Good news! The mod is working, I'll post a video tomorrow showing the sensor working. I actually made a really stupid mistake a few weeks ago and I figured it out today by accident. I almost gave up but Hallelujah it works perfect.

Anyway, wanted to let you guys know this is not only possible, but I think most people can do it. There is no wire cutting or drilling. No permanent change at all so definitely worth a shot if you need auto lights.

You need to be comfortable taking some dash pieces apart though. I'll post a write up later on this month when I get some time to do it.

Cheers,
Nick

That's good action!...Let us know when you have the writeup done. I'll be patiently waiting to finish this mod when this VH tour ends.

Great news!!!

I was just about to order the sensor and try and figure it out with you!

Can't wait for your write up!!

Any update? Excited to try this out if it is indeed relatively straight forward!

/thread

Bump for update! I was a little shocked when the 2009 Corolla I borrowed had Auto Lights, but then my shiny new '13 T4R didn't (cost 2x as much as the Corolla, too!). Sounds like an easy mod as long as you have the factory sensor?

I really like the benefits of auto-lights over leaving them on 24/7 (for the aforementioned reasons - mainly for "proper" dash illumination response while still retaining auto-headlights at night w/o manually turning them off/on).

Sorry it's taken so long for me to post an update. I have been in the process of moving and haven't been able to work on my car at all. In fact, I have been extremely busy with some changes in my job and all.

Anyway, when I said it worked, it does but I do have one more thing to correct it and make everything perfect. The sensor dims all the dashboard lights as it should when it senses a light change, but the head lights aren't changing right now. I know why too. I believe I need a new headlight stalk, the one with the auto switch, or I might be able to rewire the one that comes stock on the SR5 and Trail and mod it to work correctly. This is a pricy part, but I am 98% sure this will solve the issue.

This is going to be a big project for me and is still a couple months out before I have time to make this happen.

Sorry for the long delay and I do want to finish this and make this mod possible for everyone. When I get back on here and have some time, I will post here for everyone.

Thanks,
Nick

I thought cars in Canada had the headlights on all the time and have had for years. I've rented cars there that didn't even have a headlight on/off switch. Are they not still doing that?

Hi all,

I decided I'm going to buy the stalk I need to finish this mod once and for all. The part I need is described by Toyota as the "Headlamp Dimmer Switch" or sometimes I see Headlight Switch or Column Switch.

There are two part numbers that could work on my car but here is what I know and would like to share-

We already know that I need the stalk with the auto function (only on the Limited edition) and that part number is either:

84140-35170 (2010-2011 version)
84140-35171 (2012-2013 version)

They are almost the same number execept the 2010 and 2011 models use the part that ends in a "0", and the 2012, 2013 models end in a "1". What the difference is I have no idea, but I would like to know.

Well, I have a 2012 Trail edition, so in theory I will need the second number I have listed, "84140-35171".

Also just as a note of reference, the non-auto dimming switch is "8414035181" (2012-2013 verision), and the "8414035180" (2010-2011 version). So I will be removing the 84140-35181 from my car.

The one thing I would like to know before I do this, is what actually is the difference of the last digit, 35170 vs 35171 (and 35180 vs 35181). According to my research, they are simply for different years but is there actually a physical difference in the stalk? I'm hoping not, because I found a 84140-35170 from a 2010 Lexus HS250H which is the exact same as the stalk on the 2010 and 2011 4Runner Limited. But since I have a 2012, I am a little worried about buying it as that single last digit might mean it's not going to fit or something. I might just buy it because it's much much cheaper than retail prices since it came off a crashed Lexus.

But, if anyone does know the difference between the two part numbers, please tell me. They are almost identical. If someone can confirm there isn't a physical difference and perhaps it's just a different number for year model reasons or maybe for distribution reasons, I will buy it today to try this mod out once and for all. It will literally only take me the time to replace the stalk now that my sensor is installed. The sensor does work by the way, it dims the dash and my Entune system when I go into low light.

Or maybe someone can just help me find the right stalk somewhere cheap. Anyone have any junkyards nearby?

Anyone, I hope to make full progress on this in the next week.

Thanks,
Nick

Hi,

I am highly interested in doing this mod for my family's 2010 SR5. Did you end up getting it to work? If you did can you please let me know what exactly is needed to get this mod working? I believe you said the sensor is rewuired and the stalk or switch with the wire harness and that's all. Is that true?

Let me know please.

Hello. Any News about automatic headlights. Number part it's work?

Thanks

Hello Nick

Do you have news about automatic headlights? Is The mod working?

Hey there.

I was curious if anyone made additional headway on this thread for I am ready to purchase the materials, but wanted to leverage guidance from fellow members before cutting wires.

Here is what I have figured out to date for my 2012 4Runner SR5:
84140-35171 (2012-2013 version) - Turn signal/light stalk with the auto function (found on the Limited edition)
89121-50020 - SENSOR, AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL. AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM (CONLIGHT) for TOYOTA 4Runner (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
??? - Sensor Harness for standard HVAC controls (still fumbling through a few websites to determine the product code for this one)

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Did you end up doing this? It looks like it's $200-$300 in parts (for the light sensor and stalk switch), which I'm okay with. I also don't have a problem pulling parts of the dash, but I'd like to have some sense of how to do the wiring before I start.

Anyone have any diagrams or schematics or anything?