Hello all,

I have a 1999 4Runner Limited 4X4. I believe all of the following symptoms are related, but let me know what you think.

Symptom 1...What's supposed to happen...When you unlock the truck with the remote and you don't open the door, the alarm automatically re-arms itself. When you disarm the alarm and open a door, it disarms the alarm.
What actually happens...When you disarm the alarm and open any door, the alarm still re-arms itself. It arms itself regardless of which door you open. The truck will start and function normally regardless of whether or not the alarm arms itself with the door open.

Symptom 2...What's supposed to happen...With the key in the ignition and the driver door open, the door chime should sound.
What actually happens...With the key in the ignition and the driver door open, sometimes it chimes right away. Sometimes it takes several seconds or minutes to chime. Sometimes it never chimes.

Symptom 3...What's supposed to happen...Turn the key off, open the driver's door and the headlights go out.
What actually happens...Turn the key off, open the driver's door and sometimes the headlights will go out.

My door ajar light never comes on while driving.

I live in Arizona. The truck hasn't been wet in months, so probably not a water/shorting issue.

I suspect some sort of door ajar relay that's causing all of these problems. I searched and couldn't find anything out there. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

 

So, after overthinking this and researching it for a long time, I have solved this issue. The door ajar switches on 3 out of the 4 doors are bad. If you open the door, the interior lights don't come on. If you push the switch in and out a few times, the dome light will come on. I tried this on all 4 doors and after pushing the switches in and out a few times, it works properly. Obviously, they all need to be taken apart and cleaned or replaced. What are the odds that they all go out in such a short period of time? Anyway...problem solved.

 

After reading your original post, I was noticing that the movement of the door was common to all problems and also came to the conclusion that you should look at the door switches.

The switches wear out over lots of repeated door opening and closings, but could also build corrosion if a door is rarely used, causing the same symptoms.

It sounds like you found your problem!

 

Drivers door switch worn from repeated cycles the others corroded or stuck from not being used .

In any case glad you figured it out