Sonar Toyota Matrix Altezza Tail Lights (aka Spyder Toyota Matrix Altezza Tail Lights) are a slick upgrade that can replace old or worn out stock taillights on your prized Matrix. Sonar Alezza style Black tail lamps redesign your stock tails into a more aggressive and striking design. Best of all, unlike LED tail lamps, these Sonar Toyota Matrix Black Altezza Taillamps require no extra resistors or electrical equipment. You use your stock harnesses and bulbs for a simple fit that also prevents the electrical problems that LED tails can sometimes create. Also, Sonar Altezza Tail Lights are by far the most economical choice available of the different types of tail lens for your Toyota Matrix.
Sonar (aka Spyder) has long been the most popular brand of aftermarket custom lighting for your Toyota Matrix, and for good reason due to their large selection, striking designs, and affordability. Sonar has long been an innovator in new and unique taillight designs, despite their relatively smaller size compared to other lighting companies. All Sonar altezza taillights are designed for function and durability, and add that custom look and feel for your Toyota Matrix.
These Sonar Black Toyota Matrix Altezza Tail Lens (aka Spyder Black Toyota Matrix Altezza Tail Lens), like all the other projector headlights, tail lights, and fog lights on our site, come complete with both sides, and should be street legal in most communities.
Tools generally needed to install Toyota Matrix Tail Lights
- Socket wrench set or Phillips screw driver
- Painters tape to prevent scratches to your Toyota Matrix
- (Rare) Torque wrenches, etc.
Toyota Matrix Tail Light installation procedure
- Inspect the new set of Toyota Matrix tail lights to make sure you can complete the installation with the tools you have available.
- Disconnect your Toyota Matrix battery's negative battery terminal. If your stereo requires a key in order to reboot, please be sure you have it before disconnecting the battery. Also, be aware that you will probably have to reset your clocks, etc. after reconnecting the battery later. Please note that some vehicles (such as newer GMs) have extremely sensitive electrical systems. In these cases failure to disconnect the battery before attempting installation may lead to blown taillamp fuses or other damage.
- Apply painters tape on your Toyota Matrix around the edges of your Matrix's taillights to prevent any scratches that might occur while removing and installing taillamps. If uninstalling your Toyota Matrix rear bumper is required, make sure you have a safe surface to place the Matrix bumper on and that the working surface below the vehicle is also safe in the event the bumper falls down. This step is particularly important because tail lens, unlike headlights, often require a little force to come loose, leaving many people to inadvertently scratch their Toyota Matrix in the process.
- Without touching the glass, uninstall the stock brake, signal and reverse bulbs (as applicable). For bulbs with flat rectangle harnesses, you just pull the bulb firmly outward. For bulbs with round bases, you usually just push them in a bit, and then turn a quarter turn to release them. Once the bulb is removed, place them in their original container (if available). If they are cold, you could also store them in a ziplock type of bag. Please note that if your Toyota Matrix tail lamps have a harness that can be separated via a main harness that leaves part of the harness with the bulbs inside the Matrix tail lights, you will still need both parts of the harness since the aftermarket Toyota Matrix tail lights are designed to either re-use the stock bulbs (altezzas) or to connect directly into the bulb harnesses (LED taillights).
- Unscrew the Toyota Matrix taillamps from the front or use a socket wrench to undo the Matrix tail lamps from the back. Be aware that the old Toyota Matrix tail lights might fall immediately once the tension of the bolts is removed. For this reason, it is best to lightly hold the lights in place with your free hand as you unbolt or unscrew them.
- Remove the old Toyota Matrix taillens and store in a way that the lens will not be scratched. Install the new Toyota Matrix tail lens and bolt / screw in place.
- Toyota Matrix Altezza Tail Lights: Reinstall the old bulbs into the new Matrix taillights. Be aware some Matrix tail lights might make use of a conversion harness that connects into one of your stock harnesses and splits the function into two separate bulbs. In these cases, the new bulbs should be included.
- Reconnect your Toyota Matrix battery and turn on your Toyota Matrix taillamps and check for proper operation and blinking speed. If any functions are not operational, try flipping the plugs the reverse orientation and double checking that the resistor boxes are fully connected.
- Reconnect all connections and tighten all bolts in place.
Are these Toyota Matrix tail lights sold by piece or as a pair?
All our Toyota taillights are sold in the full pair. When you pay the listed price, you receive the complete set including both the right and the left sides.
Are these Toyota Matrix tail lights street legal?
As far as we know the Sonar (aka Spyder) and KS (Anzo) brand tail lights on our website are all street legal as mandated by federal law in the United States. This basically means that they are designed to the specifications set forth by the DOT (United States Department of Transportation). Occasionally, DOT might test models for compliance. If any Toyota Matrix taillights fail (rare) DOT will have the companies issue a recall. For those tail lens, you can return them to us for a refund. For any other brands besides Sonar (aka Spyder) and KS (aka Anzo), we can not guarantee DOT compliance. Also, please be advised that your local laws that may disallow these sorts of taillights to be used.
How can I prevent my Toyota Matrix tail lights from fogging up?
During the first few days of operation, it is normal to see some moisture appear in your Toyota Matrix tail lens. This is due to the small amounts of moisture in the plastic and coating that are evaporated when the tail lens are first warmed up during use. This sort of moisture is normal and should disappear within a few days.
To be sure that no external moisture gets into the new Toyota Matrix tail lens though, it is a prudent idea to silicone seal the edges. Clear silicone sealant can be found in any hardware store (and some auto part stores), and can be applied to the seam along the Matrix taillights where the clear lens meets the rear housing. Also, even if a bulb has died, make sure to keep it installed in the Matrix tail lamp until you replace it to prevent moisture from entering through the bulb hole.
Can I smoke my Toyota Matrix tail lights?
While smoking your Toyota Matrix taillights (tinting them) is certainly possible through the use of carefully applied spray tint (use light even coats), doing so may make them too dark to be legal. Please check your local laws as well as smoked Toyota Matrix taillights of any darkness might be illegal in your area.
