11 Electrical Aftermarket Car Parts That Change Your Vehicle

Produced by third-party manufacturers but not as spare parts, aftermarket components are here to stay and that's mainly because of how much they cost. When compared to what an OEM part costs to get and then replace it, you're far better off with an aftermarket one.

Aftermarket parts are also more widely available and offer more options to choose from in terms of colour, shape and even the capabilities of said part or accessory. Sometimes aftermarket accessories are more capable than OEM accessories without costing as much or the same. This is especially the case when it comes to auto electrical parts which are slowly becoming one of the most popular aftermarket categories.

One of the most important parts when it comes to visibility and the looks of your car, headlights have become probably one of the most complex exterior components. These fundamental car electric parts are found mainly as three different solutions nowadays and those are LED, HID and Halogen. LEDs are the most efficient and long-lasting while HID lights are the most powerful in terms of brightness. Halogen lights are a good middle-ground option.

What has taken the interiors of most vehicles like a storm in recent years are digital instrument clusters. Unlike analog ones, digital clusters are more customisable and can display a wider range of information than just the speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temperature gauge. Installing such vehicle electrical parts may not be as easy as it seems but if you bring your car to a professional you'll have a futuristic dashboard even on an old vehicle.

With a throttle controller, you can introduce a snappier acceleration than what you get as stock. No matter if you have a small city commuter or a performance vehicle, with this palm-sized device you alter the way the throttle position sensor communicates with the ECU so that it opens up the throttle body as much as it's needed at the right time. You don't get to experience lag or any stutter as long as everything else is working properly.

A circuit breaker may not be something you interact with but it serves a fundamental purpose in every vehicle. Found in every electrical circuit, a breaker is a small device that helps save it from overvoltage as it breaks the connection when this surge takes place. This way any major components are not affected by it which means the replacement of a circuit breaker is a much more affordable outcome.

An oxygen sensor sits on the exhaust after the manifold and before the catalytic converter. Its main reason is to send data about the level of oxygen in engine fumes so that the ECU is able to calculate how much fuel the injectors need to use in order to keep that level the same or change it depending on the map that's on the ECU.

The throttle position sensor is an important part of auto electrical parts when it comes to improving both performance and efficiency. It sits close to the throttle body and it detects the correct position in which the plate is at any given time. This gives much-needed info on how much air is going to enter each cylinder and thus how much fuel is needed. The plate opens up depending on how much you push down on the throttle pedal.

Not all car electric parts are made to improve acceleration and efficiency, some are made to let you have more fun. Speakers are one of them and they can help make your long trips more enjoyable but also quick trips to the grocery store. But not all speakers sound the same. You should look for ones that can produce a sound that involves lows, mids and highs as equally as bass. Therefore coaxial speakers are the best solution here.

Another set of lights you'll want to consider is driving lights, especially if you go off-roading regularly. These types of lights are used to aid headlights in the darkest of hours and on the most challenging terrain. Driving lights are mounted either on the bumper or bonnet and can illuminate both the road ahead and objects far away. That is if you go for ones that have a combination beam pattern.

A light bar is also mainly used for off-roading adventures and it's installed instead of driving lights. This is quite literally a bar of light that can be mounted not only on the bumper or the bonnet but also on the roof of your rig. Light bars are even more versatile than driving lights since these vehicle electric parts offer a wider beam angle but unfortunately aren't able to illuminate as far as driving lights can.

If you need a horn that can be heard even in the noisiest of places, an air horn is the solution you're looking for. As its name suggests, it uses air in order to produce a loud sound that can inform anyone of your presence.

No matter if you're exploring the wild or just going for some backroad fun on a Sunday morning, a dash cam can help you save some of those moments. Dash cams are also used in case of an accident as they automatically start capturing once enough G-forces are registered.