How many of us are interested in installing AUTO headlight switch?

[nissanh]

I found a TOYOTA turn signal stalk with fog light and it also has the AUTO headlight mode. I've been thinking about this AUTO mode as a new mod for our 3rd gens. Thank fully most Toyota's made in same year range uses same switch with same mounting and same wiring!

I located the wire that supplies +12 V to the auto mode. It probably runs to a circuit that sense light and then ends at ignition ON mode. Should be an easy install.

Just wonder how many are interested in installing auto headlight into the 3rd gens.

 

[jgue467]

I'm not since it already has drls... toyo got lots of things right the first time, so I leave it alone... :banana:

 

[THatfield]

I'd be interested. Keep me posted! :surfer:

 

[criera]

I can dig it, though i would like the option to override, you know for creepin and such. Im deff interested

 

[MojaveMadMan]

Price point is the real question. Under $100 might generate interest. More than that would be a lot for a "cool points" mod.

 

[nissanh]

Stalk will be about $35 and the circuit can run around $30 so I hope everything can be done under $75.

 

[Suncoast]

Interesting mod, keep us posted are you using a donor signal stalk from another year or model?

 

[sandracer33]

Sounds interesting, I would do it!

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

any updates? from what vehicle did the stalk come from?

 

[Rancho5]

So this is kinda weird... When I bought my 02 Sport, the PO installed an alarm with remote start. It soon malfunctioned so the alarm shop ripped it out for me. Ever since I have had auto headlights. The stalk is always in the "on" position and when I start up the lights come on. When I turn off the ignition the lights go off. If I turn off the stalk while driving the lights go off. I've owned it for almost two years now and no dead battery or anything remotely associated with a power drain. I'm loving it.

Maybe all 02 Sports came with this and the alarm has nothing to do with this

 

[Bad Luck]

So this is kinda weird... When I bought my 02 Sport, the PO installed an alarm with remote start. It soon malfunctioned so the alarm shop ripped it out for me. Ever since I have had auto headlights. The stalk is always in the "on" position and when I start up the lights come on. When I turn off the ignition the lights go off. If I turn off the stalk while driving the lights go off. I've owned it for almost two years now and no dead battery or anything remotely associated with a power drain. I'm loving it.

Maybe all 02 Sports came with this and the alarm has nothing to do with this

I think you're referring to the daytime running lights (it turns the headlights on during the daytime). I had it on my 2000 4Runner, but disabled it to preserve headlight bulb life.

 

[phattyduck]

The stalk is always in the "on" position and when I start up the lights come on. When I turn off the ignition the lights go off.

That's how they all work. That's not auto headlights, that's auto-off headlights. They turn off when you open the door, not when you turn the key to the off position. Direct quote from the owners manual:

HEADLIGHTS
To turn on the following lights: Twist
the headlight/turn signal lever knob.

Position 1:
Parking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument panel lights

Position 2:
Headlights and all of the above
The lights automatically turn off when the
driver’s door is opened with the ignition
switch turned off. To turn them on again,
turn the key to the "ON" position or actuate
the headlight switch. If you are going
to park for over one week, make sure the
headlight switch is off.

It is great - I leave my headlights on basically all the time. The only risk is turning your engine off and not opening the driver's door will drain the battery (taking a nap in the car or similar).

-Charlie

 

[Riceye]

That's how they all work. That's not auto headlights, that's auto-off headlights. They turn off when you open the door, not when you turn the key to the off position. Direct quote from the owners manual:

HEADLIGHTS
To turn on the following lights: Twist
the headlight/turn signal lever knob.

Position 1:
Parking, tail, license plate,
side marker and instrument panel lights

Position 2:
Headlights and all of the above
The lights automatically turn off when the
driver’s door is opened with the ignition
switch turned off. To turn them on again,
turn the key to the "ON" position or actuate
the headlight switch. If you are going
to park for over one week, make sure the
headlight switch is off.

It is great - I leave my headlights on basically all the time. The only risk is turning your engine off and not opening the driver's door will drain the battery (taking a nap in the car or similar).

-Charlie

Charlie is spot-on with this. My 2000 has some intermittent issues with the door-jamb dome light switch which controls the auto-off. It seems if the switch does not actuate, the headlights will not go off. I've removed and cleaned the switches a few times, but eventually the problem recurs. I've drained my battery a couple times due to this. Now I just turn my headlights off when I shut down.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Funny timing, I was just thinking about this on the drive to work. Having recently looked at photocell sensors to convert an outdoor house light, I started wondering if it can also be added to the 4Runner.

Something like this - https://smile.amazon.com/12-Volt-24...+photocell+dc&qid=1568306682&s=gateway&sr=8-5

No idea how reliable it would be, or how to actually implement it, but it's a thought.

 

[AntleredRuin]

I love the auto-off head lights on my 99 Limited, vs the auto headlights on my wife's 05 Sequoia.

With the 4Runner, it's 3 clicks; Off, running and gauge lights, and auto-off. I just leave it at auto-off so I don't even have to think about it.

With the Sequoia, it's 4 clicks. Off, running and gauge lights, full on, and auto. No auto-off feature. It's a pain in the butt, because the sensor on the Sequoia needs it to be darker than comfortable for the auto-lights to turn on. That, and they stay on for a bit when the truck shuts off, which always makes me nervous. I like how the lights kill instantly when I open my 4Runner door.


As an aside, what the hell kind of magic bulbs did Toyota use in the 4Runner? I've left my lights on auto-off (readn) for the past 4 years of ownership and I drive roughly 2-4 hours a day, and I'm still on the same bulbs I bought it with. I'm assuming they're stock, but never checked. I used to go through a set of Sylvania bulbs a year with my wife's old RAV4.

 

[phattyduck]

As an aside, what the hell kind of magic bulbs did Toyota use in the 4Runner?

OEM (Japan) bulbs are Koito and amazing. At least on the older stuff. My '89 Camry is all original for interior lighting and still works, 185k miles later (also with auto-off lights that I leave on all the time, for the most part). I replaced the tail light bulbs as they were getting dim, but they never burned out.

-Charlie