Has anyone been able to wire up light bar to latest model ? I keep being told it can't be done due to canbus wiring system in vehicle.
Rav4phil72
Canbus is a data protocol. You just need to tap into 12VDC + gnd that feeds any of your other lighting in the vehicle
Exception would be the front/rear turn signal incandescent bulbs are monitored by the body computer for current draw. This is why aftermarket LED turn signals need to have a power resistor so can 'fool' the BCM into thinking the bulb isn't burned out by pulling enough load so you wouldn't get the annoying hyperflashing indication. Latest gen RAV4 has done away with the convenient flasher relay that used to be able to swapped on older gen RAV4s to eliminate this hyperflash
Exception would be the front/rear turn signal incandescent bulbs are monitored by the body computer for current draw. This is why aftermarket LED turn signals need to have a power resistor so can 'fool' the BCM into thinking the bulb isn't burned out by pulling enough load so you wouldn't get the annoying hyperflashing indication. Latest gen RAV4 has done away with the convenient flasher relay that used to be able to swapped on older gen RAV4s to eliminate this hyperflash
Adding a light bar I would never splice into a circuit controlled by CANBUS to provide anything other than a signal to trigger a relay harness for the light bar. If you don't want to play with CANBUS you can always run just wires "old school" to a switch in the cabin.
I did. Here legally to run a light bar for a driving light, you need it to be able to switch on and off when you engage/disengage the high beam, not separately. It can also be switched off so when your high beam is switched on the light bar doesn't come on but it can't just be switched on separately.
To do this, I used the CANM8 CANNECT unit, followed the provided instructions (ish), picked up my CANHI and CANLO signal for the right hand headlight (green and white twisted pair in my case) from the drivers door sill harness wiring, the CANM8 unit detects when the High beam is turned on and outputs a 1A 12V signal that is run to a relay. You can't use any CANHI and CANLO signals such as the OBD2 port it won't work with this unit. I ran a new positive lead from the battery and a small accessory fuse box under the drivers side dash area where the CANM8 unit receives its power along with the power needed for the relay. Got the light bar, wiring harness and a factory fitting switch from STEDI.
Just FYI my mounting location requires removal of the front bumper and I made a custom bracket that mounts off of pre existing holes in the aluminium cross member that is hidden behind this black foam piece. Without it, the stock number plate mount doesn't have enough strength for the light bar not to wobble around like crazy. Not sure i'll stick with this or possibly run something similar to the LP adventure bracket maybe.
These fit the rav4 perfectly Square Type Push Switches To Suit New Prado Toyota
To do this, I used the CANM8 CANNECT unit, followed the provided instructions (ish), picked up my CANHI and CANLO signal for the right hand headlight (green and white twisted pair in my case) from the drivers door sill harness wiring, the CANM8 unit detects when the High beam is turned on and outputs a 1A 12V signal that is run to a relay. You can't use any CANHI and CANLO signals such as the OBD2 port it won't work with this unit. I ran a new positive lead from the battery and a small accessory fuse box under the drivers side dash area where the CANM8 unit receives its power along with the power needed for the relay. Got the light bar, wiring harness and a factory fitting switch from STEDI.
Just FYI my mounting location requires removal of the front bumper and I made a custom bracket that mounts off of pre existing holes in the aluminium cross member that is hidden behind this black foam piece. Without it, the stock number plate mount doesn't have enough strength for the light bar not to wobble around like crazy. Not sure i'll stick with this or possibly run something similar to the LP adventure bracket maybe.
These fit the rav4 perfectly Square Type Push Switches To Suit New Prado Toyota
Attachments
Since you set your light bar up to trigger with the high beams. I have a question
Does the Auto High Beam Function still work?
I like the auto high beams and want to tie in an couple of ditch lights, and a light bar to turn on and off with the auto high beam setting. My concern is the extra light will confuse the auto setting and basically make the light flash on and off.
This isn't a requirement by law, not that I'm aware of, so if I cant do it that is fine. I'll just set it up to wear it functions outside of the standard lights. I just think it would be nice to have the extra lights to automatically turn off as another vehicle approaches, then turn back on after they pass.
Haven't really had too much of a chance to test that. I don't really use that feature all that much. You are right, they may turn off automatically if you're getting more reflection. I know some guys have had problems in heavy rain switching off their high beams because of the reflection off of the water
If you get a chance to test that feature and can report back that would be amazing. If not that's fine.
I haven't had to drive in heavy rain or think fog yet. I've only owned my Rav4 for about a month.
But I do drive at night every day, and I drive in the back county where it's unusual to not find deer, armadillos, skunks, or other wildlife.
Hence me wanting to set up ditch lights and a light bar.
I haven't had to drive in heavy rain or think fog yet. I've only owned my Rav4 for about a month.
But I do drive at night every day, and I drive in the back county where it's unusual to not find deer, armadillos, skunks, or other wildlife.
Hence me wanting to set up ditch lights and a light bar.
That’s what I mean. Tap into the high beam as your GND/Trigger line to the relay and then connect a fused line for your input/output for the light bar.
I’m planning to connect up the factory rear fog lights that way albeit I might just be lazy and wire up the parking lights as my trigger instead of the front fogs.
I’m planning to connect up the factory rear fog lights that way albeit I might just be lazy and wire up the parking lights as my trigger instead of the front fogs.
Going back on topic, thought these photos can give you options on how others fitted their light bar
do you have a pic of the location of where you made the CANM8 connection? I have conflicting images , one of an instrument cluster plug (that I can’t see) and another off the canm8 app of a massive bundle of cables in the door sill (is it easier?) all the wires look the same or are the pink and white twisted together ?
QUOTE="Daydreamz, post: 2783037, member: 460317"]
I did. Here legally to run a light bar for a driving light, you need it to be able to switch on and off when you engage/disengage the high beam, not separately. It can also be switched off so when your high beam is switched on the light bar doesn't come on but it can't just be switched on separately.
To do this, I used the CANM8 CANNECT unit, followed the provided instructions (ish), picked up my CANHI and CANLO signal for the right hand headlight (green and white twisted pair in my case) from the drivers door sill harness wiring, the CANM8 unit detects when the High beam is turned on and outputs a 1A 12V signal that is run to a relay. You can't use any CANHI and CANLO signals such as the OBD2 port it won't work with this unit. I ran a new positive lead from the battery and a small accessory fuse box under the drivers side dash area where the CANM8 unit receives its power along with the power needed for the relay. Got the light bar, wiring harness and a factory fitting switch from STEDI.
Just FYI my mounting location requires removal of the front bumper and I made a custom bracket that mounts off of pre existing holes in the aluminium cross member that is hidden behind this black foam piece. Without it, the stock number plate mount doesn't have enough strength for the light bar not to wobble around like crazy. Not sure i'll stick with this or possibly run something similar to the LP adventure bracket maybe.
These fit the rav4 perfectly Square Type Push Switches To Suit New Prado Toyota
[/QUOTE]
QUOTE="Daydreamz, post: 2783037, member: 460317"]
I did. Here legally to run a light bar for a driving light, you need it to be able to switch on and off when you engage/disengage the high beam, not separately. It can also be switched off so when your high beam is switched on the light bar doesn't come on but it can't just be switched on separately.
To do this, I used the CANM8 CANNECT unit, followed the provided instructions (ish), picked up my CANHI and CANLO signal for the right hand headlight (green and white twisted pair in my case) from the drivers door sill harness wiring, the CANM8 unit detects when the High beam is turned on and outputs a 1A 12V signal that is run to a relay. You can't use any CANHI and CANLO signals such as the OBD2 port it won't work with this unit. I ran a new positive lead from the battery and a small accessory fuse box under the drivers side dash area where the CANM8 unit receives its power along with the power needed for the relay. Got the light bar, wiring harness and a factory fitting switch from STEDI.
Just FYI my mounting location requires removal of the front bumper and I made a custom bracket that mounts off of pre existing holes in the aluminium cross member that is hidden behind this black foam piece. Without it, the stock number plate mount doesn't have enough strength for the light bar not to wobble around like crazy. Not sure i'll stick with this or possibly run something similar to the LP adventure bracket maybe.
These fit the rav4 perfectly Square Type Push Switches To Suit New Prado Toyota
[/QUOTE]
I hard wired mine to a terminal next to the fuse box in the engine bay. I didn’t have to cut anything, there’s a section of that fuse box that detaches, and I just screwed it together with the existing wires there. I don’t have any pictures of that, but I saw it done in a YouTube video. It’s doable but it’s a tight fit. I wired it to a high amperage switch that’s mounted next to the steering wheel for easy access. You gotta remember to shut them off. I’ve forgotten my lightbar with its backlight turned on overnight and I was still able to start my RAV4, so at least it’s not high power draw with backlights. But these are definitely not street legal anywhere - they will absolutely blind oncoming drivers, so it’s up to you to do the right thing and only use it off-road, or when there are no other cars (or cops).
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
