1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Leave DRL or lights on all the time?

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Soundchasr, Sep 11, 2019.

  1. Sep 11, 2019 at 8:46 AM
    #1
    Soundchasr

    Soundchasr [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2019
    Member:
    #304046
    Messages:
    99
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tacoma Sport MGM DC LB
    I like to drive with my DRL or regular lights on for safety. However, I have manual lights on my 2019 and I either forget to turn them on or to turn them off when I leave the car.

    I noticed that the lights will go out when I turn it off and leave. Is it ok to just leave them on all the time, i.e. keep the switch on when I leave the car for long periods of time?

    Thanks!
     
  2. Sep 11, 2019 at 9:45 AM
    #2
    wahoobie

    wahoobie TidewaterCustoms.com

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2016
    Member:
    #201692
    Messages:
    2,152
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    chris
    Suffolk, VA
    Vehicle:
    2016 DCLB 4x4 SR5ish
    VA/Remote YotaWerx Tuning
    No issues here with my SR5 switch left on DRL..the auto-OFF for me so I didnt care.
     
  3. Sep 11, 2019 at 9:48 AM
    #3
    chaotic_taco

    chaotic_taco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2017
    Member:
    #223018
    Messages:
    341
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    ATX
    Vehicle:
    2017 DCSB TRD OR MT
    You don't say which trim level you have, so we can't know for sure, but TRD and up have auto headlights / DRL. A pet peeve of mine is the way this is configured on the switch: It goes off -> auto -> drl -> on when it should be off -> drl -> on -> auto

    If you do have auto lights, then sure, leave em on all the time, the truck will figure it out BUT if you're a knuckle head like my neighbor, learn how to turn off your lights before backing into your driveway and blinding me in my living room at night.
     
  4. Sep 11, 2019 at 9:48 AM
    #4
    Claudiomartinof

    Claudiomartinof Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2016
    Member:
    #184668
    Messages:
    1,453
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD OFF ROAD 6MT
    I have ocd... can’t leave anything working or running if I don’t actually need it... car on for more than 5 mins waiting for someone. Using lights in daylight, use my ac at max all the time... I can’t do it..
     
  5. Sep 11, 2019 at 9:49 AM
    #5
    GreyBaldTaco

    GreyBaldTaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2019
    Member:
    #286065
    Messages:
    4,144
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 F150 5.0
    I leave my drl's on all the time.
     
  6. Sep 11, 2019 at 9:55 AM
    #6
    Soundchasr

    Soundchasr [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2019
    Member:
    #304046
    Messages:
    99
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tacoma Sport MGM DC LB
    TRD Off-road. No auto on my stick.
     
    bbartol, ET340f and AKGSD like this.
  7. Sep 11, 2019 at 9:55 AM
    #7
    tcjacado

    tcjacado Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2016
    Member:
    #195947
    Messages:
    41,610
    You will be fine leaving them on all the time, the truck turns them off automatically.
     
  8. Sep 11, 2019 at 9:55 AM
    #8
    Soundchasr

    Soundchasr [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2019
    Member:
    #304046
    Messages:
    99
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tacoma Sport MGM DC LB
    Even after you leave the car?
     
  9. Sep 11, 2019 at 9:56 AM
    #9
    GreyBaldTaco

    GreyBaldTaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2019
    Member:
    #286065
    Messages:
    4,144
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 F150 5.0
    Yep, I turn my lights on when I need them.
     
  10. Sep 11, 2019 at 10:01 AM
    #10
    chaotic_taco

    chaotic_taco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2017
    Member:
    #223018
    Messages:
    341
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    ATX
    Vehicle:
    2017 DCSB TRD OR MT
    I do have the tech and premium packages... I guess maybe that's the differentiator.
     
  11. Sep 11, 2019 at 10:02 AM
    #11
    tcjacado

    tcjacado Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2016
    Member:
    #195947
    Messages:
    41,610
    I do the same thing. It comes from a time of driving and owning cars and trucks that did not have auto shut off. Which was all of them:D except this one now.
     
    MtnFisher likes this.
  12. Sep 11, 2019 at 10:04 AM
    #12
    tcjacado

    tcjacado Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2016
    Member:
    #195947
    Messages:
    41,610
    There is no setting on the stalk/stick.... a ecu (computee board) controls them. When ignition is killed and power terminated, open the door and close the door and the lights go out.
     
    Soundchasr[OP] likes this.
  13. Sep 11, 2019 at 10:13 AM
    #13
    johnnyroid

    johnnyroid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2017
    Member:
    #214424
    Messages:
    1,780
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    John
    Vine Grove (Fort Knox) Kentucky
    Vehicle:
    2017 Black Tacoma Sport TRD
    My '17 Sport has DRL, but no auto headlights. If I have headlights on, I have to manually turn them off, but if left in the DRL position, they turn off automatically. Of note, even if I leave my headlights on, they'll turn off eventually anyway.
     
    bbartol and Soundchasr[OP] like this.
  14. Sep 11, 2019 at 10:15 AM
    #14
    wahoobie

    wahoobie TidewaterCustoms.com

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2016
    Member:
    #201692
    Messages:
    2,152
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    chris
    Suffolk, VA
    Vehicle:
    2016 DCLB 4x4 SR5ish
    VA/Remote YotaWerx Tuning
    My SR5 has not tech pkg and the lights go out after the setting times out. It's not when the doors close since I want them on a little longer and the customization is there.
     
    GreyBaldTaco and Soundchasr[OP] like this.
  15. Sep 11, 2019 at 10:21 AM
    #15
    tacom08

    tacom08 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2012
    Member:
    #72831
    Messages:
    804
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Isaac
    Simpsonville, SC
    Vehicle:
    08 DCSB 2WD Rugged Trail Edition
    Flowmaster Super 10, K&N CAI, bumpers, LED taillights
    I read somewhere that it's not recommended to leave it in the 'on' position for more than a week on end without running the car.

    As far as what I do, like a few others have said here, I just leave mine in DRL mode. I only use the actual headlights when I actually need them. But mine does come with the headlight cut-off feature.
     
    Soundchasr[OP] and GreyBaldTaco like this.
  16. Sep 11, 2019 at 10:23 AM
    #16
    GreyBaldTaco

    GreyBaldTaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2019
    Member:
    #286065
    Messages:
    4,144
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 F150 5.0
    If you press your lock button 2 times they should turn off. Pressing 1 time delays them turning off but they do turn off.
     
    ChronicTaco, Yann, mtip and 1 other person like this.
  17. Sep 11, 2019 at 10:25 AM
    #17
    pltommyo

    pltommyo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2017
    Member:
    #229091
    Messages:
    719
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tom
    Vehicle:
    2016 Gray Tacoma TRD Offroad
    SSO hybrid bumper, Warn winch, RCI skid trilogy, RRW sliders, everything in the cheap/free mods thread, and of course the frame recall work.
    It's fine to do, but why? Put truck in Park, set parking brake, close moon roof, roll up windows, turn off lights, turn off radio, turn off heated seats, turn off climate system, turn off charger, turn off CB, now turn off engine. Start in upper left, work down to lower right. Get in the truck, turn on, then do all the items in reverse from lower right to upper left. Nothing get's missed that way.
     
    tacom08 and TartanEagle like this.
  18. Sep 11, 2019 at 10:25 AM
    #18
    johnnyroid

    johnnyroid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2017
    Member:
    #214424
    Messages:
    1,780
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    John
    Vine Grove (Fort Knox) Kentucky
    Vehicle:
    2017 Black Tacoma Sport TRD
    Hmmm, thanks for that tip, I'll have to try that. I typically just touch the door handle to lock, but definitely want to check that out.
     
  19. Sep 11, 2019 at 10:27 AM
    #19
    TartanEagle

    TartanEagle Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2017
    Member:
    #209287
    Messages:
    1,332
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    '17 ACLB 4x4 MT
    My '17 SR has DRL, but not auto headlights. I have to manually turn off the headlights (no warning buzzer either, Grrr!). The DRL come on as soon as I release the parking brake and then turn off automatically with the ignition key.
     
    Soundchasr[OP] likes this.
  20. Sep 11, 2019 at 10:32 AM
    #20
    Skydvrr

    Skydvrr IG: @kalopsianick

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2017
    Member:
    #229889
    Messages:
    12,647
    First Name:
    Nick
    YMH
    Vehicle:
    Black '17 OR
    If u accidentally leave your door cracked the headlights will stay on and kill your batt. I just turn mine off.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top