2003 Corolla Headlights on in middle of night

For the past two weeks, my headlights go on in the middle of the night.
I took it to the dealer, they had it for two nights and said they
couldn't find anything wrong and that the headlights didn't go on. Has
anyone had an issue similar to this? I'm tired of waking up to either
a dead battery or an almost dead battery.

There was a recall by toyota about 2 or 3 months ago world wide. It had
someting to do with headlight relay or ciruit errors. Ring up the dealership
and ask then about the Corolla Headlights recall. ( Try to call other dealer
if not toyota it self in Melb)

google come up with the following

[url]http://www.recalls.gov.au/view_recall_detail.php?Recall_ID_Auto=13721[/url]


[url]http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/headlight-defect-sparks-major-toyota-recall/2005/10/19/1129401295277.html[/url]

[url]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9741450/from/RL.2/[/url]

Regards,
Marc.

<i_wanna_run@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1134627980.898902.95170@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> For the past two weeks, my headlights go on in the middle of the night.
> I took it to the dealer, they had it for two nights and said they
> couldn't find anything wrong and that the headlights didn't go on. Has
> anyone had an issue similar to this? I'm tired of waking up to either
> a dead battery or an almost dead battery.
>[/color]

I called two toyota dealers and they said there weren't any recalls for
my car. I'm taking it to another toyota dealer next week. If they
can't find anything wrong, I'm taking it an electrician. It's still
under warranty, which is why I want the dealer to fix it.

<i_wanna_run@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1134662551.452519.219460@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I called two toyota dealers and they said there weren't any recalls for
> my car. I'm taking it to another toyota dealer next week. If they
> can't find anything wrong, I'm taking it an electrician. It's still
> under warranty, which is why I want the dealer to fix it.
>[/color]

Might this be a description of your issue? This is a title header from
toyota service bulletin #EL001-03:

"If the battery in 2003 model year Corolla and Matrix vehicles is allowed to
discharge to a

point where the vehicle will no longer start, a check of headlight operation
should be

performed. In some cases, a depleted battery may result in damage to the DRL
Relay.

An updated Daytime Running Light Relay has been created to address this
situation."

===

Applicable Warranty*:

This repair is covered under the Toyota Comprehensive Warranty. This
warranty is in

effect for 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the
vehicle's

in-service date.

<i_wanna_run@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1134662551.452519.219460@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I called two toyota dealers and they said there weren't any recalls for
> my car. I'm taking it to another toyota dealer next week. If they
> can't find anything wrong, I'm taking it an electrician. It's still
> under warranty, which is why I want the dealer to fix it.
>[/color]

OR... how about this Toyota TSB: (EL003-03) March 13, 2003

"Some customers may complain that the headlights turn on with the switch in
the "OFF"

position while the vehicle is parked. This could result in a dead battery
after an extended

cold soak. An updated Headlamp Switch has been made available to address
this

situation."

-philip

so I should tell the dealer these possible solutions?

IThe dealership had to replace the headlight switch, which involves
disassembling the steering column. I was out of warranty due to high
mileage, so I had to pay out-of-pocket for it. It set me back about
US$350, if I recall correctly.


[email]i_wanna_run@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> For the past two weeks, my headlights go on in the middle of the night.
> I took it to the dealer, they had it for two nights and said they
> couldn't find anything wrong and that the headlights didn't go on. Has
> anyone had an issue similar to this? I'm tired of waking up to either
> a dead battery or an almost dead battery.[/color]

<i_wanna_run@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1134668097.614227.7120@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> so I should tell the dealer these possible solutions?
>[/color]

Do you want your problem fixed by them? Sometimes you have to lead the
horse to water.

You might want to join:

[url]http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Toyotas_Only/[/url]

where we have some of the more popular toyota TSBs on PDF for downloading.
You'll have to join the forum to have access to the files section.

-Philip

Thank you for your help! I joined that other group as well. I'm
learning a lot about Toyotas and how to deal with the dealers and
service guys.

[email]i_wanna_run@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> I called two toyota dealers and they said there weren't any recalls for
> my car.[/color]

Many dealers and car makers won't acknowledge the existence of any free
fix, even if your car is still under warranty, unless you use their
exact terminology for it, and most likely they don't call this a recall
but instead refer to it as a service campaign, service adjustment,
special policy adjustment, etc., all for things we know as secret
warranties. The best sources of information about these are the web
sites dedicated to specific makes of vehicles, and the Lemon Times
newsletter. But having the exact technical service bulletin (TSB)
number is always a help.

I also find that I get better service when my dad is with me. I'm not
one to whine about females not getting equal treatment, but I've owned
my own car for five years now and I just get better service when my dad
comes with me, whether it's for actual maintenace or buying a car. So
he is coming with me to the dealer next week, armed with these two TSB
numbers and we'll see if we can get anywhere.

<i_wanna_run@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1134757398.320610.276300@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I also find that I get better service when my dad is with me. I'm not
> one to whine about females not getting equal treatment, but I've owned
> my own car for five years now and I just get better service when my dad
> comes with me, whether it's for actual maintenace or buying a car. So
> he is coming with me to the dealer next week, armed with these two TSB
> numbers and we'll see if we can get anywhere.[/color]

Yo, babe. Come over here and *I* will surely give you damn good "service"!!!


[color=blue]
>[/color]