Driving

Headlight switch

13steps
~78min
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The headlights can be operated manually or automatically.

Turning on the headlights

Operating the switch
turns on the lights as follows:

U.S.A. (Type A)

Operating the lights and wipers

  1. The side marker, parking,
    tail, license plate, instrument panel lights, and daytime running lights turn on.
  2. The headlights and all
    lights listed above (except daytime running lights) turn on.
  3. The headlights, daytime
    running lights and all the lights listed above turn on and off automatically.
  4. Off

U.S.A. (Type B)

Operating the lights and wipers

  1. The side marker, parking,
    tail, license plate, instrument panel lights, and daytime running lights turn on.
  2. The headlights and all
    lights listed above (except daytime running lights) turn on.
  3. The daytime running
    lights turn on.
  4. Off

Canada

Operating the lights and wipers

  1. The side marker, parking,
    tail, license plate, instrument panel lights, and daytime running lights turn on.
  2. The headlights and all
    lights listed above (except daytime running lights) turn on.
  3. The headlights, daytime
    running lights and all the lights listed above turn on and off automatically.

■AUTO mode can be used when

The engine switch is in ON.

■Daytime running light system

  • Vehicles with multi-LED headlights and LED projector headlights with bulb type front turn signal lights: The daytime running lights illuminate using the same lights as the low beam headlights and illuminate dimmer than the low beam headlights.
  • Vehicles with LED projector headlights with LED type front turn signal lights: The daytime running lights illuminate using the same lights as the parking lights and illuminate brighter than the parking lights.
  • To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving, the daytime running lights turn on automatically when all of the following conditions are met.

    (The daytime running lights are not designed for use at night.)

  • The engine is running
  • The parking brake is released
  • For the U. S. A.: The headlight switch is in the ,
    or
    *
    position
  • For Canada: The headlight switch is in the or
    * position

*: When the surroundings are bright

The daytime running lights remain on after they illuminate, even if the parking brake is set again.

  • For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights can be turned off by operating the switch.
  • Compared to turning on the headlights, the daytime running light system offers greater durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help improve fuel economy.

■Headlight control sensor (if equipped)

The sensor may not function properly if an object is placed on the sensor, or anything that blocks the sensor is affixed to the windshield.

Doing so interferes with the sensor detecting the level of ambient light and may cause the automatic headlight system to malfunction.

Operating the lights and wipers

■Automatic light off system

  • When the headlights are on: The lights turn off 30 seconds after the engine switch is turned to ACC or OFF and a door is opened and closed. (The lights turn off immediately if on the key is
    pressed after all the doors are closed.)
  • When only the tail lights are on: The tail lights turn off automatically if the engine switch is turned to ACC or OFF and the driver's door is opened.

To turn the lights on again, turn the engine switch to ON, or turn the light switch to the ,
or
position
once and then back to or

position.

■Light reminder buzzer

A buzzer sounds when the engine switch is turned to OFF and the driver's door is opened while the lights are turned on.

■Windshield wiper linked headlight illumination (if equipped)

When driving during daytime with the headlight switch turned to , if
the windshield wipers are used, the headlights will turn on automatically after several seconds to help enhance the visibility of your vehicle.

■Battery-saving function

In order to prevent the battery of the vehicle from discharging, if the headlights and/or tail lights are on when the engine switch is turned to OFF, the battery saving function will operate and automatically turn off all the lights after approximately 20 minutes.

When any of the following are performed, the battery-saving function is canceled once and then reactivated.

All the lights will turn off automatically 20 minutes after the battery-saving function has been reactivated:

  • When the headlight switch is operated
  • When a door is opened or closed

■If "Headlight System Malfunction Visit Your Dealer" is displayed on the multi-information display

The system may be malfunctioning.

Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.

■Customization

Settings (e.g. light sensor sensitivity) can be changed.

NOTICE

■To prevent battery discharge

Do not leave the lights on longer than necessary when the engine is not running.

Turning on the high beam headlights

Operating the lights and wipers

  1. With the headlights on, push the lever away from you to turn on the high beams.

    Pull the lever toward you to the center position to turn the high beams off.

  2. Pull the lever toward you and release it to flash the high beams once.

    You can flash the high beams with the headlights on or off.

Test yourself

A quick Toyota RAV4 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.