Answer
Aug 02, 2025 - 05:07 PM
Yeah, the 2005 RAV4 does use a negatively switched headlight system, which can make things a little tricky when adding an aftermarket LED bar.
To wire your LED bar properly with a standard 4-pin relay, here's a general approach that works with negative-switched systems like yours:
- Use the high beam ground wire (negative trigger) as the signal input for the relay; this will be the wire that goes to ground when the high beams are activated.
- Connect that ground signal to pin 85 of the relay (trigger).
- Connect pin 86 of the relay to a constant 12V (via a fused source).
- Pin 30 goes to your battery (with an inline fuse for safety).
- Pin 87 goes to the positive wire of the LED bar.
- Make sure the LED bar’s ground wire is properly grounded to the chassis.
So essentially, when the high beams are activated, the factory negative trigger will complete the relay circuit and power the LED bar via pin 87.
That said, factory wiring colors and configurations can vary depending on trim, market, and equipment — and the safest way to confirm everything is by referencing the OEM wiring diagrams specific to your RAV4. The 2000-2007 Toyota RAV4 Service & Repair Manual Software includes all of the factory wiring diagrams, including high beam circuits, ground routing, relay box layouts, and fuse panel schematics.
If you’re not 100% sure which wire is which, the manual makes it much easier to verify before tapping into anything — and can help avoid tripping codes or accidentally messing with your DRLs or headlight relays in the process.
