I recently bought a used 2 Door 4Runner (which I love, especially since I put 1k into fixing it).

When I start the vehicle, the headlights come on automatically, even though the switch is set to "OFF". Brights work only when the switch is set to bright, and then the stem is pushed back.

When the ignition switch if OFF, the headlight switch actually works, (OFF is OFF, Park lights, and then Headlights work when the switch is on the appropriate setting). Otherwise, while the vehicle is running, the headlights are always on, no matter what I do.

I don't know if there is a relay problem or a deeper electrical problem. I'm a fairly inexperienced DIYer, and would like to learn to fix this myself, if possible.
I would appreciate some experienced help!

 

Might be it was a Canadian model with the DRLs. A buddy of mine bought a 2-door 2nd gen and it had DRLs:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ghts.shtml#DRL

 

Canadian model.
Day-time running lights.

You can always tell the US cars imported here, everyone flashes them for not having their lights on. Haha.

 

I noticed the same thing when I drove into canada... no DRLs, I got people who flashed their lights at me in broad daylight... umm... what's the point?

 

Yep day lights... probably the stupidest thing ever. I mean who needs lights in the day time : P I hope those guys answered you're question. good luck

 

What is the pro date of your 4 runner? the drl was not started untill 1991 and is controlled by the alternator inputing a signal whit the park brake released. other wise if it is a true 1990 there could be a short to ground in the head light relay. do the low and high beams work properly with the engine on or off? i think you said they do but just to be sure im asking.

 

I've been told that my vehicle might be a canadian model, but I don't know for sure.

In case my description of the problem was too vague, I'll reiterate:

With the engine off, the headlight switch is in the OFF position, and the lights are off. I move it to the park lights, and the park lights come on, I move to the headlights ON position and they come on. I push the stick forward, and the brights come on.

While the engine is running, park lights and headlights, as well as my dashboard lights, come on automatically.

If this is a Canadian model, is there any way to modify it to US functionality? Its a tad bit annoying when my lights are on, constantly. And if I want to sneak out to the bar, the headlights give me away lol.

Any help is appreciated.

 

whats the production date of the truck?

 

Read the page I linked to above, it tells how to disable DRLs in the 2nd gens, which is a different DRL setup than in the later models.

 

Manufacture date of February 1990.

Does this mean its not Canadian? lol

 

canada required DRLs for model years 1990 and later

does your speedometer not read in kilometers?
you can check for sure if your truck is canadian or not by putting in your VIN in toyodiy.com

 

Speedometer reads in MPH, so that's why I'm confused.

As for that page that tells me what to do, if there is a DRL relay box, where would it be located? I know where the main relay box is at. Just on the outside of it, there appears to be something missing, however...doubt its related to my "problem" but worth mentioning. I can post a picture if needed.

 

Oh, also...would anyone happen to know where I can get a manual for my rig? It obviously didn't come with one.

 

sounds like exactly the same problem I started having. It's definitely not DRL's. DRL's are activated with the vehicle running, parking brake off and light switch in the off position. The headlights come on at a very low luminosity (lower than regular low beams) and the taillights, marker lights and dash lights remain off.

In my case, all the lights including interior, taillights and markers are activated - even though the switch is off. The headlights are definitely in the brighter low beam mode. The high beams don't work until the switch is actually turned on.

This is on a Canadian T4R - my DRL's were working normally until this issue started a couple weeks ago.

 

the canadian vehicles are wired very differently than the US ones, so the problems associated are unique to each other


the only other possibility is somebody wired in an aftermarket DRL module... these were quite popular in the 90s as DRL was the new hot "safety" feature

 

Not quite the "stupidest thing ever"... they're useful because you can see people from far away if they're in dark areas, coming out of tunnels, when it's raining, snowing, foggy, etc.
Now, lots of people forget to turn on their REAL lights because the DRL's are too bright! that irks me....