Auto headlights not turning off.

I normally park my truck in the garage and have the headlights in “auto” mode. So in the morning/daytime when I turn the truck on, the lights automatically come on. When I back out of the garage the light sensor senses daylight and my lights turn off. UNTIL yesterday, my lights stayed on in auto mode in broad daylight. I had to manually switch the lights off. Thought it was a fluke but it happened again today.

Anybody have this happen? Suggestions? (The dash sensors are unobstructed)

 

Did you mess with the settings on the head unit?

 

Didn’t know there were settings there. I’ll check it out. Thanks!

 

I get it happening every once in a while. No rhyme or reason, just turn switch to clear it. Think it's been 3 times in a year.

 

I changed the light sensitivity setting to the highest. But, it says specifically light “on” sensitivity. So we’ll see. Thanks again!

 

Have something on your dash? Map or parking pass covering the sensor?

 

Pages 203 and 597 in your owners manual will be helpful.

Don't have one?

Here you go. https://www.toyota.com/owners/resources/owners-manuals/tacoma/2016

 

@Beemaster, were you able to fix the issue? I can’t find my manual to see what’s on page 203 & 597.

I have the same issue on my 2021. Everything is stock except I replace the headlight bulb to LED when I first got the vehicle. My light setting is always auto. The last few weeks it stay on even in bright sunlight. Changing the sensitivity to high doesn’t help. Nothing is blocking the sensor.

Everything else works fine. The light turn off when exiting the vehicle.

 

I second guessed myself and deleted a comment saying this, but I believe that you want “headlight on sensitivity” set to low if you want the lights to turn on at a lower ambient light threshold. Higher sensitivity would mean the sensor would activate with less input right?

 

How long did you wait to see if they would go off? I also start up in the garage and they come on in the morning - seems to take a while of driving to turn off depending on sunlight. I think this is good - I wouldn't want them coming on/off instantly as I intermittently drive through areas with tree cover etc. Eventually if out in constant sun for a bit of time they eventually agree that they are not needed. That is my experience - please ignore if you mean they never turn off for the remainder of drive in the sun (then yes that is not normal)!

 

@musicisevil I might be wrong or partially correct, high sensitivity will turn on headlight almost immediately when sensor detect low enough light. Low sensitivity won’t turn headlight on immediately after you drive under a bridge or similar.



@Amocat15 light doesn’t auto turn off for the remaining of the trip even under the sun.

it seems like Beemaster & I are the only one here who have this issue. I tried google but can’t find anything. At least this problem isn’t that bad. The headlight turn off when I turn off the engine. I’ll contact Toyota and see if it’s worth fixing. Will update when I got something.

 

I have an older model like you (2018), and I've noticed this issue occurring more often in the last year. It possible dust has accumulated below the plastic dome, the plastic dome has darkened, or the light sensor has gone out of calibration. I just turn the switch off and on, and live with it.

 

I’m not sure why this setting is so hard for me to conceptualize! lol
The way you explained it makes sense, but to me sounds like you would want it low correct?
Another way of saying it is high sensitivity requires “less dark” to activate.
If your lights are staying on in broad daylight, you would want the sensitivity low so it requires “more dark” to activate.
Either way, I assume you’ve experimented with both extremes of this option? If it were me I’d be playing with a flashlight and the sensor in the garage
I’ve read a post from someone about changing the ambient light sensor on the passenger side, seemed easy enough so you could always go that route.

 

Well, is sensitive to light or sensitive to dark??

 

I assume that it is just a light dependent resistor so, dark? Both?
It would increase resistance as it gets darker. High sensitivity would mean it increases resistance sooner and low sensitivity would mean it has to get darker before it increases resistance.
But I have no idea honestly. That’s just what makes sense to me. The owners manual doesn’t describe the setting, the entune guide doesn’t outline vehicle settings. They both only mention the dealer/techstream/Carista configurable setting.

To make things more fun the techstream setting is the opposite of the one on the head unit: Automatic light off system: Light sensor sensitivity: 1-5”

 

What you are describing is correct. I was sitting in my truck one evening in a parking lot wondering which way the sensitivity worked, so I turned it up 1 level and the lights turned on. Then I turned it back down to low, and they immediately turned off. I think it’s a little too aggressive even on low personally.

 

I agree. Between the head unit and techstream settings I have it pretty much dialed in where I want it, but it took some trial and error.
The “hidden” setting is even harder for me to conceptualize lol
I wound up in the same situation, making changes in a parking lot at dusk with Carista

 

Updates: auto headlight fixed!

I called Toyota & they said to bring it in. When I got there, I leave the truck running on purpose while waiting for some help. A service advisor came & I show him what is happening. He play around with the same setting as I was doing before but it’s not working.

They took the truck to the back. 20-30 minutes later it’s fixed. I ask the service advisor what happen & he said they just need to reset some setting. I tried to find out but I think he either doesn’t really know or doesn’t want to bother to ask the tech because it was closing time.

Since they didn’t charge me, I’m thinking maybe no parts were replaced? I know my truck is not under warranty anymore. So maybe some quick software reset that we don’t know or don’t have access?

sorry guys, not a happy ending update for those who have the same issue.

 

What is the sensitivity setting on your head unit at now? j/w

 

Nobody has mentioned it, but I've found that if one of my doors isn't fully closed the lights will stay on. Possibly dealer just adjusted a door switch.