PIAA 530 Install in a '13 Tacoma

Backroads through the California desert get dark at night! I needed some additional light, but wasn't ready to install a full lightbar. I read a couple people’s descriptions of installing PIAA 510 lights in the factory fog light holes which seemed like a good solution, however, Toyota changed the size of the fog lights in 2012 and the larger 510s won’t fit the newer trucks. After some research, I found that PIAA makes a VSK (vehicle specific kit) to install their PIAA 530 LED lights into the 2012 and later Tacomas. Tacoma VSK for PIAA 530

I purchased the Tacoma VSK with the driving light pattern. The kit was well packaged; the standard PIAA 530 kit with the lights, mounting brackets, and wiring harness came in one box. It was inside a larger box which had replacement brackets and hardware for the Tacoma VSK. The installation instructions that came with the kit were clear, easy to follow, and included detailed pictures of each step.


General installation (not repeating the PIAA directions):
Prep the new lights by replacing the standard mount with the bracket from the Toyota VSK and cutting off the PIAA wiring harness connectors (if you're going to use the OEM wiring harness).


Turn the wheels to the side you’re removing to open up space to work. Unbolt the rubber wheel well liner and tuck it out of the way.


Then unplug the stock fog light. Unscrew the two machine screws holding the lamp housing in place. Pull the lamp housing out from the back. Open up the wire shield and cut the OEM fog light plug off leaving a 4” tail on the wire.

Slide the lamp assembly in from the back and attach with the two outside (short) screws using the old screw holes in the bumper. The inside (long) screws go into new holes in the bumper. There isn’t a lot of plastic to hold the screw, so I measured the center (1cm down/up) and errored to the inside (where there is more plastic to hold) (2mm from the inside edge). It helped to make a pilot hole (I used a safety pin/tack) so the screw had someplace to start.


The plastic didn’t show a tendency to crack, but did “bulge” on the screw that I set too close to the outside edge.


Once the light is mounted in the bumper you’ve got to wire it up. I wanted to use the stock wiring harness/relay/switch, so I connected directly to the wires from the OEM lights. Strip the wires, solder the connection, coat with hot glue, cover with heat shrink, and replace the wire shield. Replace the wheel well liner and you're done!

Since mine are driving lights I did the “Fog Lights Anytime” mod to allow me to use them with both high and low beams. Lights work great and have significantly more output and throw, perfect for lighting up tracks through the desert.

 

ahhhhh thank you, i've been looking at these for quite sometime now, can't wait to see output shots of them.

when you get to test them, would you say they are worth the price (not sure it matters because i'll most likely be buying these anyway)

 

Thanks for posting this up, I just ordered a set of these for myself, but I convinced the parts girl to open the box and swap out the driving pattern with a fog pattern.

I was thinking of adding the OEM style connectors to the PIAAs, does anyone know what style connecter that would be?

 

The only issue I can see is that the male (I think) end of the plug on the OEM lights APPEARED to be integral to the bulb in the fog lights. I didn't see a way to cut it off and have wires to attach to the PIAA lights. You might be able to find another type of weather-proof connector to wire into the lights, but you'd be adding additional wire joints.

Hope this helps, please post your final solution so we can share good ideas.

-J

 

I'd just buy some weatherpack connectors and solder the connectors onto the existing wires and then use the weatherpacks to finish the connection... Water tight, factory look, quick release.

Local Napa/kragen/autozone, etc may be able to match up the existing end of the factory connector even.

I'd finish of the soldering with heatshrink and self vulcanizing tape.

 

Right on, thanks for the tips. A bit too cold to put em on, but hopefully they'll go on within the next couple of weeks. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Looks good. Any night time shots of these?

 

How do these lights compare to a set of duallys?

 

Sorry, I don't know anyone who has a set of Dually's to compare.

 

Hate to resurrect an old post, but would like to hear more about installing these in trucks not wired for fogs.