2009. Daytime running lights won’t shut off, with the KEY OFF

I started having recently started having an issue where, with my headlight switch off, my key in the off position and removed, and the doors locked, the daytime running lights stay on. I’ve been having to disconnect the battery every time I park the truck for more than 30 mins.
I thought it might be related to a door switch, but opening the door with the key off and the headlight switch in the ON position, shuts the headlights off, but not the DRL.
Has anyone else had this happen?

 

A quick google search came up with this. It may apply to your rig.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...t-turn-off-on-sons-2016.734354/#post-26150342

 

I'm assuming you mean the amber lights stay on?

Do your turn signals work properly?

 

That's a 16 model, 2nd gens don't have a light sensor.

 

I wondered about that. A little more googling may have narrowed it down a little more.

 

Yes, my signal lights are working fine. The outer amber lights and the DRL part of the taillights are what won’t shut off. I’m in the Atlantic region of Canada, where biannual safety inspections are required, so I can’t just disable them, because they are required by law.
I feel like it’s either the flasher relay or the headlight switch, but I’d like to be able to prove it with a multimeter before I go and buy expensive OEM parts.

 

If your truck has the towing package.
Pull the 30A Towing fuse.
Not the Towing Brk fuse.

The 30A TOWING fuse. Pull it. See if they go out.

Let's kill powers and start with no tools need first.

 

So your tail lights are staying on, what happens if you pull the tail relay?

 

Good idea.

I was going with the Towing Converter DRL leg of the rear tail lights....
It looks to tap into the rear lights. Just because we have to start some where?

Anyways, So we can all be on the same page.

 

I tried pulling the towing fuse and also the tail/towing fuse. Neither changed anything. What I also noticed, is that the door switch shuts the headlights off after opening the driver’s door with the key off, but the instrument panel lights and the green indicator LED to show the lights are on, remains on as long as there’s power to the battery.

 

Pull the TAIL relay and see what happens.

 

It was the aftermarket electrical connector for trailer lights and brakes. I don’t need to pull a trailer right now, so just cut the wires, removed the connector, and sealed the wires. It was not even two years old and the prongs were totally green, corroded, and bent in a manner that shorted them together.