Don't Tacoma Headlights Go Off Automatically?

This morning I came out to find my '06 Tacoma's headlights on. Luckily it hadn't been long since I parked my truck. But aren't the headlights supposed to go off automatically, like when you hit the Lock button on the fob, or am I having a senior moment? If they are supposed to go off on their own, any clue as to what I can do to fix this?

 

I don’t have a remote fob but ik on my 2012 the headlights go off when I turn off the engine IF THEY WERE ALREADY ON. However, if the engine is already off when turning the lights on, they will stay on. Maybe same with your truck?

 

They are supposed to go off when the driver's door is opened however if you hit the switch after the driver's door is opened they will stay on.

 

I mean, they'll be off eventually.

 

If they were on when you turned the truck off, they will go off when you open the drivers side door.
Read that again, make sure you understand it.

A bad door detection switch can cause them to not turn off.
Easiest way to check this is look to see if the door ajar light comes on when you open the door.

Here is an odd example of when it will not turn off.
It happened to me.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/do-your-head-lights-stay-on-you-might-need-to-know-this.373690/

 

Here's two ways to make them stay on:

Turn off truck after opening Driver's door.
With Driver's door shut, turn off truck and exit out Passenger side (like if my wife wants to stay warm in the truck while I run in the store, but then she decided to turn off the truck and get out)

 

That is kind of how my experience was.
Passenger door…….

 

While they go off automagically even on my poor man's 5 lug, I still turn them off manually.

I'd even like a push pull knob on the dash instead of the integrated lever.

 

I miss those dash headlight pull knobs, twist to turn on and brighten the dome light. I'll occasionally accidentally twist the stalk, then realize it when the dash goes dim. The floor high beam switch I can do without.

 

This is one thing to think about if you have a remote starter. If you do, do not leave the light switch in the on position. If you do leave the switch on, the lights will come on when you remote start the truck and if, for some reason, you use the remote to stop the motor and don't get in the truck the lights will stay on and kill your battery. Not usually a problem because when you remote start you generally go somewhere. But it can happen. You can work around this issue by installing some extra relays but I bet most shops don't bother.

 

Timer inside Body ECU, triggers are the door courtesy switch(s).

 

A very belated thank you to the responses here.

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

$10 Qiilu Door Jamb Switch Interior Door Light Switch Auto Car Vehicle Car Door Light Plunger Switch Lamp Car Door Light Switch Push Button

Is this what you're referring to?

I didn't see any mentions of Tacomas in the reviews. Other Toyotas, yes, but not Tacomas.

 

Yes, that is one of them.
If you have an access cab, there is another one that is different.

 

I've got a Double Cab. Hopefully this one I've tracked down will work. Thank you for the assist.

 

Sorry for the stream-of-conciousness posts here, but I just opened both front doors and the dome light came on. Held in the button in both door jambs and 22 seconds later the lights went out. Soooo, does that mean the issue isn't the door jamb switch?

 

Your initial complaint was about the head lights.
As for the dome lights, they are supposed to do what you described above.

 

Time to OFF is way long...so there's that.

 

I thought when you said that "A bad door detection switch can cause them [the headlights] to not turn off. Easiest way to check this is look to see if the door ajar light comes on when you open the door," you were saying that if the dome lights aren't working properly due to this faulty switch, the headlights won't automatically go off either. Did I misunderstand what you were saying?

 

Actually, that's standard operating procedure. The dome lights stay on for a little while before going out, I guess to give you a little light to get to where you're goin'. At least, they've always done that for me the last 17 years.