Headlights won't go off with ignition on Avalon

I have a 97 Avalon. The headlights are supposed to go on when the ignition
is turned on, and turn off when the door opens after the ignition is turned
off.. On my 97, this usually happens, but occasionally (especially in
winter), the lights remain on and drain the battery.

Is there anything short of replacing the computer that will resolve this?
We try to use the lights the opld fashioned way (TURN THEM OFF!), but we get
seduced by the system working most of the time.

Dave

"Dave Kaplan" <davidkaplan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:12ollghlhtb4c3a@corp.supernews.com...[color=blue]
>I have a 97 Avalon. The headlights are supposed to go on when the ignition
>is turned on, and turn off when the door opens after the ignition is turned
>off.. On my 97, this usually happens, but occasionally (especially in
>winter), the lights remain on and drain the battery.
>
> Is there anything short of replacing the computer that will resolve this?
> We try to use the lights the opld fashioned way (TURN THEM OFF!), but we
> get seduced by the system working most of the time.
>
> Dave[/color]

There are 2 relatively inexpensive things you an do to prevent the
headlights from draining the battery.

1) check to make sure that the courtesy light switches are working properly.
The courtesy light switches are under rubber boots on the door jambs, and if
they stick, they will not pop out when the door is opened. Carefully peel
back the rubber boot and give the switch a shot of WD-40 and make sure the
plunger moves freely.

2) install a lights on alarm, available at auto parts stores.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

In article <a8579$458ae465$44a4a10d$3964@msgid.meganewsservers.com>,
Ray O wrote:
[color=blue]
> "Dave Kaplan" <davidkaplan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:12ollghlhtb4c3a@corp.supernews.com...[color=green]
> >I have a 97 Avalon. The headlights are supposed to go on when the ignition
> >is turned on, and turn off when the door opens after the ignition is turned
> >off.. On my 97, this usually happens, but occasionally (especially in
> >winter), the lights remain on and drain the battery.
> >
> > Is there anything short of replacing the computer that will resolve this?
> > We try to use the lights the opld fashioned way (TURN THEM OFF!), but we
> > get seduced by the system working most of the time.
> >
> > Dave[/color]
>
> There are 2 relatively inexpensive things you an do to prevent the
> headlights from draining the battery.
>
> 1) check to make sure that the courtesy light switches are working properly.
> The courtesy light switches are under rubber boots on the door jambs, and if
> they stick, they will not pop out when the door is opened. Carefully peel
> back the rubber boot and give the switch a shot of WD-40 and make sure the
> plunger moves freely.
>
> 2) install a lights on alarm, available at auto parts stores.[/color]

I bet it's #1. On my '98 Avalon XLS I've been having similar headlight
gremlins, and now I recall it roughly tracks the driver's courtesy
lights switch's anomalous behavior. I'll report whether Ray's fix
relieves the situation.

Ray, I've also been having phantom door-lockings that I think might
have the same trigger. Is that plausible?

--
Paul from Pemaquid Point
"Bounding Maine"

"Solstice" <solsticehyp@toohotmail.com> wrote in message
news:221220061615338589%solsticehyp@toohotmail.com...[color=blue]
> In article <a8579$458ae465$44a4a10d$3964@msgid.meganewsservers.com>,
> Ray O wrote:
>[color=green]
>> "Dave Kaplan" <davidkaplan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:12ollghlhtb4c3a@corp.supernews.com...[color=darkred]
>> >I have a 97 Avalon. The headlights are supposed to go on when the
>> >ignition
>> >is turned on, and turn off when the door opens after the ignition is
>> >turned
>> >off.. On my 97, this usually happens, but occasionally (especially in
>> >winter), the lights remain on and drain the battery.
>> >
>> > Is there anything short of replacing the computer that will resolve
>> > this?
>> > We try to use the lights the opld fashioned way (TURN THEM OFF!), but
>> > we
>> > get seduced by the system working most of the time.
>> >
>> > Dave[/color]
>>
>> There are 2 relatively inexpensive things you an do to prevent the
>> headlights from draining the battery.
>>
>> 1) check to make sure that the courtesy light switches are working
>> properly.
>> The courtesy light switches are under rubber boots on the door jambs, and
>> if
>> they stick, they will not pop out when the door is opened. Carefully
>> peel
>> back the rubber boot and give the switch a shot of WD-40 and make sure
>> the
>> plunger moves freely.
>>
>> 2) install a lights on alarm, available at auto parts stores.[/color]
>
> I bet it's #1. On my '98 Avalon XLS I've been having similar headlight
> gremlins, and now I recall it roughly tracks the driver's courtesy
> lights switch's anomalous behavior. I'll report whether Ray's fix
> relieves the situation.[/color]

When I give multiple possible causes/cures for a condition, I try to list
them in the order of likelihood of cause/success. Occasionally, I think of
somthing else and stick it on at the end. Having a repair manual for each
vehicle would make diagnosis a little easier so I don't have to rely on my
memory.
[color=blue]
> Ray, I've also been having phantom door-lockings that I think might
> have the same trigger. Is that plausible?
>
> --
> Paul from Pemaquid Point
> "Bounding Maine"[/color]

Does the phantom locking occur when the car is running or when it is parked?

Toyotas with power door locks have a switch/sensor in the lock cylinder that
will keep you from using the power door lock switch to lock the door with
the door open and the key in the ignition, but I have not heard of that
system working in reverse, where it unintentionally locks the doors.

I know some Avalons have the auto door-lock if the car goes above a certain
speed, but I believe that feature came in later models.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

In article <97022$458c579b$44a4a10d$31458@msgid.meganewsservers.com>,
Ray O wrote:
[color=blue]
> "Solstice" <solsticehyp@toohotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:221220061615338589%solsticehyp@toohotmail.com...[color=green]
> > In article <a8579$458ae465$44a4a10d$3964@msgid.meganewsservers.com>,
> > Ray O wrote:
> >[color=darkred]
> >> "Dave Kaplan" <davidkaplan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >> news:12ollghlhtb4c3a@corp.supernews.com...
> >> >I have a 97 Avalon. The headlights are supposed to go on when the
> >> >ignition
> >> >is turned on, and turn off when the door opens after the ignition is
> >> >turned
> >> >off.. On my 97, this usually happens, but occasionally (especially in
> >> >winter), the lights remain on and drain the battery.
> >> >
> >> > Is there anything short of replacing the computer that will resolve
> >> > this?
> >> > We try to use the lights the opld fashioned way (TURN THEM OFF!), but
> >> > we
> >> > get seduced by the system working most of the time.
> >> >
> >> > Dave
> >>
> >> There are 2 relatively inexpensive things you an do to prevent the
> >> headlights from draining the battery.
> >>
> >> 1) check to make sure that the courtesy light switches are working
> >> properly.
> >> The courtesy light switches are under rubber boots on the door jambs, and
> >> if
> >> they stick, they will not pop out when the door is opened. Carefully
> >> peel
> >> back the rubber boot and give the switch a shot of WD-40 and make sure
> >> the
> >> plunger moves freely.
> >>
> >> 2) install a lights on alarm, available at auto parts stores.[/color]
> >
> > I bet it's #1. On my '98 Avalon XLS I've been having similar headlight
> > gremlins, and now I recall it roughly tracks the driver's courtesy
> > lights switch's anomalous behavior. I'll report whether Ray's fix
> > relieves the situation.[/color]
>
> When I give multiple possible causes/cures for a condition, I try to list
> them in the order of likelihood of cause/success. Occasionally, I think of
> somthing else and stick it on at the end. Having a repair manual for each
> vehicle would make diagnosis a little easier so I don't have to rely on my
> memory.
>[color=green]
> > Ray, I've also been having phantom door-lockings that I think might
> > have the same trigger. Is that plausible?
> >
> > --
> > Paul from Pemaquid Point
> > "Bounding Maine"[/color]
>
> Does the phantom locking occur when the car is running or when it is parked?
>
> Toyotas with power door locks have a switch/sensor in the lock cylinder that
> will keep you from using the power door lock switch to lock the door with
> the door open and the key in the ignition, but I have not heard of that
> system working in reverse, where it unintentionally locks the doors.[/color]

The motor must be off.

I took the Avalon for service a couple of weeks ago. I left the key in
the ignition with the ignition off and all doors closed and the windows
up. When the service rep went to move the car, the doors were locked. I
had to pay for an emergency key.

This uninvoked locking happens intermittently whether the driver's door
is open or closed. When it happens it always occurs around the
30-second mark after the door was opened, although I haven't clocked it

The service rep said it happens often and there's no way to fix it. A
mechanic actually claimed it was supposed to be that way. I'm thinking
your idea about the courtesy light switch just might be the ticket to
happier motoring.

Our Prius has it right. If there's a key anywhere inside, it won't let
you lock the car. It simply sounds three beeps and leave the car
unlocked. That's an advantage of the SmartKey system.

My guess is that it's a fairly common fault
[color=blue]
> I know some Avalons have the auto door-lock if the car goes above a certain
> speed, but I believe that feature came in later models.[/color]

Yes. That's not on my car.

--
Paul from Pemaquid Point
"Bounding Maine"

In article <241220060132134943%solsticehyp@toohotmail.com>
[email]PquidPt@Yaaho.com[/email] "Solstice" writes:
[color=blue]
> Our Prius has it right. If there's a key anywhere inside, it
> won't let you lock the car. It simply sounds three beeps and
> leave the car unlocked. That's an advantage of the SmartKey
> system.[/color]

And even the version without SmartKey gets it right, IMHO: unlock
the car but then fail to open it in some way (door or rear hatch)
within around 30sec and it relocks itself. OTOH open the car and
it waits for you to do a locking action (remote or mechanical key
are equivalent -- as established in a thread a week or two back).
The way it's constructed, you cannot use the remote while the fob
is in the dashboard or get at the mechanical key held in the fob.
I haven't tested other, obscurer, screw-up modes. But you really
have to put some effort into locking yourself out.

Even so, I am careful: as we see in this thread, stuff can break.
--
Andrew Stephenson

"Solstice" <solsticehyp@toohotmail.com> wrote in message
news:241220060132134943%solsticehyp@toohotmail.com...

<snipped>[color=blue]
>
> The motor must be off.
>
> I took the Avalon for service a couple of weeks ago. I left the key in
> the ignition with the ignition off and all doors closed and the windows
> up. When the service rep went to move the car, the doors were locked. I
> had to pay for an emergency key.
>
> This uninvoked locking happens intermittently whether the driver's door
> is open or closed. When it happens it always occurs around the
> 30-second mark after the door was opened, although I haven't clocked it
>
> The service rep said it happens often and there's no way to fix it. A
> mechanic actually claimed it was supposed to be that way. I'm thinking
> your idea about the courtesy light switch just might be the ticket to
> happier motoring.
>
> Our Prius has it right. If there's a key anywhere inside, it won't let
> you lock the car. It simply sounds three beeps and leave the car
> unlocked. That's an advantage of the SmartKey system.
>
> My guess is that it's a fairly common fault
>[color=green]
>> I know some Avalons have the auto door-lock if the car goes above a
>> certain
>> speed, but I believe that feature came in later models.[/color]
>
> Yes. That's not on my car.
>
> --
> Paul from Pemaquid Point
> "Bounding Maine"[/color]

The factory keyless entry system is designed to re-lock the doors after
unlocking with the remote if one of the doors is not opened within around 30
seconds. When exiting the car with the engine off, the doors are not
supposed to lock with a key in the ignition unless you close the doors first
and then lock with a key.

There is a switch in the ignition lock cylinder that is activated if the key
is in the cylinder, and it may be bad. If the switch is bad or
intermittent, the system would not know that the key is in the ignition.

If the courtesy light switch in the door jamb is sticking, the system would
not know that the door is open. Unsticking the courtesy light switch is an
easy do-it-you yourself job, as I mentioned before.

My guess is that a combination of several factors is what is causing the
anti-lockout feature to not work.


--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On Sun, 24 Dec 2006 14:20:44 GMT, [email]ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk[/email] (Andrew
Stephenson) wrote:[color=blue]
>In article <241220060132134943%solsticehyp@toohotmail.com>
> [email]PquidPt@Yaaho.com[/email] "Solstice" writes:[/color]
[color=blue][color=green]
>> Our Prius has it right. If there's a key anywhere inside, it
>> won't let you lock the car. It simply sounds three beeps and
>> leave the car unlocked. That's an advantage of the SmartKey
>> system.[/color]
>
>And even the version without SmartKey gets it right, IMHO: unlock
>the car but then fail to open it in some way (door or rear hatch)
>within around 30sec and it relocks itself. OTOH open the car and
>it waits for you to do a locking action (remote or mechanical key
>are equivalent -- as established in a thread a week or two back).
>The way it's constructed, you cannot use the remote while the fob
>is in the dashboard or get at the mechanical key held in the fob.
>I haven't tested other, obscurer, screw-up modes. But you really
>have to put some effort into locking yourself out.
>
>Even so, I am careful: as we see in this thread, stuff can break.[/color]

(Not picking on anyone in particular, just a "General Rant")

So how hard is it to always have a second car key in your pocket?
And/Or if you have a regular passenger or second user of the car
(husband, wife, teen) they have the other key in theirs?

If I'm going out with others, I give them a car key for the day - If
we get separated, they know where to meet up.

I can't understand people who walk out the door with one car key on
them, and the Spare is hanging on a hook at home, 20 miles away. Or
worse, 500 miles. And the front door key to the house is on the same
key ring that's locked in the trunk...

Stuff Happens. "I thought you had the key, so I locked the car..."

Keys get dropped in the trunk and forgotten when you are loading the
groceries, keys fall on the back seat. 'Key in Ignition' sense
switches wear out and allow the automatic lock feature to trigger.

Go to the Auto Club and get a Key Card cut and stash it in your
wallet. Do Something Practical. Think Ahead.

--<< Bruce >>--

2001 Avalon was designed to relock doors after unlocked by fob if no one
opened door in 30 seconds. PIA. Another reason why I got rid of it.


"Solstice" <solsticehyp@toohotmail.com> wrote in message
news:241220060132134943%solsticehyp@toohotmail.com...[color=blue]
> In article <97022$458c579b$44a4a10d$31458@msgid.meganewsservers.com>,
> Ray O wrote:
>[color=green]
>> "Solstice" <solsticehyp@toohotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:221220061615338589%solsticehyp@toohotmail.com...[color=darkred]
>> > In article <a8579$458ae465$44a4a10d$3964@msgid.meganewsservers.com>,
>> > Ray O wrote:
>> >
>> >> "Dave Kaplan" <davidkaplan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:12ollghlhtb4c3a@corp.supernews.com...
>> >> >I have a 97 Avalon. The headlights are supposed to go on when the
>> >> >ignition
>> >> >is turned on, and turn off when the door opens after the ignition is
>> >> >turned
>> >> >off.. On my 97, this usually happens, but occasionally (especially
>> >> >in
>> >> >winter), the lights remain on and drain the battery.
>> >> >
>> >> > Is there anything short of replacing the computer that will resolve
>> >> > this?
>> >> > We try to use the lights the opld fashioned way (TURN THEM OFF!),
>> >> > but
>> >> > we
>> >> > get seduced by the system working most of the time.
>> >> >
>> >> > Dave
>> >>
>> >> There are 2 relatively inexpensive things you an do to prevent the
>> >> headlights from draining the battery.
>> >>
>> >> 1) check to make sure that the courtesy light switches are working
>> >> properly.
>> >> The courtesy light switches are under rubber boots on the door jambs,
>> >> and
>> >> if
>> >> they stick, they will not pop out when the door is opened. Carefully
>> >> peel
>> >> back the rubber boot and give the switch a shot of WD-40 and make sure
>> >> the
>> >> plunger moves freely.
>> >>
>> >> 2) install a lights on alarm, available at auto parts stores.
>> >
>> > I bet it's #1. On my '98 Avalon XLS I've been having similar headlight
>> > gremlins, and now I recall it roughly tracks the driver's courtesy
>> > lights switch's anomalous behavior. I'll report whether Ray's fix
>> > relieves the situation.[/color]
>>
>> When I give multiple possible causes/cures for a condition, I try to list
>> them in the order of likelihood of cause/success. Occasionally, I think
>> of
>> somthing else and stick it on at the end. Having a repair manual for
>> each
>> vehicle would make diagnosis a little easier so I don't have to rely on
>> my
>> memory.
>>[color=darkred]
>> > Ray, I've also been having phantom door-lockings that I think might
>> > have the same trigger. Is that plausible?
>> >
>> > --
>> > Paul from Pemaquid Point
>> > "Bounding Maine"[/color]
>>
>> Does the phantom locking occur when the car is running or when it is
>> parked?
>>
>> Toyotas with power door locks have a switch/sensor in the lock cylinder
>> that
>> will keep you from using the power door lock switch to lock the door with
>> the door open and the key in the ignition, but I have not heard of that
>> system working in reverse, where it unintentionally locks the doors.[/color]
>
> The motor must be off.
>
> I took the Avalon for service a couple of weeks ago. I left the key in
> the ignition with the ignition off and all doors closed and the windows
> up. When the service rep went to move the car, the doors were locked. I
> had to pay for an emergency key.
>
> This uninvoked locking happens intermittently whether the driver's door
> is open or closed. When it happens it always occurs around the
> 30-second mark after the door was opened, although I haven't clocked it
>
> The service rep said it happens often and there's no way to fix it. A
> mechanic actually claimed it was supposed to be that way. I'm thinking
> your idea about the courtesy light switch just might be the ticket to
> happier motoring.
>
> Our Prius has it right. If there's a key anywhere inside, it won't let
> you lock the car. It simply sounds three beeps and leave the car
> unlocked. That's an advantage of the SmartKey system.
>
> My guess is that it's a fairly common fault
>[color=green]
>> I know some Avalons have the auto door-lock if the car goes above a
>> certain
>> speed, but I believe that feature came in later models.[/color]
>
> Yes. That's not on my car.
>
> --
> Paul from Pemaquid Point
> "Bounding Maine"[/color]