99 4runner limited-I keep leaving the headlights on

[traylorr]

I feel really stupid. I keep leaving the headlights on.

Most times it is early morning when it is raining and due to laws we have to leave them on. But it is bright enough, I can not see they are on. Luckily I catch it in time, but last week I did not and the battery went down by the time I came out of work.

So, I am wondering, it is not an ancient vehicle. Shouldn't there be some sort of alert on this thing telling me the lights are on? I mean, it even alerts me when the shoulder restraint is in the door, but not leaving the lights on?

Thoughts, ideas?

On a related note, is there any way to put a brighter set of headlights on this bad boy? Even at night, they aren't horribly bright.

 

[threadlessclimber]

On my 99 when I leave the head lights on they turn off when I turn the car off. Some nights I shut the truck off with the lights on and then drive the next day and do not notice till dark that they have been on the entire time. My truck is a sr5 and not a limited but I don't think that matters, sorry I couldn't be more of a help.

 

[curtperry]

You could get a daytime running light module from a Canadian wrecker or dealer and it turns off your lights automagically. My 4runner is canadian and I actually like the DRLs.

edit: To be honest I don't know if US market runners have the same plug in the harness to connect the DRL module. It sits in the drivers side inner fender beside the battery. Take a look for an unused plug there if you're interested in doing it.

 

[shootmymime]

yes there should be the chimer when you leave your lights on. and the door is open and the vehicle is off.

but on the 99 they should turn off. does your switch have the auto setting?

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

On both my 99 sr5 and my wife's 99 limited the lights turn off with the ignition, no chime or anything. Neither has daytime running lights.

 

[shootmymime]

On both my 99 sr5 and my wife's 99 limited the lights turn off with the ignition, no chime or anything. Neither has daytime running lights.

the more i think about it, mine dosnt chime. its the key in the ignition with the door open that makes the noise.

but any who... where are you at in kansas?

 

[curtperry]

On both my 99 sr5 and my wife's 99 limited the lights turn off with the ignition, no chime or anything. Neither has daytime running lights.

I stand corrected... I thought it was the DRL's that provided this function.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Shouldn't there be some sort of alert on this thing telling me the lights are on?

I have a 97 Limited with no DLR and whenever the lights are on and the key is not in ignition && you open the drivers door there is a loud constant alert sound.

 

[99 sr5 highlander]

Yep on my 99 they go off as soon as you open the door with the key out.

 

[Forrrrest]

I have an early 2000 sr5 and if i leave the lights on turn off the truck and then open the drivers door, the lights will automagically shut off

 

[UnderFire]

My 97 has a super loud buzzer that goes off if the driver's door is open and the headlights are on.

 

[KidVermicious]

On my 99 when I leave the head lights on they turn off when I turn the car off. Some nights I shut the truck off with the lights on and then drive the next day and do not notice till dark that they have been on the entire time. My truck is a sr5 and not a limited but I don't think that matters, sorry I couldn't be more of a help.

On both my 99 sr5 and my wife's 99 limited the lights turn off with the ignition, no chime or anything. Neither has daytime running lights.

Yep on my 99 they go off as soon as you open the door with the key out.

I have an early 2000 sr5 and if i leave the lights on turn off the truck and then open the drivers door, the lights will automagically shut off

Our '99 too.

 

[Singtoe]

On my 99 when I leave the head lights on they turn off when I turn the car off. Some nights I shut the truck off with the lights on and then drive the next day and do not notice till dark that they have been on the entire time. My truck is a sr5 and not a limited but I don't think that matters, sorry I couldn't be more of a help.

On both my 99 sr5 and my wife's 99 limited the lights turn off with the ignition, no chime or anything. Neither has daytime running lights.

Yep on my 99 they go off as soon as you open the door with the key out.

I have an early 2000 sr5 and if i leave the lights on turn off the truck and then open the drivers door, the lights will automagically shut off

Our '99 too.

My 99 and 02 taco too.

The wifes Audi chimes like a MF'er if I leave the lights on with the key off .

 

[98runner4x4]

My 98 runner limited does the same thing. Do you have a alarm

 

[GergDees]

The '99 Limited does not have a headlight chime, because as stated earlier in this thread, once the key is out of the ignition and the door is opened, they turn off. If for any reason the BCM (I think it is the BCM that controls this anyway???) does not register both of those events, the headlights will not turn off automatically.

If yours are not turning off automatically, check the door switch. They are notorious for going bad, especially on a 15 year old truck. If it isn't registering the door as open, the headlights will stay on until you turn them off, or until the battery dies.(Which I guess technically they're still on, just not powered) If your door switch isn't working properly, you should also have issues with your dome light not coming on when you open the door. Sometimes just pushing the door switch repeatedly, about 20-30 times, will free them up and you can get a few more years out of them that way. That's only if the door switch is sticking though, if the contacts are worn out, you will have to replace the switch.

I was having issues last winter with my door switches not always making full contact and I ended up with a dead battery once so I've made it a habit to watch and see if the dash illumination turns off when I open my door. I keep meaning to order a new one for at least the driver's door as they're cheap, and I'd rather not have a dead battery this winter.

HTH

 

[traylorr]

I am willing to bet that it is the door switch. I recall the guy that I bought it from saying that he disconnected the switch because it was too annoying when he needed to have the door in it and the key in.

I know exactly where I need to check this though, so I will check it. I am hopeful this is it.

Thanks to everyone for the responses.