Help.... headlights don't shut off
#1
Help.... headlights don't shut off
My wifes' 01 4runner has a small issue. He headlights won't turn off when the truck is running.
She called me yesterday to tell me that the battery was dead. I helped her get it jumped and she was on her way.
I instructed her to turn everything off in rder to not make a huge draw on the battery while it was charging.
She couldn't turn off the headlights no matter what position the stalk was in. I thought maybe she wasn't doing something right but she wasn't. I know these things don't have drl so i know there must be a problem.
When the truck is off they go off, but when the truck is on you can't turn them off. You can see the difference in the off, parking lights and on position. the high beams work as do the turn signals.
Do you think it can be a relay?
She called me yesterday to tell me that the battery was dead. I helped her get it jumped and she was on her way.
I instructed her to turn everything off in rder to not make a huge draw on the battery while it was charging.
She couldn't turn off the headlights no matter what position the stalk was in. I thought maybe she wasn't doing something right but she wasn't. I know these things don't have drl so i know there must be a problem.
When the truck is off they go off, but when the truck is on you can't turn them off. You can see the difference in the off, parking lights and on position. the high beams work as do the turn signals.
Do you think it can be a relay?
#4
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#5
ok, i thought i was able to shut the lights off before and thought there was a problem since they would not go off.
Since we had a dead battery, i connected the two as if there may have been a problem. If it does have drl, i'll just leave it alone, but i don't remember it having them.
'
If this battery goes dead after a week of inactivity, then we know there may be a problem.
The old battery was 6 years old anyway.
That one was $40 in 2005 an this one was $85.
Both were from wally world.
Since we had a dead battery, i connected the two as if there may have been a problem. If it does have drl, i'll just leave it alone, but i don't remember it having them.
'
If this battery goes dead after a week of inactivity, then we know there may be a problem.
The old battery was 6 years old anyway.
That one was $40 in 2005 an this one was $85.
Both were from wally world.
#7
If a relay is bad and stays open can't it keep the current live even when the vehicle is off?
If the car is running, i understand that this is different than being off.
My concern was that if the headlights were on even when turned off, something associated with them and a dead battery is coincidental.
We could have just left a door cracked enough during the week to drain the battery completely. I am leaning towards that.
I just don't remember the lights ever being on when the stalk is turned to the off position.
If the car is running, i understand that this is different than being off.
My concern was that if the headlights were on even when turned off, something associated with them and a dead battery is coincidental.
We could have just left a door cracked enough during the week to drain the battery completely. I am leaning towards that.
I just don't remember the lights ever being on when the stalk is turned to the off position.
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#8
Maybe the way i worded it made it sound retarded.
Can a relay, if it's stuck open, drain a battery if the vehicle is off?
I do remember being able to shut the lights off when the truck was running. I don't remember this thing having drl.
As long as the battery doesn't drain from this, if there is a problem, i just may leave it alone.
I would have never questioned this except for the dead battery. My wife did notice that the rear light at the tailgate was in the "on" position yesterday. It's possible that the light was on when the battery was drained and it would make the most sense since it was dead with a capital D.
Either way since the battery was dead so long, i am sure it was going to have a dead cell or would have developed it soon enough since it was 6 years old.
So, we replaced it with another from wally world for $85 witha three year free replacement.
#9
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I know this sounds dumb
but on my 00 as long as the key in the ignition and the doors are shut the DRLs are still on. Also if the interior lights are remaining on that tells me the keys in the ignition and/or its not turned all the way "off"
#11
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What I am saying is a relay that is stuck CLOSED will only draw when the ignition is off if the load is energized which should be obvious; the load will be on and the battery goes dead quickly. The tricky one is a coil that receives power continuously--this may not be obvious and it takes days to drain the battery--but it is not a relay defect, something has to be miswired or there is a fault ELSEWHERE in the system, not in the relay. If the relay clicks when you unplug it with key and load off, you know something is wrong.
Last edited by TheDurk; 08-01-2011 at 08:57 AM.
#12
Thanks Durk, I know it sounds like a silly question, but it was puzzling.
I'll have to check it out the way you have descibed and see. When switching between the settings with the truck on, i could hear the relay behind the glovebox, but i didn't investigate any further. I'll have to take a look in the future if the battery decides to continue to drain.
I'll have to check it out the way you have descibed and see. When switching between the settings with the truck on, i could hear the relay behind the glovebox, but i didn't investigate any further. I'll have to take a look in the future if the battery decides to continue to drain.
#13
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Thanks Durk, I know it sounds like a silly question, but it was puzzling.
I'll have to check it out the way you have descibed and see. When switching between the settings with the truck on, i could hear the relay behind the glovebox, but i didn't investigate any further. I'll have to take a look in the future if the battery decides to continue to drain.
I'll have to check it out the way you have descibed and see. When switching between the settings with the truck on, i could hear the relay behind the glovebox, but i didn't investigate any further. I'll have to take a look in the future if the battery decides to continue to drain.
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You have to have the e-brake on before you start the engine, or turn the key to accessory, or the daytime running lights will be on.
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My 2000 has DRL. I added a switch wired in the line that goes to the big resistor next to the battery. Info about parking brake is correct. DRLs should be off when the brake is set.
Don't forget you have those switches on the interior lights. Have had battery DOA in the morning because of that.
Also, batteries do go bad.
Ebrake cable change might have put something out of adjustment or broke something.
I get uncomfortable thinking about the possibility of a dead battery. Especially if I'm trail riding in some remote place with no other vehicles around.
Don't forget you have those switches on the interior lights. Have had battery DOA in the morning because of that.
Also, batteries do go bad.
Ebrake cable change might have put something out of adjustment or broke something.
I get uncomfortable thinking about the possibility of a dead battery. Especially if I'm trail riding in some remote place with no other vehicles around.
Last edited by Rich_O; 01-25-2012 at 06:50 PM.