PS And BTW, if it helps, these were the lights that were on when I shut off my car today after trying to fix the settings. Is this normal? Which ones (if any?) are the running lights? And I honestly can't remember if ALLLL those lights were always on when I'd shut off the car... but I think maybe not.

Which just makes me even more confused!

Thank you!

 

 

It's normal. Auto is a good setting if you don't want to always check it. It will turn on/off the headlights if it's dark outside.

 

I would suggest that you leave it in "AUTO" and forget it. That's the setting that 99.9% of people should probably use.

But- here's what the four options will do, from the top option to the bottom one in your photo:

• Top option: Headlights on all the time. Your car will likely beep at you and flash a warning in the instrument cluster each time that you turn off the car and open the door- warning you that you left your headlights on.
• 2nd From Top: Parking lights. These are the lights in the back of the car plus the amber-colored lights in-front. This is not suitable for driving.
• 3rd From Top: AUTO: The car will use the light sensor that's on the top of your dashboard to determine when to turn on your lights. During the day, the daytime running lights will be on. When it gets dark, the car will switch on the headlights. Assuming that you didn't change any factory settings, the lights should go off about thirty seconds after you turn off the car and close all the doors.
• Bottom Option: Headlights off, daytime running lights off. No front lights will be on when driving other than when you use your turn signal.

The little dial in the middle of the headlight stalk controls your fog lights. In your picture, they are turned on. If you want to turn them off, switch them to off.


Hopefully that helps.

 

I would suggest that you leave it in "AUTO" and forget it. That's the setting that 99.9% of people should probably use.

But- here's what the four options will do, from the top option to the bottom one in your photo:

• Top option: Headlights on all the time. Your car will likely beep at you and flash a warning in the instrument cluster each time that you turn off the car and open the door- warning you that you left your headlights on.
• 2nd From Top: Parking lights. These are the lights in the back of the car plus the amber-colored lights in-front. This is not suitable for driving.
• 3rd From Top: AUTO: The car will use the light sensor that's on the top of your dashboard to determine when to turn on your lights. During the day, the daytime running lights will be on. When it gets dark, the car will switch on the headlights. Assuming that you didn't change any factory settings, the lights should go off about thirty seconds after you turn off the car and close all the doors.
• Bottom Option: Headlights off, daytime running lights off. No front lights will be on when driving other than when you use your turn signal.

The little dial in the middle of the headlight stalk controls your fog lights. In your picture, they are turned on. If you want to turn them off, switch them to off.


Hopefully that helps.

The 2nd from the top is really forcing the Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) on, guess you're calling them parking lights, they really aren't. Usually the tail lights don't light up with the DRLs on, but maybe they do now; they don't on my 2015 Venza.

Also, fog lights, when the switch is on, will only come on when the head lights come on (either via Auto or forced on modes) and will turn off when the high beams come on.

 

Thanks for the replies, Squid and 98CamryLE!

@camry98le, your run down of all the options was super helpful - thank you so much!

By “fog lights” do you mean high beams? If so, I like those on “auto” too and keep this button lit all the time. Am I doin’ that right?!

When you look at my car in the second photo before the lights shut themselves off today, are all those lights the lights you would expect (and recommend?) to be “on” in “auto”?

Thank you again for your help and time!

 

Thanks for the replies, Squid and 98CamryLE!

@camry98le, your run down of all the options was super helpful - thank you so much!

By “fog lights” do you mean high beams? If so, I like those on “auto” too and keep this button lit all the time. Am I doin’ that right?!

Yes, you're doing it right.

The fog lights are in the lower front bumper. In the picture that you posted of the front end of your Rav4, they are the yellowish lights (as opposed to the bright white headlights). (See pic below)

View attachment 495372

The icon in the picture above (the one that has the indicator light on) is for the automatic high beams. When this button is activated (indicator light on) and you push your headlight stalk forward, the high beams will automatically come on in certain conditions (traveling above 25mph at night without a lot of streetlights). The high beams will automatically switch back to low beams whenever the car senses that there is an oncoming car, there's a car in front of you traveling in the same direction, your speed drops below a certain speed, or you drive somewhere with bright streetlights.

If you turn off that switch on your dash, the high beams will go back to manual control- where they will turn on anytime you push the headlight stalk forward and turn off whenever you pull the headlight stalk back towards you.

When you look at my car in the second photo before the lights shut themselves off today, are all those lights the lights you would expect (and recommend?) to be “on” in “auto”?

Yes. It looks like it's all working normally assuming that your headlights are in AUTO.

 

Yes, you're doing it right.

The fog lights are in the lower front bumper. In the picture that you posted of the front end of your Rav4, they are the yellowish lights (as opposed to the bright white headlights). (See pic below)


The icon in the picture above (the one that has the indicator light on) is for the automatic high beams. When this button is activated (indicator light on) and you push your headlight stalk forward, the high beams will automatically come on in certain conditions (traveling above 25mph at night without a lot of streetlights). The high beams will automatically switch back to low beams whenever the car senses that there is an oncoming car, there's a car in front of you traveling in the same direction, your speed drops below a certain speed, or you drive somewhere with bright streetlights.

If you turn off that switch on your dash, the high beams will go back to manual control- where they will turn on anytime you push the headlight stalk forward and turn off whenever you pull the headlight stalk back towards you.


Yes. It looks like it's all working normally assuming that your headlights are in AUTO.

Correction, if you push your "headlight stalk" forward, the high beams will stay on regardless of the Auto High-Beam selection. To use the Auto High-Beam feature, your "headlight stalk" should remain in the "neutral" position.

 

Excellent write up. One more note the fog lights, will shut off when the high beams are in use. Noted in the picture. High beams (not currently on)

 

Oh guys, THANK YOU ALL!!! I sure appreciate your time and EDUCATION!

98CamryLE - those photos were awesome, THANK YOU! I have always been fuzzy on which lights are which, and the manual is nearly NO HELP! I truly cannot thank you enough!

jsFoster75 - thanks for chiming in too! So helpful!

And Shortstop2014!! - Thanks for your post. And I totally agree, an excellent write-up indeed, and such a great addition to the forum!

ALL: one thing that constantly confounds me are the icons on the stalk (and dash and elsewhere)! For example, what in the world does the left and right arrow mean on the stalk?!!! It moves forward and back, not side to side?!!

And the 3 green lit-up icons on the instrument panel (photo below)... they are similar, but NOT exact to the ones on the stalk or on the other little panel (in my second photo). So why repeated on the instrument panel? And again, the manual is not very clear. Aye yi yi!

 

The first on the top left that looks like a gear means headlights on . Next is auto high beam on or ready. The last on the right is fog light's on. There just a visual head's up notice.

 

Thanks, Shortstop! Much appreciated.

Do most people just leave their fog lights on all the time? Any advantages or disadvantages to that? Or times when visibility is best with them off?

 

Thanks, Shortstop! Much appreciated.

Do most people just leave their fog lights on all the time? Any advantages or disadvantages to that? Or times when visibility is best with them off?

It's up to you. Fog lights on most modern cars these days are more for appearances than anything else, given how good the LED headlights are.

Fog lights do illuminate the ground right in front of the car a bit at night, which can be useful if you actually drive in fog.

 

Thanks again, Camry! I really couldn't tell you which way the lever goes to engage the high beam system but I will check it when I go to work tomorrow (it's dark and bedtime here now).

Another question, though: in the manual screenshot, what does, "Do not overload the vehicle" have to do with auto high beams?!!!

 

If you, for example, load 800lbs worth of bricks in the cargo area of your Rav4, that will cause the suspension in the rear to sag and the headlights and the camera for the automatic high beams will point upwards rather than straight ahead.

Exaggerated Example:

The camera that 'looks' for oncoming traffic is mounted on the windshield glass behind your rearview mirror. If your Rav4 is overloaded in the back, the camera will be looking up to the sky rather than towards the road in front of you- meaning that it won't detect the headlights of oncoming cars or the taillights of cars in front of you- and your high beams would not automatically turn back to the low beams... which would present a safety issue.

 

Hope this helps you.

 

Exactly how you got them set is how they come from the Factory, mate. You practically fixed the problem that whoever did to your RAV4 is now back to the original settings.



Best,


Master Toyota Technician
Master Electrician

L.A.M.G.

 

one additional thing to be aware of, there's a light sensor, usually on top of the dash, behind info screen (may look like a small black half dome) that controls turning your headlights on at dusk. if it's covered by something the computer will think it's night and turn headlights on during the day time. a sun windshield screen can block the sensor.

 

If it's raining, and you are using your windshield wipers, the headlights will automatically come on if the headlight switch is in the Auto position. (The gentleman in the video didn't mention that)

 

All:

I am just blown away by the kindness - and wealth of information and education - that has come from what I thought was such a "duh!" question! THANK YOU ALL!

I have learned so much, and feel SO MUCH more comfortable with the lights of my Rav. I truly cannot thank you all enough for sharing so much valuable information with me, each other, and anyone else who one day reads and benefits from this conversation.

I am so grateful for each one of you - THANK YOU! 💕

 

So to sum up the Original Post. And if wanted to have the ( headlights on all the time)? The only way to turn on the headlights during the daytime is to manually turn the stalk on and off after shut down. Otherwise the auto setting works just fine from dusk to dawn. There might be some setting in the infotainment system for some sensitivity adjustment, and with the auto off timer settings to explore. (Example) Settings, Vehicle, Lights, Customization ? All models and years are a little different. Also your very nice thank you to all. Is the real reason the T/N members continue to take the time, and try and be helpful.

 

Hello friends!

Just popping back into this conversation to confirm that on my 2019 RAV4 XLE, my auto high beams are only activated if my stalk is pushed forward (towards the dash).

We discussed that above and I finally got a chance to confirm it.

Thank you all again for sharing your kindnesses, time, and expertise with me. Sooooo valuable and appreciated! 💕