Underglow lives in the toughest spot on your vehicle: right where the salt, slush, gravel and car wash brushes are. Quality strips are built for it (ours are IP68 waterproof), but a few minutes of care makes a big difference to how long they look their best.
Monthly 5-minute check
- Look along each strip for cracks, cuts or sections that have come loose.
- Check the mounts. Press each section and replace any clip or zip tie that's broken.
- Check the wiring for rubbing points, especially near suspension and steering parts.
- Check the connectors are fully seated and dry.
- Run a test scene in the app and look for dim or dead sections.
Cleaning without damage
- Switch the lights off with the toggle switch.
- Rinse loose dirt and salt away with low-pressure water.
- Wash with a mild car shampoo and a soft brush or mitt.
- Rinse again and let everything dry.
Avoid: pressure-washer nozzles right on the strips or connectors, strong degreasers or solvents on the silicone, and scrubbing the strips hard. They're waterproof, not indestructible.
Before winter
- Give the underside a proper wash and let it dry, then check every mount before the cold makes adhesive harder to work with.
- Add a dab of dielectric grease to connectors to help keep moisture and salt out.
- Re-secure anything loose with zip ties. Snow and ice build-up can pull on a loose strip.
- Test every mode once, so you're not finding faults in January.
During winter
- Rinse the underside regularly when the roads are salty. A touchless car wash with an underbody spray is ideal.
- Knock off ice build-up gently; don't chip at it near the strips.
- Let the car warm up before running bright effects in extreme cold.
Spring and summer
- Do a full salt-off wash and inspect for corrosion at connectors.
- Replace any strip or clip that winter damaged.
- After gravel roads or a trip off-road, check for impact damage.
Quick troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing lights up | Switch off, blown fuse, loose power lead | Check the toggle switch, the inline fuse and the battery connection |
| One strip dead | Loose or wet connector, damaged strip | Reseat and dry the connector; swap the strip if it's damaged |
| Flickering | Loose connection or low battery voltage | Reseat connectors, check the battery terminals |
| Wrong colours | Connector not fully seated | Unplug, check the pins and reconnect firmly |
| App won't connect | Bluetooth or app glitch | Toggle Bluetooth, restart the app, power-cycle the kit with the switch |
Replacement parts and warranty
Damage happens: a curb, a pothole, a bad car wash. You don't need a whole new kit. Single replacement strips start at $19, and controllers, remotes and cables are available as replacement parts. Every kit includes a 1-year warranty, and Underglow Care+ adds extra protection. If something isn't right, contact us with a photo or video and we'll help sort it out.
Installing for the first time? Read 8 things to check before you install, since a good install is half of good maintenance.
