Auto Lights Off Feature Doesn't

[TeryT]

My lights used to turn off when I hit the key FOB lock twice. Also would turn off after 5 minutes by themselves. Now they do neither.

Is there an easy computer reset, or does it need to go in?

 

[Mark86]

That is weird. The lights should go off 30 seconds after the driver door is opened or when the lock button is pressed twice. Are you turning the lights on after turning off the truck? I once did that and the lights will not go off automatically. Make sure the lights are turned on while the key is in the 'on' position or the truck is running. You should see if the parking lights go off when the driver door is open. To test, start your truck, turn on the parking lights, and then shut the engine. When the driver door is opened, the parking lights should go off. If this doesn't work, I assume you would have to go back to the dealer and have it reprogrammed.

 

[TeryT]

Well I went out last night & tried it, and this time it worked. So either I turned the light switch back on after shutting the engine down, or their is an intermittenent problem. Likely the former. Sorry!

So would it drain the battery clear down? I thought there was something that prevented this.

 

[Mark86]

Well I went out last night & tried it, and this time it worked. So either I turned the light switch back on after shutting the engine down, or their is an intermittenent problem. Likely the former. Sorry!

So would it drain the battery clear down? I thought there was something that prevented this.

I don't think the battery would drain down. Ther lights will go off after 30 minutes regardless. I never tried it though.

 

[TeryT]

Yeah, I'm thinking this is the case. I also noticed this with my trailer - it will disconnect the link to the trailer wiring harness. This is cool, because if you stayed hooked up some night & the heater ran the battery all the way down, it would just affect the trailer battery & the vehicle would still start!

 

[Uneek]

The owner's manual recommends that if the car will sit for more than a week, the switch be placed in the 'Off' position. I guess there's a current draw when (in 'Auto' mode) the auto sensor is powered.

 

[TeryT]

The owner's manual recommends that if the car will sit for more than a week, the switch be placed in the 'Off' position. I guess there's a current draw when (in 'Auto' mode) the auto sensor is powered.

Are you talking the ignition switch?

 

[Mark86]

The owner's manual recommends that if the car will sit for more than a week, the switch be placed in the 'Off' position. I guess there's a current draw when (in 'Auto' mode) the auto sensor is powered.

I don't understand the reasoning behind that. When the engine is off, how can the automatic light sensor be drawing any power? When I turn my key to 'ACC', the auto sensor is not powered either. I have left my light switch on auto since the day I got my truck and have not had a problem yet.

 

[Uneek]

Are you talking the ignition switch?

Nope, headlight switch.

I don't understand the reasoning behind that. When the engine is off, how can the automatic light sensor be drawing any power? When I turn my key to 'ACC', the auto sensor is not powered either. I have left my light switch on auto since the day I got my truck and have not had a problem yet.

Neither do I. I was just taking a guess as why the manual would suggest that.

 

[TeryT]

OK, now I'm really confused (which doesn't take much at all)! The light switch has an "auto" setting? I've never seen this - where is it supposed to be? Is this a feature on later models or sumptin? Or am I totally misunderstanding this!!??

 

[sharp4runr]

Limited models have the AUTO on/off headlights. It'll turn on when it gets dark, and off when it is light. If you look over your dash where it meets the windshield, you'll see the plug that would be a light sensor if you had the feature.

 

[Uneek]

OK, now I'm really confused (which doesn't take much at all)! The light switch has an "auto" setting? I've never seen this - where is it supposed to be? Is this a feature on later models or sumptin? Or am I totally misunderstanding this!!??

Sorry TeryT, my mistake. I should've paid attention and saw your sig that yours is a Sport. The 'Auto' setting is only Limiteds. Limiteds have a four position switch, off, parking, low beam, and auto. SR-5 and Sport have auto off; Limiteds have auto on and off. Sorry for the confusion.