Amber Signal Lights

Hi,

So I've been driving an '08 Tacoma.

Problem is, when playing with my light settings (by the steering wheel), I've noticed that there exists no daytime running lights (DRL) on my Tacoma, except for the high beams. If you guys need a picture, I can take one tomorrow.

So while driving (even at night), only the amber signal light are on constantly.

This is strange because I can hardly see at night and I'm sure this poses a visibility danger to other drivers.

Is this normal for all '08 Tacomas? Driving with only the amber lights on? The only lights that actually come out from the main lamps are the high beams. I've seen other trucks, especially Raptors doing this... I suspected it would be a fuse that was burnt but it wasn't. All headlight fuses seemed normal.

Luckly I have not been pulled over yet.

 

????
To clarify, you don't have DTRLs, and you don't have a low beam, only running lights (Corner lights) and high beams?

I believe your headlights are dual filaments, meaning one of those filaments could be burnt out (Low beam)

Edit: I believe if you had DTRLS, they would be on at all times. You can't turn them off. So there would not be a switch for them.

 

Not to sure what your asking about, but the knob on the left of the steering wheel should have "off" (turned clockwise to you) parking lights the middle position, and headlights ( counter clock wise position). high beams will come on when you pull or push that stick either to you or away from you.

 

Daytime running lights was an option that will turn the front turn signals on constantly anytime the headlights are off and the truck is running with the parking brake off. When you signal a turn, the turn signal/daytime running light on that side will flash while the opposite side stays constant.

Twisting the main light switch forward one notch will result in the tail lights and front parking lights (amber) coming on. The DRL, if equipped will stay on.

Twisting the main switch forward two notches will result in the DRL going off, and the main headlights coming on. The position of the dimmer switch (turn signal/light switch stalk pushed forward or backward) determines whether you have high or low beams on.

High beam and low beam have separate fuses. Left and right have separate fuses. They are in the underhood fuse box.

Is it totally dark when you have the headlights on and the dimmer in the low beam (toward you) position? If so, I suspect you have two bad headlight bulbs. (yes, I have seen it happen).

If the high beams stay on regardless of dimmer switch position, suspect a sticking dimmer relay in the underhood box, or a bad dimmer switch (less likely).

 

The amber lights are the DRL's

 

Yes you're a danger to others since you can't see.

 

Wait. I guess I'm confused what are DTRLS on the Tacoma. What I have running on 24/7 are the signal amber lights (located nearest to the grill).

Rotating the notch all the way downwards (turning off the lights) gives only the amber light on.

Rotating the notch to the middle (turning on the low beams?) gives also, only the amber light on.

Rotating the notch all the way upwards (turning on the high beams?) gives light, but really bright ones. I really think they are the high beams, not the low beams.

 

So the counter clockwise position gives me the headlights? I thought those were the high beams...

You've mentioned that the high beams will come on when I push or pull that stick. What if I wanted to drive with the high beams on? How would I permanently turn on the high beams? My left hand holding the stick constantly? That would be strange

 

So if I understood this right, and in order to drive at night with regular lights:

I would have to turn the notch "upwards" twice, and play with the dimmer switch (pushing it towards/away from me)?

I thought pushing the knob away/towards me only temporary flashes the high beams on and off temporarily. Not permanently. I will probably go to an underground parking lot and play with the lights today.

Really appreciate the reply and advice guys!

 

Pull or push the lever that controls the lights.

If you have a little blue headlight on your dash, your high beams are on.

If the little blue light is NOT on, but you still have headlights, those are your low beams.

 

the lights that are turning on are the turn signals....
some selected models pre09 had them...
but what do you want to know tho? im confused on how you have your settings...
normally when lights are off only the dtrls are on
first click parking lights turn on and dtrls stay on
last click turns on your low beams aka headlights, parking lights stay on and dtrls (turn signals) turn off.

and then you have the flip for the high beams nothing should be on but your high beams..

EDIT:
after rereading your op, i have a feeling your low beam fuses are either out or both the low beam filaments are burnt

 

Scary shit how some people actually have a drivers license... One of my ex's thought the same thing... She drove around with her parking lights on at night. Turn the dang switch til the headlights come on. If you see a Blue light (High Beams) in the dash that looks like a light pull/push the handle til the blue light goes off (low beams).

 

No offense, but i would have made the effort to read the manual first before posting here. Unless the OP does not have access to one. In either case, in all the years that I have adquired "new to me" vehicles, I have never used the manual to figure out the essentials, like headlights, wipers, cruise control...etc..etc. only when there is a button or switch with a graphic Or acronim I'm not familiar with. But that is just me.

 

Well its more of a company truck. I'm a little too lazy to use a manual

 

The basics are still basic..

 

Honestly If he couldnt't figure out his own headlights I wouldn't be surprised if he couldn't read

 

and he came here to ask a question? not to get a respose that wont help to finding the answer...

 

Your post (at least to me) suggests you're not operating your headlights properly... please read your manual on headlight operation before an accident happens regarding this.

 

You should definitely familiarize yourself with the way the lights work, before you do ANY driving. Period.

With the switch rotated all the way towards you/down/rear/whatever the bottom setting is. That is all lights off. Once you disengage the parking brake, your DTRLs will come on. Those are the amber lights towards the center of the grille.
The middle setting is Running Lights/Marker Lights or Parking Lights as some people call them. It's the same as the first setting, except it manually turns on the amber lights as well as your rear tail lights.
The third or top setting adds your Low Beam headlights to the mix and (I believe) turns off the amber lights on the front.

No matter which of the 2nd or 3rd settings you choose, you will have a green light turn on your dash. That's just to tell you that your DTRLs are on. That is Not the headlight indicator.
The dimmer switch that you're referring to, which is on the dash itself, just to the left of the instrument cluster, does nothing in regards to the headlights. It only dims and brightens your instrument lights in the cab.

To get high beam headlights. If you pull the light arm towards yourself, it will flash your high beams, then return to low beam setting. If you push it away from you, it will turn your high beams on. When you do this, you will see a separate blue light indicator in your instruments.

Does that make it clear as mud? These are *generally* standard rules for any vehicle. You've probably driven only cars that have the "auto" setting, which either uses the low beam headlights themselves as the running/parking/DTRL lights, or turns on the low beams automatically when it senses darkness approaching. The Tacoma does not have any auto function.

 

So you're just dangerous and lazy then. Good combination.