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Old 12-11-2011, 07:21 AM #1
Asmara Asmara is offline
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OEM Automatic Headlight Install

I wanted (actually the wife casually mentioned that it would be nice one day - project authorized!) automatic headlights like on the limited and did some searching in the forums. I found this thread about DRLs that also included a couple of posts (here and here) where Rando described installing automatic headlights. Rando really paved the way but here is my version; all in one place for easy reference.

I think if you have a local pick and pull, you can get some of the parts much more cheaply used, especially the light sensor which was used in tons of Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

PARTS
Limited Headlight Dimmer OEM: 84140-35150 $109
a. Aftermarket – Standard Motor CBS1240
b. Airtex/Wells - 1S3999
(note: There are lots of similar ones for Limiteds on eBay but they don’t have the automatic headlight switch. Check the aftermarket part numbers. RockAuto had the cheapest ones.)
Light Sensor OEM: 89121-12010 $133 (got mine for $99 used on ebay)
Wire Harness
If you have standard climate control you need: OEM 82142-35020 $10
If you have dual climate control you need: OEM 82142-35030 $10 (thanks ThreeFiveO)
Note: As you’ll see in the install, I got the wrong three-wire dual climate control harness which required some minor modification for my ’04. No splicing required if you buy the correct wiring harness for you vehicle.
red butt connectors (X2) (but only if you get the wrong part )
TOOLS
Phillips screwdriver or 10mm socket
Butt connector Crimper
Wire Stripper

TIME
No more than two hours
Once you complete this mod, the tremendous burden of determining if it is dark enough and then removing your arm from the steering wheel to turn that little switch will be removed from your life. You do have to double check the switch if you ever valet park your car or you might end up like this poor woman.

When in auto, the green headlight indicator is only illuminated when the headlights are turned on by the system. There's a two or three second delay before the sensor turns on the headlights when the sensor goes from daylight to dark presumable to keep the headlights from flashing every time you're in a shadow.

STEP BY STEP
  • Assemble the parts.
  • Remove the plastic covering the instrument cluster. It just pulls off. Helps a bit if you pull out the top of the lower cover but you don’t have to unscrew the bottom screws.
  • Remove the speedo cluster. 3 screws plus the 2 screws that hold the wiring connectors to the back of the cluster.
(cont.)
Attached Images
OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-parts-jpg  OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-cluster-jpg  OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-instrument-screws-jpg  OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-connector-jpg 
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Installed Mods: Spoiler, HIR bulbs, Kenwood DNX6960 Nav, Back Window Up with Remote Mod, Rear Camera, LED Tails, Key Reminder Disable, OEM Automatic Headlights, Rear USB Ports, Seat Heaters, Aftermarket Third Row, Heated Side View Mirror
Locations: VA

Last edited by Asmara; 10-29-2012 at 08:00 AM. Reason: Added part numbers from post #11 that are plug and play.
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Old 12-11-2011, 07:28 AM #2
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Install Continued

STEP BY STEP (cont).
  • Remove the original wiring harness. I had to bend the metal clip in the harness a bit to get it to slide off the mount.
  • Modify the harness removing the three pin solar sensor connector and splicing in your two pin connector. (I tried removing the individual pins for a while but I just couldn’t hit the release.)
  • Remove the blank, install the light sensor (it's tight but my big hands managed it without a problem) and connect up the new harness.
  • Reassemble everything.
Attached Images
OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-connector-jpg  OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-clip-jpg  OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-new-connector-jpg  OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-new-harness-jpg  OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-harness-installed-jpg 
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2004 4Runner SR5 SR5 - V6, 4X4, Moonroof , JBL, Leather, Stratosphere Mica
Installed Mods: Spoiler, HIR bulbs, Kenwood DNX6960 Nav, Back Window Up with Remote Mod, Rear Camera, LED Tails, Key Reminder Disable, OEM Automatic Headlights, Rear USB Ports, Seat Heaters, Aftermarket Third Row, Heated Side View Mirror
Locations: VA
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Old 12-11-2011, 07:32 AM #3
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STEP BY STEP (Cont.)
  • [this last bit takes about 10 minutes total. Wow is it easy]
  • Take off the plastic surrounding the steering wheel column. There are three screws. One on the bottom and two others behind the steering wheel that you can only see if you rotate the steering wheel 90 degrees each way.
  • Unscrew the Headlight dimmer (headlight stalk) and swap in the new one.
  • Reassemble and you now have automatic headlights.
Attached Images
OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-cover-screw-jpg  OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-stalk-screws-jpg  OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sm-installed-jpg 
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2004 4Runner SR5 SR5 - V6, 4X4, Moonroof , JBL, Leather, Stratosphere Mica
Installed Mods: Spoiler, HIR bulbs, Kenwood DNX6960 Nav, Back Window Up with Remote Mod, Rear Camera, LED Tails, Key Reminder Disable, OEM Automatic Headlights, Rear USB Ports, Seat Heaters, Aftermarket Third Row, Heated Side View Mirror
Locations: VA
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Old 12-11-2011, 10:32 AM #4
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Mod and keeping the wife happy all it one shot...well done lol. While you had the sensor out, did you see any adjustment for the amount of light that is required to turn the headlights on? I find on my runner, its gets pretty dark before the automatic lights kick in so I end up just turning them on manually.
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Old 12-11-2011, 10:36 AM #5
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always a fan of a clear and concise write up, good job and thanks.
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Old 12-11-2011, 11:46 AM #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TRDCal View Post
Mod and keeping the wife happy all it one shot...well done lol. While you had the sensor out, did you see any adjustment for the amount of light that is required to turn the headlights on? I find on my runner, its gets pretty dark before the automatic lights kick in so I end up just turning them on manually.

Well that's not good news. I'll have to keep an eye on it. As far as adjustment, the sensor is a single piece of molded plastic. There is nothing to adjust there on on the harness that I saw physically or on the schematics.

A simple solution would be to get something that is tinted and put it over the sensor. Even a small translucent plastic cap might do it and if you find the right size it would look pretty factory. Less light would hit the sensor and sensor would read darker than it really is. I'd start in the dollar store and see if there is a kids toy that might have a part you could re-purpose.

I almost played with the sensor with my meter to see how it worked (probably uses resistance but which way - 0 resistance could be day or night) but since it was $100 I decided it was better left alone.
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2004 4Runner SR5 SR5 - V6, 4X4, Moonroof , JBL, Leather, Stratosphere Mica
Installed Mods: Spoiler, HIR bulbs, Kenwood DNX6960 Nav, Back Window Up with Remote Mod, Rear Camera, LED Tails, Key Reminder Disable, OEM Automatic Headlights, Rear USB Ports, Seat Heaters, Aftermarket Third Row, Heated Side View Mirror
Locations: VA
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Old 12-11-2011, 12:16 PM #7
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Do you have a picture of the sensor or the blank? My 08 looks like the sensor is already there..
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Old 12-11-2011, 12:46 PM #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 08T4R View Post
Do you have a picture of the sensor or the blank? My 08 looks like the sensor is already there..
There's a picture of the sensor in the parts picture. It's on the bubble wrap. Here's a zoom of it.

What you most likely have is the AC light Sensor (88790-35070). All of the 4Runners have them. Next to it is a blank. That's where the sensor goes. You pop out the blank and insert the sensor.
Attached Images
OEM Automatic Headlight Install-sensor-zoom-jpg 
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Installed Mods: Spoiler, HIR bulbs, Kenwood DNX6960 Nav, Back Window Up with Remote Mod, Rear Camera, LED Tails, Key Reminder Disable, OEM Automatic Headlights, Rear USB Ports, Seat Heaters, Aftermarket Third Row, Heated Side View Mirror
Locations: VA
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Old 12-11-2011, 02:36 PM #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Asmara View Post
Well that's not good news.
Well I wouldn't worry about it, I haven't heard any other complaints on here about it so I have a feeling its either me or my truck...But if there doesn't look to be an adjustment then it might be me lol. Thanks for the tinting idea tho, that might work.
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Old 12-11-2011, 08:01 PM #10
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I vaguely remember that on my wife's RX350, the time to trigger the headlights were adjustable at the dealership.
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Old 12-13-2011, 06:50 PM #11
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Thumbs up

Great Writeup! I did this mod a while back. I sourced my light sensor from a 2002 Lexus IS300.

I thought about adapting the IS harness by simply re-pinning the existing 6 wire 4runner connector but there actually is a 4Runner Instrument Panel #2 harness that doesn't require any splicing and is full plug and play. The part number is 82142-35020. This is a 5 wire harness that uses the standard 2 wire connector for the single HVAC sensor and the 3 wire connection to the auto headlight sensor. The harness is cheap at less than $10 and makes the install completely Plug and Play - OEM.

Attached is a picture of this harness with both sensors plugged in.
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OEM Automatic Headlight Install-img_0591-jpg 
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Old 12-13-2011, 10:11 PM #12
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Nice write-up but as a Limited owner I have to add that I'm not a fan. My instrument panel lights up giving the impression the headlights are on but aren't. I also turn them on manually.
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Old 12-14-2011, 01:46 AM #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CXS View Post
Nice write-up but as a Limited owner I have to add that I'm not a fan. My instrument panel lights up giving the impression the headlights are on but aren't. I also turn them on manually.
IIRC all 2004+ 4Runners have the instrument panel lights on all the time regardless of the SR5/Sport/Limited grade. Adding the auto headlights shouldn't change the behavior.
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Old 12-14-2011, 02:08 AM #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ThreeFiveO View Post
IIRC all 2004+ 4Runners have the instrument panel lights on all the time regardless of the SR5/Sport/Limited grade. Adding the auto headlights shouldn't change the behavior.
Really? Okay, it makes sense I suppose. I guess it falls in to the "feature" category. In that case ignore what I said.
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Old 12-14-2011, 12:53 PM #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CXS View Post
Really? Okay, it makes sense I suppose. I guess it falls in to the "feature" category. In that case ignore what I said.
As I understand it, they changed the instrument lights to be always on because a common complaint on the 2003 models was that people couldn't see the gauges during the day. Yep, feature.

There is a green headlight icon that illuminates whenever the headlights are on. It works with the auto headlights as well.
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Installed Mods: Spoiler, HIR bulbs, Kenwood DNX6960 Nav, Back Window Up with Remote Mod, Rear Camera, LED Tails, Key Reminder Disable, OEM Automatic Headlights, Rear USB Ports, Seat Heaters, Aftermarket Third Row, Heated Side View Mirror
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