Sweetness. thx. When i purchased my truck i was really glad it didn't have the DRL's... typically i think they are lame (when they are your headlights).. but i really like how Toyota used the flashers.. looks good... and i guess it does make you more visable.

Yosmany graciously dontated his Limited dimmer and Light sensor to me (at his cost ... a substantial savings). I installed everything, after constructing a custom harness, and it works. I now have auto on/off headlights.

Parts required
1) LIMITED DIMMER 84140-35150
2) LIGHT SENSOR 89121-12010
3) Custom 3-wire harness & connector to fit light sensor

Optional parts
A39 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 90980-11107

I had to create a custom harness (3 wires) for the sensor. I found that one of the old style (large) CDROM-Audio connectors fit nicely into the sensor (the connector listed in the parts above is the factory connector but I'm not sure if it includes the pins). I removed the pins from the CDROM connector and soldered on some larger wire and then put the connector back together. Next, I spliced the 3 wires into the harness behind the instrument panel, using t-splice taps (snap on). I wraped the taps with foam (don't want any rattles) and then zip tied my new harness to the existing solar sensor wire.

Once the light sensor dummy plug was removed (tough to reach but doable without removing anything more than the instrument panel) I dropped in the new sensor and hooked it up. Next I removed my factory dimmer switch (2 screws and a wire connector) and installed the Limited dimmer.

At this point I reattached the battery and fired up the truck. It was already dark out and the lights came on immediately when I set the dimmer to Auto. I grabbed a shop light and held it directly over the sensor. In about 15 seconds the headlights went off. I removed the shop light and the headlights came back on after a few more seconds. Everything else works as before. In all an easy mod!

Standard Dimmer (left), Limited Dimmer (right), Light Sensor (bottom by Yosmany@Yotatech)

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Location in dash. The taped (yellow) wire bundle is my make-shift harness for the light sensor. The white connector nearby is where it needs to attach.

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Close up of the wiring. The RED arrows show where the factory (limited) wiring would connect into the 3 empty holes in the back of the connector. The pink and purple wires you see, already connected, are the factory wires to the solar sensor. On the Limited there would be 3 wires instead of 2 (limited has dual solar sensor for the dual zone climate control).

The GREEN arrow shows the wire bundle that I spliced into with the T-Tap snap-on connectors.

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rando, I think mine already has the sensor because I have DRL's. What do I have to order to enable the auto on headlights (anything different than you ordered without DRL)?. Do I only have to get the dimmer switch? Thanks for your detailed information!

Mark86, The DRLs DO NOT need the light sensor. You can tell from the outside, if you have it or not. From outside the truck, look down at the front of the dash, near the driver's side. There is a spot for two sensors there. The first one (the closer of the two to the driver's door) is the solar sensor. The other one is the light sensor, the one we care about. The dummy light sensor has a concave (caved inwards toward dash) top. The real light sensor is convex and looks similar to the solar sensor.

Assuming you have it (and you probably DO NOT), then you only need to upgrade to the Limited dimmer switch. Just remove the steering column trim (3 screws) and then your current dimmer switch (2 more screws and 1 wire connector).

Rando, you are right. I do not have the sensor. I was mistaking it for the solar sensor. I will think about doing this mod because is it really worth the money to turn on your lights at dusk? It is cool to have, but for the money, I can just remember to turn them at dark or just leave them on all of the time! I am impressed that you were able to do it an make it work though!

Yep, it's probably not worth the money (about $200 for the parts), though it's much cheaper to add than buying a Limited. I had the feature on my 02 Exploder and really liked it. Too bad it didn't last but 6 weeks before it fell apart. But that's another story.

So, just to confirm, if I want DRL on my truck all I have to do is go to Partznet and order:

TURN SIGNAL flasher, 4-Runner, w/DRL 2003 $40.58 $31.65
Electrical - Chassis electrical - flashers - Turn signal flasher

Has anyone actually ordered this part from Partznet and done this?

You can install something like this yourself in a few hours, and they are bright, but if you aim them really low, they will not bother anyone: hell they can function as fogs as well as driving lights, and you can leave them on all the time without worry about draing the battery as long as you tap into the power button into a cigarette lighter or something.

This is what I have: not for that purpose but it's what I would do if I were in your shoes.

1100X Platinum

Easier? Nah, cooler perhaps, but swapping a flasher module is about the limit of what I am willing to do. Not interested in bolting on lights and adding wiring.

Good discussion here, with alot of different takes.

I can think of 3 reasons that people have DRLs: 1.They were already on the truck, 2. they just want anything that is an option, and/or 3. for the safety intended.

While playing around with my light switch - I don't have DRLs -
I stumbled on the fact that if you LEAVE the headlight switch in the parking light position, it goes out when you open your door - no 30 sec. delay. This 'new DLR' [parking lamp] is higher on the front of the truck [increasing #3 above] goes on & off automatically, plus offers you the ability to turn them off, unlike factory DRLs.

This will also serve '03 owners well, in that it also accomplishes what Toyota did for '04s - fulltime instrument illumination, due to
readout issues. I like it - I haven't touched the switch in sometime, except of course, to activate the headlights. This also increases safety from the rear, as the taillamps are on.

I would like DRLs for safety, the problem with using parking lights or headlights for this is that when you turn these on, the illumination on the HVAC controls is dimmed such that I then can't see the HVAC controls in daylight.

You got me thinking there, so I just went out to the garage. When I turn on the parking lamps, motor running, the lighting in the lettering on the 3 big dials activates, not dims, as you said. On my truck, going down the road with the parking lamps off, the dial s are not illuminated, like the speedo, etc. The readout panel, where fan speed & temp is displayed is unaffected
with the parking lamps on.

I though, before actually trying it just now, that I had seen an actual improvement in daytime visiblity of A/C controls when running parking lamps. That is the case, at least on my truck.