks a whole lot better but also makes you visible to surrounding traffic. YotaVerse includes a one-year warranty.
Installation
As I mentioned before, this installation is super straightforward and can easily be completed in 15 minutes. Even if you have no experience installing parts on your rig, you’ll have no issue doing this one.
Tools & Materials
Step 1. Remove Mirror Covers
To access the mounting point for the turn signals, pull off the plastic cover on the side mirror. To do this, pry up the top of the mirror and then slowly work your way around until it fully pulls off. This took a little more effort than I anticipated and I felt like I was going to break the clips, but just keep at it and it’ll pop out.
Step 2. Remove OEM Signal
With the interior of the mirror exposed, you can see two small silver screws. Use a Philips head screwdriver to remove these.
This should leave the housing loose and free to move. Before getting to that though, there are two small wires wrapped around a hook above the two screws, so make sure to unhook those. Finally, there’s a small clip on the backside of that plastic piece – pinch that and push it forward to loosen the assembly.
To remove the OEM signal, there will be a small grey plug on the back. Press on the small clip and unplug to separate the assembly.
Step 3. Mount New Signals
With the OEM lights are removed, plug the YotaVerse one in. Be sure to remove the protective plastic film first.
Then, place the signal where the old light was and follow the previous steps in reverse – pressing the interior clip back into place, wrapping the two wires around the small hook, and re-installing the two screws.
Be sure not to over-tighten these because the plastic can crack.
Step 4. Reinstall Mirror Covers
Before reinstalling the mirror cap, I suggest turning on your hazards and testing that the lights work. If it doesn’t, check the wire connections.
It may take a little bit of finesse but once you find the right placement, the cover should pop into place. Make sure to press all around to make sure all of the clips are engaged.
Output Comparison
OEM seen above.
YotaVerse seen above.
This upgrade has a blacked-out look that’s sleek and updates the old-school chrome appearance you get from the factory. These are also available in a “smoked” version.
Final Thoughts
It’s almost astonishing how much brighter these lights are and how good they look. Any chance I have to change out the chrome on my truck, I take it. Compared to OEM, these lights are unbeatable in terms of brightness and visibility. After installing these, I wondered if other drivers could even see my mirror signals on the road before…
In terms of aesthetics, the YotaVerse sequential signals are miles nicer than the OEM lights. This subtle change to my truck was well worth it, especially considering how effortless the installation process was. If you’re looking for a way to spruce up your build or are just getting started with something small, these little lights add a lot of character to your truck.
