I went to the dealership to pick up my plates today, and while I was there I figured I'd get my DRL's turned off as well. The first guy told me it couldn't be done, then I handed him the TSB number and the date it was published, and he talked to his boss. The boss said Toyota will disable your DRL's for free once, but will charge to turn them back on again. They were having computer issues and after about 20 minutes they apologized and asked me to come back another day, no appointment needed.

I got this on another forum, but if anyone is interested, the TSB# is EL014-06, dated December 12, 2006, Titled "Turn off DRL on 2003- 2007 4Runners."

 

Nice info. I'll def keep this TSB in mind. I get asked a lot about disabling them for 3rd gens and therefore get questions from 4th gen owners too. I'll be sure to pass this along.

Thanks.

EDIT: Oh and here's a tech article if you want to do it yourself and have on/off capability: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f127...ability-92211/

 

Why do people want to disable this safety feature? You are more visible to other drivers with them on, which reduces accidents. Just curious...

 

They don't add much to overall safety in normal driving conditions. Check out this website that I came across during a search- http://www.lightsout.org/. Interesting stuff.

As for myself, I like to control my own lights. I am an amateur photographer and I am often in shooting situations where my car is running and the light from the DRL's will negatively affect my images. I also camp in places where there are people using telescopes and doing astral photography, and ANY extraneous light will ruin night vision.

Also, aside from my career, I have a part time security job in which I sometimes have to watch people in various locations from my car all night during the winter, and sitting there with my parking lights on isn't conducive to covert surveillance, as they will be more obvious from two blocks away than a running engine.

As for safety, if I feel I should be more visible during daylight hours I will turn on my headlights instead of the halfhearted attempt which the front parking lights turn out to be as DRL's

Automatic transmissions good, automatic lights bad!

 

I agree with the "why would you turn off a safety feature" crowd.

As a background, I've been teaching defensive driving for over 17 years now, both to the public and to large corportations (oilfield service companies, etc.) and running with your lowbeam lights during daylight hours is a significant advantage and cuts down on your chances of a crash.

I agree that there are some daytime running light systems that are crappy at best (using park lights, for example), but for the most part, they do make you stand out from the background, especially for head on collision situations.

Now, as for that crackpot over on lightsout.org...don't even get me started. His "reasoning" for banning DRLs is, at best, questionable and at worst, some of the most misinformed crap I've ever seen. DRLs do not cause glare and force drivers to look away. Here's a thought...don't stare at the lights, idiot.

DRLs do not cause crashes. I have never once read any collision report wherein DRLs were cited as a cause.

The part where he claims "they have absolutely no positive effect on bright sunny days" is the biggest load of horse droppings. That's one of the places where they help you the best. Two pinpoints of light coming out of the glare of a sunny day will allow that driver to be seen against that glare.

There are other points that are equally idiotic. The bottom line is this: busing companies, railways, airlines, and other transportation companies all see the benefits. If one person sees a set of headlights coming their way and it keeps them from pulling out to pass or pulling away from a stop sign, then it's worth it.

I know this to be true. I use them everyday and have seen their benefits outweigh any slight negatives. But after reading his load of drivel, I truly believe he sits in his basement with a tinfoil helmet on, keeping Big Brother from stealing his brainwaves.

If you don't believe me, go to the site and read section 2, 3, and 9 on the daytime running light story...

Post script...I do understand your need to control light, Kraeken, as I am an avid amateur photographer. If your park brake is set and your transmission in neutral, do they not stay off when you start your truck?

 

Ooops...double posted.

 

I take no responsibility for lightsout.org! I found it during a search.

I am a competent enough driver that I can decide when I need light, and it is taught in basic driver education as well. I am a professional firefighter, and I drive a fire truck and an ambulance for a living so I also see the benefits and drawbacks to DRL's.

I do agree that they have a purpose even during daylight, in which case physically turning on my low beams does the job. The best thing is driving into the sun and knowing where the other cars are because their lights are on. But I don't believe I should have to rub my belly and pat my head to be able to start a car without the lights going on, and it is still impossible to drive my 4Runner without them on.

And you don't know anger like an astronomer who just got blinded during a once every 200 year event! I drove up a dirt road last year while looking through a night vision monocular. It was kinda fun.

 

Because they are stupid thats why... If you don't notice the big grey SUV, you're not going to notice the small yellow lights. I had mine disabled, took a lot of fighting with the dealer and $30. I had mine disabled within months of buying my runner (brand new). They also won't turn off at night, which I disliked.

 

I feel that DRLs indicate to other drivers that you are active on the road (as opposed to parked on the side of the road). I find them very useful and I've had several instances where I've almost hit older vehicles that do not have DRLs because I didn't notice them. This is because on small streets where cars park on the sides, you cannot tell from a distance if a car is coming towards you or if it's just parked.

Other drivers can immediately tell cars with DRLs apart from the rest of the city clutter much easier. DRLs off = car is 'sleeping' and doesn't pose much of a threat. DRLs on = car is 'awake' and is in a position to move (maybe unexpectedly).

 

DRL's should only be used with the high beams (at a lower intensity). Those DRL's on a GX470 are garbage, I've changed more of those little orange light bulbs than I care to mention.

 

Personally, I do feel DRLs are a good safety tool. However, in my line of work, they become a hazard. I do some P.I. (private investigating) work on the side and if you've ever tried to tail someone during the day, you know how hard that can be...especially when you're only 1 of a few with your headlights on during this time. (Trust me, I've had cops called on me before by the person I was following.)

I don't do as much P.I. work w/ my current 4Runner as I use to (with all the crap I have on it now, it stands out like a sore thumb), but I still do some here and there with it. I now have an older honda accord that I use for most of my dirty work.

Oh and not a huge reason to disable the DRLs, but I have found (at least in my experiences) that aftermarket headlight bulbs tend to last longer if they are not being used all the time. Having disabled my DRLs, I hope to get longer life out of my PIAA bulbs I swapped in about a year ago. Guess this reason is more of an exuse than the first.

 

Another point which has been overlooked is the insurance issue. Most insurance companies, mine included, will give you a discount for passive safety devices on a vehicle. DRLs are one system that qualifies, and I certainly don't mind the extra savings. I can understand those that would like some control over them, but I can live with them as they are.

 

I think a great solution for those of you who like the benefits of DRL, but also have work or recreation where DRLs get in the way, is to wire up a switch that can kill the DRL system if needed on demand, or just leave the DRL system the way it is from the factory. You can get the best of both worlds and direct control over the function of the DRL. Many 3rd gen owners did this mod I think.

 

True, there is a write up (in the tech section) on how to disable the DRLs on '01-'02 4Runners and install a switch at the same time...but I guess I'm too lazy though. It took me 2 mins to snip the approp wire and be done w/ it . Good point though. I'll probably look into the switch idea soon.

So far, I have not seen a write up on installing a switch to turn the DRLs on/off via a switch for the '00 4Runners. Their DRL system is wired different. Easy to deactivate, just have not seen anyone wire up a switch for it yet.

 

I have personally witnessed one safety issue with DRLs. When it gets dark enough for the headlights to be on, some people tend to forget. They have light shining ahead, so they tend to think their lights are already on.

As a result, they have no tailights on.

I didn't use to see people forgetting to turn their headlights on as much before DRLs were around.

I personally like to have my headlights on all of the time. However, I want to be able to turn them off when I need to.

I have had a bad or dead battery, or a battery that was barely charged enough to start the vehicle. DRLs would make the situation worse, possibly stranding me or delaying me further.

And if my alternator goes bad, I would like to be able to drive to an auto parts place or dealer for assistance (or home). With the headlights off, I would be more likely to make it on battery power.

Being able to turn them off is an advantage.

I do like how my Tacoma's headlights work. With the switch off, they are off. With the switch on, they will go off after I turn the truck off and open the driver side door, and come back on again when I go to start the truck again. So I have the best of both worlds.

 

Finally got them disabled! The dealer I bought the truck from is having constant computer trouble, but I decided today was the day it was getting done. I went to a dealership in Brooklyn. The service manager there absolutely refused to disable my lights (they have a crummy reputation anyway.)

So I went to another place on Staten Island, and they did it for me no problem. I did have to pay $45 because he couldn't find anywhere where it said the service was free.

So they're finally off. I like it!

 

Well, I made an bad assumption that DRL was going to be automatic headlights on during the day (like Canada) and it turned out to be the parking / turn signal lights instead. What a waste of $40! in California, I think it is illegal to drive with parking lights on, I could be wrong...

 

In Florida, it is, although the law isn't enforced. However, I would assume that federal law allows it, since so many vehicles have yellow DRLs these days.

So my guess is, for those that have yellow DRLs (which are brighter than parking lights), that they wouldn't be likely to get a ticket.

I think the law stems from the days when vehicles didn't have 4 way flashers, when they had parking lights instead (like my grandma's '65 Plymouth Fury III), when they were supposed to be used for emergencies only (like 4 way flashers). In fact, I think it's also supposed to be illegal to drive with 4 way flashers on.

This is probably why they are called "parking lights", because they were used while parked where you needed to be seen (such as when beside the road with a flat tire).

I have heard of, and have personally experienced, times when it's starting to get dark when many people have headlights on but a few have only their parking lights on, where a vehicle with just it's parking lights on either isn't easily seen or it's distance is judged to be further away than it is.

I've merged onto interstate too close in front of a car, where I thought the car was further back because of this.

Personally, if I can go through the effort to turn my headlight switch one click to turn on the parking lights, it certainly isn't very hard, and makes more sense, to turn the switch one more click to turn my headlights on.

 

I have an issue with not being able to flash my lights at people for various reasons. Also, DRL's (at least the kind on our 3rd gens) reduce bulb life, and I dont like the constant unnecessary drain on my alternator.