DIY - Headlights off with the Ignition Switch

[CTScott]

This mod makes the headlights turn off when the ignition is turned off, preventing one from killing the battery when accidentally leaving the headlights on. With this mod, in order to leave the headlights or parking lights on, the key will need to be in the ignition switch and turned to the on position.

Note: This modification is to be done at your own risk! Failure of the relay or wiring connections can result in the headlights turning off unexpectedly!

Parts required:

Relay - SPDT or DPDT relay (12 VDC coil, 10A contacts).
Radio Shack part number: 275-218
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2110713w345.jpg

Female Crimp-on Quick Disconnect Terminals
.187 (3/16") Insulated for 14-16 AWG wire (quantity 2)
.187 (3/16") Insulated for 16-18 AWG wire (quantity 2)
.187 (3/16") Insulated for 24-26 AWG wire (quantity 4)
http://www.electricalbasics.com/acatalog/18-FDNFIRedRGBshdw.jpg

Wire - 3" 18 AWG (white/black stripe)
Wire - 3" 16 AWG (Quantity 3 - white/black stripe)
Wire - 12" 16 AWG (Pink, Orange, etc.)

Heat shrink tubing

Tap Splice connector (14-18 AWG)
http://www.electricalbasics.com/acatalog/18-QSRloRGBshdw.jpg

Adhesive Velcro


Tools required:
#2 Phillips Screwdriver
Soldering Iron
Heat Gun
Wire Stripper
Crimp Tool



Overview:

The relay is controlled by the ignition switch and is used to switch the ED and T1 contacts of the headlight dimmer switch connector. The ED contact is the ground common for the headlight and parking light circuits. The T1 contact is the ground for the headlight warning circuit. A dual pole relay is required to switch both of these circuits:

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Headlights%20w%20Key/schematic.jpg



1. Remove the lower steering column cover: Turn the steering wheel enough to expose and remove the two screws:
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Headlights%20w%20Key/Screw1.jpg

2. Remove the third screw, which is located beneath the steering column, by the tilt lever.

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Headlights%20w%20Key/screw3.jpg

3. Disconnect the headlight dimmer switch connector

4. Cut the ED (pin 11 - white/black wire) and T1 (pin 10 - white/black wire) wires leaving ~1" of wire on the connector side.

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Misc%20Yaris/YarisHeadlightDimmerSwitchConnector.jpg

5. Extend the ED and T1 wires on the connector side by soldering and heat shrinking a 3" piece of appropriately sized wire to the ED and T1 wires (The wires have little slack, so this provides the necessary slack.

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Headlights%20w%20Key/RelayConnections.jpg


6. Solder and heat shrink two 3" pieces of 16 AWG wire to the ED wire (harness side).

7. Strip and crimp female quick disconnect connectors to each of 5 exposed ends.

8. Connect blank female quick disconnect connectors to terminals 1 and 2 of the relay (to cover the non-used terminals).

9. Connect the connector side of the ED wire to terminal 4 on the relay.

10. Connect the harness sides of the ED wires to terminals 6 and 7 on the relay.

11. Connect the connector side of the T1 wire to terminal 3 on the relay.

12. Connect the harness side of the T1 wire to terminal 5 on the relay.

13. Locate the pink wire (Ignition ON) on the ignition switch connector:

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Headlights%20w%20Key/KeyswitchConnector.jpg

14. Splice the 12" piece of wire to the pink wire with the tap splice connector.

15. Strip and crimp a female quick disconnect connector onto the other end of the Igniton wire.

16. Connect the Ignition On wire to terminal 8 on the relay. The connections should now look like the following picture:

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Headlights%20w%20Key/RelayConnections.jpg

17. Mount the relay to the back of the headlight dimmer switch connector using the adhesive Velcro and reconnect the headlight dimmer switch connector:
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Headlights%20w%20Key/RelayMounted.jpg

18. Test by turning the headlights on (with the key removed) - Headlights should not turn on, and headlight warning buzzer should not sound.

19. Insert key and turn to Ignition ON position. Turn headlight switch to ON, and headlights should now light.

20. Reinstall lower steering column cover.

[mikenacarato]

very good idea. anything to save from killing the battery is good. one thing though...do you not have the annoying beep that reminds you they are on when you shut the car off?

[silver_echo]

on mine, it only beeps when the door is open and the key is out

[YAR1S]

thats what it does on all yaris..

[YAR1S]

haha at least our yaris' dont tell us our lights are on like the old "Z" cars.... my brother has one of those cars.

[CTScott]

very good idea. anything to save from killing the battery is good. one thing though...do you not have the annoying beep that reminds you they are on when you shut the car off?

Mine Has the beep, but my Subaru had the auto off lights, and I really got used to having it that way.

There was a recent thread where someone's hearing impaired spouse kept leaving the lights on and killing the battery. That got me thinking about this mod, and it turned out to be pretty simple.

[eTiMaGo]

great writeup, thanks! Very inspiring :smile:

[Danish Yaris]

Hi

In Denmark you need to drive with the lights on all day long, so the lights are turning on automatically when you start the car, only the light in the center console don´t turn on, but you can turn that on when you switch the light as usual when you drive at night.
The Toyota´s are delivered with a running light relay, so you can get the original and connect that and it should work fine. Just an idea.

Regards Steven.

[Reeves360]

Mine Has the beep, but my Subaru had the auto off lights, and I really got used to having it that way.


My 89 Camry LE had this option as well. :P

I was wondering if I added the fog lights with the OEM fog light stalk if this would still work for me or will I have additional steps other then what was listed above?

Thanks for the help Scott!

[1NZYaris1]

My 89 Camry LE had this option as well. :P

I was wondering if I added the fog lights with the OEM fog light stalk if this would still work for me or will I have additional steps other then what was listed above?

Thanks for the help Scott!

Yes it will as the fog lights only come on with the head lights on or park lights . when useing the factory stalk .:thumbsup:

[CTScott]

Yes it will as the fog lights only come on with the head lights on or park lights . when useing the factory stalk .:thumbsup:

Exactly. I have fogs installed as well, and as 1NZ mentioned they do turn off with the key as well as the headlights.

[cali yaris]

CTScott, you can top this one with a timed auto-off circuit for the headlights when the ignition is turned off.

That way, if you WANTED to turn on your headlights with the ignition off, they would still work.

[CTScott]

CTScott, you can top this one with a timed auto-off circuit for the headlights when the ignition is turned off.

That way, if you WANTED to turn on your headlights with the ignition off, they would still work.

When I initially did this, I thought about doing something to allow them to be on without the key. The more I thought about it though, I really couldn't think of a time when I ever needed the headlights on without the key being in the car.

[Reeves360]

Exactly. I have fogs installed as well, and as 1NZ mentioned they do turn off with the key as well as the headlights.

Thanks CTScott! I'll have to do this when I install my fog lights next month. I'll also be installing that switch that allows you to control your windows with an OEM or aftermarket alarm.

[advocate]

When I initially did this, I thought about doing something to allow them to be on without the key. The more I thought about it though, I really couldn't think of a time when I ever needed the headlights on without the key being in the car.

True but it would make the car LOOK cooler if you could leave the lights running after it was off and have them automatically shut off on a timer. That way it would be more modern.

Anyways great DIY.

[CTScott]

True but it would make the car LOOK cooler if you could leave the lights running after it was off and have them automatically shut off on a timer. That way it would be more modern.

Anyways great DIY.

OK. Delay on break relay is the easy solution. They have an adjustable time delay before opening. Using one in place of the SPDT or DPDT relay would achieve the desired effect.


Here's an example ($63 from Amazon):

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/413QEHwFggL._SS400_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PJ8HXS

[ivanmadeline]

I'm glad i found this DIY i use to have a 86 GTS for the last 5 Years and it had that option that the light would shut off when you open the doors. I missed my old rolla. One more time thanks CTScott.

[ivanmadeline]

Just got done with DIY - Headlights off with the Ignition Switch too easy. Thanks again CT Scott.

[homerj]

This mod makes the headlights turn off when the ignition is turned off, preventing one from killing the battery when accidentally leaving the headlights on. With this mod, in order to leave the headlights or parking lights on, the key will need to be in the ignition switch and turned to the on position....

remote start systems sometimes turn on the parking lights. would this diy affect that?

EDIT W. ANSWER: It wouldn't because a) the ignition would be on and b) it works after the switch and turns it on directly

[CTScott]

remote start systems sometimes turn on the parking lights. would this diy affect that?

EDIT W. ANSWER: It wouldn't because a) the ignition would be on and b) it works after the switch and turns it on directly

That's correct. I installed a remote starter on mine and the parking lights still come on when I remote start or flash when I lock/unlock.

[wshing]

I hate to bump this old thread, but I was wondering can I just strip the wires, solder them together and heatshrink instead of getting 12VDC/10A DPDT Plug-in Relay.

[CTScott]

I hate to bump this old thread, but I was wondering can I just strip the wires, solder them together and heatshrink instead of getting 12VDC/10A DPDT Plug-in Relay.

You really want a relay in there to keep the headlight and ignition circuits separate. The relay allows one circuit to switch the other, without being a direct connection.

[wshing]

ah thanks CTScott. I'll go get that relay, haha havn't been to radioshack in ages.

[CTScott]

I can't find any shop who send to spain this relay! :'(

It doesn't have to be that exact relay. You just need a DPDT relay with a 12 VDC coil.

[CTScott]

this could be work, isn't?

http://cgi.ebay.es/Relay-Picker-Components-Corp-Coil-12V-10A-DPDT-Qty-1-/370408306307#ht_2072wt_709


Yes. That one is fine.

[ibanezjeepguy]

I'm wondering if 2010+ models have this issue, I cannot remember having the lights stay on after I took the key out... they might have though!

[nOmi_89]

awesome thread :) i'll be doing this soon enuff :P hope it works fine for meeee :D

thread Subscribed lol :D

[ibanezjeepguy]

I know what it was... with our 2010 LB, it is possible to leave the front map lights on accidentally! my wife has done this twice now, at least that I've caught, I would love to add a small chime to that circuit for when the key is removed.

[iicaie]

Nice work Scott! Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I want to have a relay that will turn on/off something when the key is in/out, I just put a 12V relay in-line with the pink wire?

[CTScott]

Nice work Scott! Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I want to have a relay that will turn on/off something when the key is in/out, I just put a 12V relay in-line with the pink wire?

Correct

[azeeroth]

Sorry for thread digging of sorts, but this page has been massively useful for a couple mods I've done to the Yaris here now. :thumbup:

I just did this mod to my Australian 5 door 2009 Hatchback (LB?) and it works a treat - but I did notice a couple differences.

1) All the controls are on the right hand side, must be an Aussie thing :flame:

2) More importantly - the T1 cable on my Yaris was a thinner Green cable, not a black/white cable.

The ED cable was the type indicated by CTScott. Apologies if this is me missing something obvious, but it messed with my head! Nearly gave up on the mod but after some probing and theorising and a good old bit of bugger it what's the worst that can happen I went ahead and it's all good. No more beepies for you my little Yaris! :bellyroll::bellyroll::bellyroll::bellyroll:

Hopefully that green cable doesn't do something important :laugh:

[yarisyeti]

Would this work: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PCS-12V-DC-Power-Delay-Time-Relay-1-999-Seconds-/120749711897?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1d3e6219

I live in the country, and having a light to see where I'm walking from my car to my house would be nice, and I think this would be ideal.

Thanks!

(just call me the old thread resurrecter!!)

[CTScott]

Would this work: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PCS-12V-DC-Power-Delay-Time-Relay-1-999-Seconds-/120749711897?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1d3e6219

I live in the country, and having a light to see where I'm walking from my car to my house would be nice, and I think this would be ideal.

Thanks!

(just call me the old thread resurrecter!!)

You want the opposite (a delay on break, rather than a delay on make relay).

[djoneab]

gonna try it on my fj60 and report

[PakYaris]

How come this not come in standard package... It's really hard to understand Toyota sometimes...

[Setheroo]

Is there a reason to keep the buzzer hooked up? Is it the same buzzer for leaving the key in the ignition?

[CTScott]

Is there a reason to keep the buzzer hooked up? Is it the same buzzer for leaving the key in the ignition?

The buzzer is easily removable from the instrument cluster circuit board. The one buzzer is used for warning for seat belts, headlights, and key in ignition.

[townkat]

hi all,
i was just wondering, aren't the headlights already powered through a relay from factory? (or all the power go directly trough headlight switch ?)
if so can't we make the change directly there? without adding another relay? just by changing the command source?

btw i have an yaris d4d, automatic transmission, with keyless entry and start and digital dash and i love it

[CTScott]

hi all,
i was just wondering, aren't the headlights already powered trough a relay from factory? (or all the power go directly trough headlight switch ?)
if so can't we make the change directly there? without adding another relay? just by changing the command source?

btw i have an yaris d4d, automatic transmision, with keyless entry and start and digital dash and i love it

They are controlled by a set of relays, but those relays are controlled by the headlight stalk. If you wanted to make the ignition control the headlights instead, then you could move the control point, but if you want the ignition to intercept that feed, as I did here, you need another relay.

[townkat]

so, headlight stalk control some relay, so there is little current going trough it

You really want a relay in there to keep the headlight and ignition circuits separate. The relay allows one circuit to switch the other, without being a direct connection.

if you can detail a little bit on this i would love to understand more, what can happen bad if relay is not used, as i am very tempted to wire them directly if i can't see a direct drawback

thank you

[shepd]

If you put more current through a switch than it can handle, typical failure modes include it becoming unreliable, it completely failing, the item physically disintegrating (due to arcing), and at worst, fire.

If a switch is meant to control a relay (likely less than .2 amps) and you place a 10 A current through it (what your headlights draw) I would lean to the end of the list (disintegrating or fire).

[townkat]

i know that, but i understand that the headlights stalk just powers the command of some relays, so just few milliamperes ...
They are controlled by a set of relays, but those relays are controlled by the headlight stalk.

and my suggestion is to change the source of the headlights stalk switch, not its destination

anyway, thanks for the heads up, what you say it's true, just that i think it is not the case here..