'98 4Runner Headlights always on
 

Hi

New to the forum, so I'll just introduce myself real quick. Bought my 4Runner in 2003 with 60k on it from the original owner, and its been a great vehicle. I do basic maintenance myself, along with all the regular fluid changes and it is running well today with 180k. Been reading and searching the posts for a while as a guest....alot of great information. Unfortunately, this morning, I got a reason to post.

Woke up and saw my headlights on. Irritated that I had left them on all night, I went outside to turn them off -- and they were off. Switch on and off the turn staulk did nothing. A couple questions:

-Any ideas what this could be besides a faulty turn signal switch? My plan is to buy one and change it out this weekend (I'm driving with the fuse removed now)

-Looking in the Haynes manual, they say you need to remove the steering wheel to get to the switch. A search in the forum claims otherwise -- just a couple of screws. Can someone clarify?

-Assuming I do have to take off the wheel, it seems pretty straight forward, with the exception of using a steering wheel puller. Is there a workaround, or do you really need that tool.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Chris

What about a stuck relay? Sounds more like that then a bad switch. I had a bad relay on my foglights. I would come out and find the foglights on and the switch unresponsive. Tapping on the relay would shut them off. Replaced the relay and it fixed it.

Thanks for the response -- I'll check it tonight and let you know

Chris

That's all it was! Knocked on the relay and the light went off.

Thanks for saving me a whole lot of work for nothing this weekend.


Chris

No prob, you should be able to match up a relay at a local part store.