Auto-off headlights misbehaving & draining battery

[preacherzson]

The auto-off function on the headlights of my 01 Avy XLS has left me stranded a couple of times this month.
What controls the auto-off function?

• the headlamp switch?

• or a relay?

Thanks in advance.

[toyomoho]

The headlight switch grounds a wire coming from an electric control unit.

The light sensor is wired into this control unit.

A relay control power the lights.

Can you manual turn off the headlights? The drivers door switch is wired into the circuit, make sure this switch works.

[preacherzson]

Originally Posted by toyomoho

The headlight switch grounds a wire coming from an electric control unit.

The light sensor is wired into this control unit.

A relay control power the lights.

Can you manual turn off the headlights? The drivers door switch is wired into the circuit, make sure this switch works.

I can still turn off the lights manually. I'll check the door switch. Thx.

[Dobrydad]

My wife's '00 Avalon has developed the same problem a couple of weeks ago. She always leaves the light switch in the Auto mode, so she doesn't have to remember to turn them off. It is now draining the battery. I tried troubleshooting by covering the dashboard sensor with my hand & the lights turned on, then turned off a few minutes after I removed my hand. I thought I had it solved, but now it's back. Is this a fix-at-home deal?

[preacherzson]

It was a diy home fix for me.

It turned out that my trunk light wasn't turning off consistently because the tab that has the button controlling the light was bent. I took out the latch, straightened the tab and voila, problem solved.

Don't know if that will be your issue, but I hope it helps. It took me a while to find it because it was intermittent and hidden.

[TedL]

On my '03, when I leave the HL in Auto, they turn off after about 2 minutes if I take no action other than getting out and closing the door. If I lock it with the fob, the HL go off immediately.

I can also kill the HL immediately by rotating the switch one position and returning it to auto. Like when I park in home garage and don't lock.

It seems like your timer function is not working properly. The "countdown" may be triggered by a door opening as detected by door switch (mentioned above). Do your dome lights come on?

(Oh, I'll wager the control answer is "Neither. The BCM." But that's a SWAG.)