Problem with auto headlights draining battery

[blakecam]

I am hoping someone here can help me with this problem on my 2010 Camry LE. My headlights are randomly turning on when the headlight switch is in the Auto position, well after the car has been turned off and locked for the night. This has been happening in the middle of the night, and I have woken up to a dead battery a few times in the past couple weeks.

I figured this out because my neighbor called in the middle of the night, and said my headlights were on. I went outside, and sure enough, my headlights were on, even though the switch was in the Auto position (and the car turned off and locked). I am 100% sure the headlights were off after shutting down and locking the car. I had to turn the switch to the Off position to get them to turn off.

I took the car to my Toyota local dealer, but of course they could not duplicate the problem. I took the car home, and wouldn't you know it, the very next morning my battery was dead again. The headlight switch again was in the Auto position.

The next night, I left the headlights in the Off position, and the car started right up the next morning. The following night, I again left the switch in the Auto position, and guess what. The battery was dead again. My headlights are randomly turning on after the car has been sitting for a while, well after being locked up, in the middle of the night.

I called the dealer back, and they supposedly checked with Toyota national service advisor. My dealer said that the national guy said they have never heard of this before. Out of thousands and thousands of cars, mine is the only one (so I must be crazy). They said to take the car back to them and they will try to replicate my problem, but can't guarantee they will be successful.

If anyone has any idea why this is happening, I would really appreciate your advice. I don't believe I am crazy, because my wife and my son are witnessing the same thing. I really don't think my car is being occupied by a ghost. Thanks in advance.

[BlackCam09]

Damn it sounds posessed and I never heard that before but why dnt you setup a video camera overnight to see if thee lightss actually do turn on at night that wayy you can also show the dealer the footage. Goodluck

[bandit]

Take a video if they can not reproduce the problem. Why not just leave the headlights off. DRL's are ugly looking and it doesnt take much effort to turn on the headlights. But definitely take a video.

[F2ixfbc]

Yeah I second DCE said. Take a video. Also the fct that it's not that difficult to just turn them off.
I have a se and I wasn't getting that issue. Good luck.

[blakecam]

Thanks guys. Video taping would require that I get a time-lapse set up, so that is not feasible.

I agree that it is no big deal to turn the light switch to Off. I was just trying to see if anyone else had the same problem and maybe a fix. It just irks me that I can't use a feature on the car, and that Toyota can't or won't figure it out.

Thanks again.

[Luna2]

Option 1.
Just cover the light sensor on the dash with black electrical tape. Set the light switch to auto. Drive to the dealer. Park in a spot where you can watch the car. Go to the waiting area, watch, wait and make a day of it. This might take you two or three trips. Be persistant, the problem will show up.

I hope your waiting room has a view of the parking lot.

Option 2.
Drop the car off at the dealer with the sensor covered and the valet key, explain what is occuring at night, hitch a ride to work with a second set of keys. When you get off work, go back and start her up. If it don't, attempt a jump start from the dealer....... They should find it, as it occured in their lot.....

[blakecam]

Originally Posted by Luna2

Option 1.
Just cover the light sensor on the dash with black electrical tape. Set the light switch to auto. Drive to the dealer. Park in a spot where you can watch the car. Go to the waiting area, watch, wait and make a day of it. This might take you two or three trips. Be persistant, the problem will show up.

I hope your waiting room has a view of the parking lot.

Option 2.
Drop the car off at the dealer with the sensor covered and the valet key, explain what is occuring at night, hitch a ride to work with a second set of keys. When you get off work, go back and start her up. If it don't, attempt a jump start from the dealer....... They should find it, as it occured in their lot.....

Luna, that is a great idea about covering the light sensor. I am going to give that a try. Thanks a lot!

[bandit]

Originally Posted by blakecam

Thanks guys. Video taping would require that I get a time-lapse set up, so that is not feasible.

I agree that it is no big deal to turn the light switch to Off. I was just trying to see if anyone else had the same problem and maybe a fix. It just irks me that I can't use a feature on the car, and that Toyota can't or won't figure it out.

Thanks again.

Video to show that car is turned off with doors locked and that lights are still on.

How is dealership going to reproduce the problem for the short amount of time that you drop it off. Doesn't sound like you left the car there overnight. It sounds like you took the car in, they hooked it up to the computer, tested things and couldnt find anything and let you go on your merry way.

[blakecam]

Originally Posted by dcemureviews

Video to show that car is turned off with doors locked and that lights are still on.

How is dealership going to reproduce the problem for the short amount of time that you drop it off. Doesn't sound like you left the car there overnight. It sounds like you took the car in, they hooked it up to the computer, tested things and couldnt find anything and let you go on your merry way.

Actually, I did leave it overnight. But as Luna was saying about covering the sensor, I think they left the car in the garage where there are lights on all night. That may have prevented the lights from randomly turning on, because the sensor would not have detected darkness. I am not sure, but just a hunch.