2001 Head lights on w/ car off

Hello Tacoma World!

I'm new to thread and hoping to get some guidance.

Head lights can stay on with car off and switch off. Headlight relay is buzzing when this happens. It doesn't always happen. One older thread noted switch but not sure the issue. Please read below.

1) Toyota dealer looked at it and originally said loose wire behind fuse box under relay. Afterwards lights still had the same issue.
2) Toyota looked at it again. Said bad relay and gave me a new relay. Still same issue but in all cases not consistently an issue. Thus I have been pulling the relay out to ensure not stranded with lights eating up battery.
3) the 2001 is simple w/ headlights are on/off and no day time lights. It does have a timer that will shut them off if accidentally left off. Is that a culprit?
4) insight - the head lights are dim when relay is buzzing and switch is off.
5). I found a thread here that noted look at steering wheel's light switch. I took out switch and the copper prongs look clean, which was noted if black or discolored could be bad switch. At first glance the copper prongs look good. I took pictures of front and back of prongs. However after taking picture and zooming there is some black discoloring on one side. I used vinegar and Qtips to try cleaning and a little came off. The dirty Qtip end had a tinge of green. The picture seems to show some black on copper but in person it doesn't look that bad?
6) Separately, i found out how to take out fuse box with relay and flip it to see wires underneath. So many wires strapped down over back side of headlight relay's incoming wires, ugh. I could kind of get to two wires. A thick black & yellow. It seems pretty fixed in connector. The smaller red with white strip has more wiggle But does not come out. Even if it did come out I have no idea how I would get to it and fix it.

I think I reached my limit and hoping for help. Please see pictures.

Should I buy the $50 switch even if prongs look good? Should I test the switch somehow? Not sure I am skilled enough to be messing with wires on back side of fuse box but maybe depending on feedback. Picture of wires is backside of fuse box. The red and white wire ~ in middle of picture is for Headlight relay. Thicker black w yellow strip to it's right is other. Can't see anymore to know if more wires connected because of the massive tied down wires. That plastic strap is connected to fuse box and not sure how I would put new one on so worried to remove it.

Sorry for big long question first time member. I love my 2001 truck and had since 2004 w 40k. Now it has 198k and hoping for another 200k. Thank you, Carl

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Thank you Maner!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW!!