Sensor Headlight Mod??

Is there a mod out there to add in a solar headlight sensor? The ones where you can just have your headlight switch on automatic and the sensor knows when the sun is out or not. It's driving me nuts forgetting to switch them on at dusk!

 

Bump bc this would be awesome

 

I'm sure it would basically be cutting the power wire for your lights and putting the switch (sensor) in the middle and mounting it in the dash.

I'd poke around the internet and see if anyone else has done this on another vehicle

 

I hated my auto headlights on my 13 altima and Silverado. I love that I can turn them on and off when I want to. Guess I'm not relying on my vehicle to do my job as a driver

 

good evening to you too, Mr. passive aggressive. It's just a nice feature to have. You can usually turn them on and off manually even with the auto feature.

 

Especially since the main cluster is lighted any time the truck is running.

Between these new dash lighting designs, and DRLs... every freaking day on my 40 mile commute to and from work, I see a half dozen people driving without headlights... especially if they have DRLs which put light on the vehicle in front of them.

Seriously, if the auto makers are going to run the dash lights full time, headlights should be required to be automatic.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/114734-automatic-headlight-kit.html

Or you can just leave them on all the time, they'll turn off when you open the door.

 

Thanks for the link and I thought about just leaving them on, but wont that eventually mess up the lenses or just not be good in general if my lights are on every time I drive?

 

Naw... you may burn out lights quicker but your headlight lenses should be just fine...

 

X2

 

If you browse forums for vehicles that offer automatic headlights you'll find threads on how to disable them, just like other mandatory "features" like DRL's, ABS brakes and constantly running heater blowers. Some like them, others don't. Makes you wonder how many of these are mandated by law or initiated by lawsuit, rather than just being useful things like intermittent wipers. I never though of automatic headlights as much of a feature, but instrument lights that are always on with a warning light to tell you if the headlights are on is bit confusing. Just one more thing to get used to.


BTW, my '14 Taco has a separate position on the headlight switch for DRL's so turning them on at all is optional. (I just leave the switch in the "Off" position.) Don't know when they did this, but my brother-in-laws '11 has mandatory DRL's.

 

^^^^^THIS!^^^^^

I never shut mine off.

 

I have never turned off my headlights.
They have been on everytime I drive until shut the truck off and open the door since Nov 2007.
I am still on my original bulbs and lenses with absolutely no issues.

In fact, it's the guys the run with the DRL's on that seem to have issues with the DRL lenses melting.

In my previous 1996 Tacoma, I was on the habit of turning on my lights everytime I got in, with 11 years and 470,000kms I had no issues other then a couple of burnt out bulbs.

I wouldn't worry about personally.

Shawn.

 

Alright, it's settled then. I'll just leave the lights on forever, sounds like that works well enough for you all. I appreciate the responses!

 

Do check them though.

If your passenger gets the door open before you've shut the engine down, they will remain on.
There have also been a couple of threads where the system has stopped working and they have stuck on... it's a relay, so it CAN fail.

Not a huge concern, definitely not a common failure, but it's a good idea to look back at the truck as you walk away when you park just to be sure.

 

Of those items, I don't think any are mandated by law in the US... perhaps ABS but I'm not sure about that. They are all "features"
DRLs have been required in Canada for 10 years or more, and the '12+ Canadian Tacomas do not have the "off" position on the stalk... they are wired like the '11 and earlier US models that had them.

We have a warning light, it's just not obvious. It's that little green light bulb on the tach. The problem is, when it's not on, it's not on, and the dash being on, there's nothing to draw your attention to the fact that it's not on.
Now, if it were wired to a photocell so it flashed amber if the lights were off and it was dark? Maybe... but at that point, just run automatic lights.
Most vehicles with automatic lights do have a manual bypass. On my '06 Silverado, a quick turn to the left to a momentary position would shut them off until the truck was restarted.

 

I'm a newbie to this site but wonder if there is some confusion regarding headlight switching.
I am looking for a sensor that will turn on my headlights as daylight fades. I had this on my old Sonoma and would love to have this function on my 2013 Tacoma.

Any thoughts /suggestions/pleasant surprises

 

Been looking also, so far no joy. I bought a retrofit kit to do this to my Mustang, and it ended up being a major PITA and wreaked havoc on the electrical system.

 

This is a feature I am surprised my new Tacoma didn't have.

I'd b interested in it also.

 

DEI makes, or at least used to make a kit called Nite Lite. A quick search found it for sale at at least a 1/2 dozen places for around 30 bucks.