Automatic headlights

rfig · Feb 14, 2014

I dropped the car at the dealer today for an oil change, and while there, I asked whether it was possible to fit a 2013 Rav4 XLE with automatic headlights, now that the 2014 model comes with that as a standard feature. They told me it was possible, but it would cost around $1000 to get it done.

Not having automatic headlights is my only big complaint about my car, but $1000 seems a bit excessive, in my opinion.

Veliksam · Feb 14, 2014

It is excessive and I'll tell you why, the parts required to get this done don't cost more than $200-300 (sensor, wiring, new headlight stalk), the labor wouldn't take more than 3 hours so if they charge $100 per hour the whole thing shouldn't cost more than $600 at the dealer, if you buy your own parts it would be even cheaper. If you're handy then you can even install everything yourself.

Leonard1818 · Feb 14, 2014

Yikes!!! That's steep -- even for Canada.

I guess I never thought about the atuo-headlights. Were those Limited only in 2013? My wife would NOT have been happy to lose that feature over her previous car. One of those things that never seems like a big deal till you don't have it.

If you're really wanting them, I'd look into how hard the install would be to DIY.

RobertN · Feb 14, 2014

First car we have had with auto headlights, never missed turning manual lights on, or noticed they were doing there thing automatically. Usually turn the lights off manually when parking, bugs me to have them on when walking away from the car.

CanuckRAV4 · Feb 14, 2014

Veliksam said:
It is excessive and I'll tell you why, the parts required to get this done don't cost more than $200-300 (sensor, wiring, new headlight stalk), the labor wouldn't take more than 3 hours so if they charge $100 per hour the whole thing shouldn't cost more than $600 at the dealer, if you buy your own parts it would be even cheaper. If you're handy then you can even install everything yourself.

I think the whole dash top has to come off in order to install the light sensor and wiring, if it's located likes in the 4.3, hence the high labour charge.

One weird condition I've encountered is the light level sensor gets fooled by unusual bright light (white) in a snow storm. The auto-headlight system thinks it's bright enough not to have full headlights on, more importantly the taillights are not on. It's actually hazardous on the highway in a snow storm without lit taillights to warn following drivers. After realizing, I've to manually turn the light stalk switch from 'Auto' to 'Headlight On' position so I have taillights.

I doubted this situation would exists for Orlando though but you never know these days

Veliksam · Feb 14, 2014

CanuckRAV4 said:
I think the whole dash top has to come off in order to install the light sensor and wiring, if it's located likes in the 4.3, hence the high labour charge.

Actually, there is a way to route the wiring without taking out the whole dash (behind the instrument cluster), there was a thread about it and a member did it (on a 4.3), that's why I said 3 hours since you wouldn't need to remove the whole upper dash.

CanuckRAV4 · Feb 14, 2014

Yeah but do you think the stealership will give you the deal instead of charging maximum install time listed in the Mitchell or whatever guide? Fat chance . . . .

As an example, the official V6 water pump Re+Re time including engine removal. I think the actual repairs was done in a lot less time than originally projected. It almost looks like stealerships only employ noob mechanics to justify the official recommended repairs time. Sometimes their handiwork actually supported that theory.

Veliksam · Feb 14, 2014

I totally agree with you.

rfig · Feb 14, 2014

Veliksam said:
It is excessive and I'll tell you why, the parts required to get this done don't cost more than $200-300 (sensor, wiring, new headlight stalk), the labor wouldn't take more than 3 hours so if they charge $100 per hour the whole thing shouldn't cost more than $600 at the dealer, if you buy your own parts it would be even cheaper. If you're handy then you can even install everything yourself.

I totally agree with you. My only problem with doing DIY mods to the car is affecting the warranty. I'm sure the dealer will use that to negate warranty work, saying that I messed up with the car. I guess I'll have to live with manual headlights. I'm kinda used to turning them on now, but during the first two weeks of ownership I drove the car at night with all lights and markers off a few times (a lot actually). Now it only happens about once a month

Hyperlight · Feb 14, 2014

Hmmm, thanks for the info. I will have to check at my dealer to see how much they are willing to do this for.

Leonard1818 · Feb 14, 2014

RobertN said:
First car we have had with auto headlights, never missed turning manual lights on, or noticed they were doing there thing automatically. Usually turn the lights off manually when parking, bugs me to have them on when walking away from the car.

Hmmm, I guess it's what you're accustomed to. I've always had little Hondas and they never had auto headlights. My current 09 civic doesn't either. I personally don't mind since I have HID projectors on my civic and I like to be in control of when they come off/on.

My wife has had various GM vehicles that do auto-headlights (all the way back to early 2000's). She is much more accustomed to it than I am. So for her, it's not necessarily a "must have" but close to it as it's tough to regress and lose features you're used to having.

Code54 · Feb 15, 2014

I have them on my work truck and personal truck and found I really like them. I sort of even miss them on the RAV4 and I don't drive it very often because it is my wife's car. If you leave the manual lights on the XLE on, shut off the car and take the key out do they eventually go out or will it stay on?

sbulka · Feb 15, 2014

Code54 said:
I have them on my work truck and personal truck and found I really like them. I sort of even miss them on the RAV4 and I don't drive it very often because it is my wife's car. If you leave the manual lights on the XLE on, shut off the car and take the key out do they eventually go out or will it stay on?

I'm guessing auto-shut off is on nearly all if not all Toyotas at this point and it's definitely on the RAV4. The default shut off is 30 seconds. But you can program it for 60 or 90 seconds (or turn off the auto shut off). This is a USER customizable setting, so you can do it yourself.

JuneBug · Feb 15, 2014

sbulka said:
I'm guessing auto-shut off is on nearly all if not all Toyotas at this point and it's definitely on the RAV4. The default shut off is 30 seconds. But you can program it for 60 or 90 seconds (or turn off the auto shut off). This is a USER customizable setting, so you can do it yourself.

I was told by a 2013 owner that the headlights do not automatically shut off as they do on the 2006-2012 models. Except for the 2013 Limited.

sbulka · Feb 15, 2014

JuneBug said:
I was told by a 2013 owner that the headlights do not automatically shut off as they do on the 2006-2012 models. Except for the 2013 Limited.

The manual makes no distinction between grades for this feature. Testing it is simple enough, shouldn't take more than 96 seconds or so at the most...

Note: All doors must be shut for the Automatic Light off system timer to start.

ipokrov · Feb 21, 2014

Hi, I am the guy that did the Auto-lights on my rav4 2010. Actually, there is nothing for them to do except replace the handle (so instead of "DRL" it says "Auto") and re-program the ECU. I have a 2013 XLE and when I got the car, I researched what it would take.

The light sensor is there, it is there because it NEEDS to dim the head unit screen when it gets dark, otherwise it would be destructing the driver. You can test this by covering the sensor during the day and you will see the screen dim.

The wiring is IDENTICAL to the limited, it uses the green wire for auto-light/DRL option. I know that becouse I first purchased the Limited turn handle and plugged it in, it continued to work as XLE, so I know the wiring is the same. Also the diagram shows green wire from turn handle to ECU as "DRL/Auto-light"

So what controls it is the ECU. On limited it is programmed to do auto-lights, on XLE it is programmed to turn on the DRL. The change they did in 2014 is they use the limited handle and use the same ECU setting. I knew that was coming... 0 cost for Toyota, bump on the price....

I did a mode that is fairly complex on my 2013 rav4, it involves a DEI 545T - auto lights unit, a couple of relays and cutting one wire and splicing into 2 wires. DEI 545T out of the box is a pretty dumb system that directly powers the lights. I did not want to that and also I wanted to be flexible where I can turn it on and off and it wont interfere with default functionality. So when my handle is out of the DRL position it works as factory, when it is in the DRL position the DEI 545T comes on and depending on the light condition it ether runs the DRL or turns on the lights using the factory wiring. The only thing I don't like about DEI 545T is that the light condition change is about 2-3 seconds. I would prefer a 15-30 seconds delay. On a gray day it might turn the lights on and off when passing a big tree or an overpass, otherwise it works fine.

this is not a how-to, more of an idea for a mod. http://www.rav4world.com/forums/125...xterior/114009-add-auto-lite-option-using-non-oem-equipment-factory-wiring.html

buerkletucson · Feb 21, 2014

sbulka said:
I'm guessing auto-shut off is on nearly all if not all Toyotas at this point and it's definitely on the RAV4.

Want to come out to Minnesota and test my 2013 XLE RAV4 and tell me it's on my vehicle?

Maybe I'm just imagining my headlights never go out by themselves?

sbulka · Feb 21, 2014

buertakeaucson said:
Want to come out to Minnesota and test my 2013 XLE RAV4 and tell me it's on my vehicle?
Maybe I'm just imagining my headlights never go out by themselves?

If you pay for the ticket in the spring I'll do it.

. There have been a couple of times where I thought they wouldn't turn off but it was because a door was open. Once the car is off and the final door is shut the countdown begins. If after 90 seconds of nothing then I guess it doesn't work. Maybe it takes a lot longer if the switch is o in the on position. I'll mess around with it this weekend if I have time.

kingnba6 · Feb 22, 2014

if you really want auto lights, on basically any car, this is your answer. Amazon.com: Directed Electronics 545T Nite-Lite System D: Car Electronics

sbulka · Feb 22, 2014

Ok, I'm an idiot. For some reason I thought you were asking about Auto "SHUTOFF". :wall:shrug: Ignore everything I said...

Automatic headlights

rfig

Veliksam

Leonard1818

RobertN

CanuckRAV4

Veliksam

CanuckRAV4

Veliksam

rfig

Hyperlight

Leonard1818

Code54

sbulka

JuneBug

sbulka

ipokrov

buerkletucson

sbulka

kingnba6

sbulka

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