Adding Auto Headlights by Headlight Switch?

Is it possible to add auto headlights to a 2016 Tundra by adding just the auto headlight switch? My Tundra SR5 Off Road does not have auto headlights. The light sensor looks to me installed in the dash.

 

I can tell you that the wiring is different between the Canadian headlight switch which has no “off” for the DRLs and the US switch that has an OFF for the DRLs. So I would bet that it’s slightly more of a pain in the ass than that but I really can’t say for sure. Hopefully someone with more knowledge or experience on the topic can chime in.

 

I know that some of the higher trims in Canada have the auto feature. My wife's 2015 Camry has the auto headlights with "Auto" printed on the stock.

 

I’m just referring to the fact that Canadian model tundras use a switch that doesn’t have a DRL off on it. The wiring is different for everything else in that switch. All they had to do was remove the DRL OFF and that’s not what they did.

my truck purchased in the USA was the top line tundra in 2018. The switch I ordered was for the same truck.

I still have the brand new switch in fact if you want it or want to compare wiring. Feel free to PM me.

 

Thanks for the info and the offer. Why did you buy a new headlight switch?

I know that the headlight switch just applies a ground and when the body control module sees a ground it turns on the headlights. I do have a aftermarket auto headlight kit I could install but was thinking maybe an auto headlight switch might work.

 

I moved to Canada. When you move to Canada with a foreign vehicle they have a provincial and a federal inspection. They required that the DRLs be on 100% of the time and had no ability to be turned off. So, like you, I theorized I could just buy the switch and swap them.

Nope. Wired completely differently. There’s a small circuit board with sliders and springs that close the circuit in side the switch. Even those were different between the switch’s.

So I made a quick wiring harness that bypassed the switch entirely for the DRL’s and passed the inspection.

I kept the switch and it’s sitting on a shelf in the garage because who know knows when you might need a Canadian spec headlight switch for a top line tundra right!?

 

So maybe the Canadian spec switch with auto would work on a Canadian spec vehicle without auto? I'm going to pull the top panel that holds the light sensor and see if there is a light sensor installed.

I miss having Infostream when I use to work as a Toyota tech and I'm too cheap to pay for the info.

 

You know there’s a thread with all the detailed wiring diagrams, right?
That should give you a good starting point since you’ve got experience as a tech…

on my 2008 it required the wand/switch with the Auto position and the sensor in the dash. I don’t think they changed that logic significantly though 2017, but the diagrams would give you a good start

 

I did a search and never found any info. I did find a one wiring diagram that was for auto headlights but nothing for non auto headlights. Also the programing may or may not be different and I don't want to invest in parts and time to find out that it doesn't work. I'm hoping someone has tried this modification and can post their results.

 

At least through 2017, there’s no significant change to the wiring:

make sure you have a functioning light sensor in the dash (trucks without one had a “plug” stuck in that spot) with the three wires plugged into it. And make sure there’s a wire in pin 19 on connector J10 for your headlight switch (green in this diagram, but colors sometimes change). From there, it’s simply plugging in an AUTO headlight wand and it will work. That’s exactly what I did on my 2008.

 

Thanks for the info. I saw that on the EWD. If they didn't change the software in the BCM then it may work. The reason I'm slightly reluctant because the 2016 and 2017 didn't light the instrument cluster when the headlights are off and that output was from the BCM. Apparently there was a software change made to prevent people from driving around at night with the headlights off.

 

Should be pretty straight forward. You might see if Toyota defines multiple parts numbers for body control modules and denotes if one is for auto headlights while one is not.

My assumption is they are all the same, at least body control module wise.

Adding in wiring and switch with the solar sensor it should work

 

I'm going to start by seeing if I have the "Auto" wire at the headlight switch. If I do then I'll check for the light sensor. If I jump the green wire to ground and have light sensor then the headlights should come on.

 

Let us know what you find. You could also just ground that pin on the BCM (if you don’t have a wire) and make sure the solar sensor thinks it’s dark.

I might try this out for a quick test.

 

On my 17 I bought the auto switch and sensor for the dash and everything worked, plug and play.

 

Thank you very much for confirming. I did just checked my wiring and I do have the green wire off the switch but I'm missing the light sensor. Where did you buy your light sensor. I checked some online Toyota dealers and it was $131. I found the same sensor on Aliexpress for $10.

 

Not a Tundra, but did the same mod to our 08 4Runner. Had to buy the light sensor for the dash (Got it used on ebay from another model) and a small sub harness to connect it to a open connector under the dash. Added the auto stalk and everything works as factory, plug and play. I'm sure the ECU will work once the components are installed and it received the signal.

 

My light sensor came in today and I installed it. I had order the the light sensor from Aliexpress and it was only $13 shipped to me. I grounded the green wire terminal #19 to the white/black wire terminal #12. Terminal #12 is the ground wire. Basically ground the two wires is doing the same thing that the auto light switch does. Opened up techstream and made sure the light sensor was working and that the "auto" for the headlight switch shows ON. With the auto light showing on I turned the headlight switch on. Data stream shows both in the the auto and headlights on which would be impossible if you had an auto headlight switch installed. The BCM didn't seemed to care and no codes were set. The auto headlight are now working. The only disadvantage is that you cannot manually turn the headlights off. The light sensor controls when the headlights lights go off which is fine by me. So for around $13 and a small piece of wire I now have auto headlight.

 

Very nice! I was wondering why you mentioned you couldn't turn the headlights off manually, then I realized you were skipping out on swapping to the auto stalk. Might be worth wiring in a simple switch to ground pin 19 for when you want the auto function, or want to manually turn the lights off.

 

I thought about doing that but decided that the switch would be on all the time anyway. If it's dark out, lights ON. I had a 2022 Frontier and if had auto headlights with no off position and I was fine with it.

 

Update, connecting the green auto wire does cause a weird issue. During the day when the lights are off if you manual turn the lights on the headlights will come on but the fog lights and instrument cluster lights don't come on. Also the indicator in the cluster showing the light on doesn't work. @ZappBrannigan I'm going g to need your headlight switch.

 

Back when I did it to my 2008, I sourced the sensor out of a wrecked Sienna minivan

 

Sensor was easy and cheap. I bought one off AliExpress for $13 shipped and was here in less that two weeks.

 

So I have finished installed the auto headlight switch and light sensor. The light sensor was only around $13 and thanks to ZappBannigan for providing me with the auto headlight switch. I now have auto headlights. The light sensor is very easy to install. The headlight switch requires the steering wheel to be removed along with the spiral cable (clock spring) but it's easy if you take your time and make sure your spiral cable doesn't turn when you remove the steering wheel. You can add a piece of sticky tape to stop it from turning. Also make sure to disconnect your battery before removing the air bag.