Auto Headlight Modification - Yaris Cross

[jthspace]

I had set the sensitivity of the auto on headlight setting to the least sensitive but the headlights still come on under trees or bridges and then go off so the car in front must think I'm flashing them for some reason.

I found a replacement cover for the sensor that is clearer than the OEM one and will let more light in and therefore reduce the auto switching-on (hopefully) to just when it is dark outside.  If it means I have to ocasionally turn the lights on manually (shock, horror!) that won't be an issue.

AliExpress £5 and less than 15 minutes to do the job - taking pictures took 5 minutes of that time!

Original Sensor

Cover popped off and disconnected.

A trim tool came with the cover

Sensor and covers - Original on left, Replacement on right

Sensor reinstalled

Refitted trim to dash

Let's wait and see if the change in sensor cover works . . . 

[dash]

Are you sure of that sensor’s purpose? I think it’s for control of the dash illumination. You can test it by covering it with a cloth and see what lights up  (or goes dim in case of the dash illumination) 😉

[Kental]

3 minutes ago, dash said:

Are you sure of that sensor’s purpose? I think it’s for control of the dash illumination. You can test it by covering it with a cloth and see what lights up 😉

On the Corolla its the headlights, the dash illumination uses the same sensor to my knowledge

[jthspace]

I was going on the assumption it was the sensor to modify, having read a post in the RAV section on a similar issue of early switching.

[jthspace]

Well, what do you know - RTM - page 215! Should have done that first 🤣😂🤣😁

[Ralph H]

15 minutes ago, jthspace said:

so the car in front must think I'm flashing them for some reason.

They don’t flash though, they will switch on for a short time then go off. As most new cars now have auto lights I think most drivers will know why they switch on occasionally. 
When I got mine the dealer had stuck a black sticker on the windscreen just in front of the sensor don’t suppose that would have helped. I pulled it off as soon as I got home. 

[Mojo1010]

18 minutes ago, jthspace said:

Well, what do you know - RTFM - page 215! Should have done that first 🤣😂🤣😁

That diagram looks like LHD. The sensors on UK car are on the left, you have replaced the correct one. Have tested it by covering it up and lights comes on.

[Cyker]

Keep us posted! I'm interested to see if it helps as the head lights randomly turning on and off in broad daylight is one of the many small annoyances I have with the Mk4 (The other annoyance of the week being the  rear passenger doors - I've already scratched a sill trying to put something into the passenger seat - Would it have killed them to let it open just a little bit wider!? I'm worried one day the check strap is going to get torn out of the door because nobody expects it to stop opening so quickly when they open it...!)

[Kental]

On 9/27/2024 at 1:08 PM, jthspace said:

I had set the sensitivity of the auto on headlight setting to the least sensitive but the headlights still come on under trees or bridges and then go off so the car in front must think I'm flashing them for some reason.

 

The minimum time setting is the lights stay on for 15 seconds after it gets light again so I can't see it will be confused with headlight flashing.

[trashman1965]

Possibly where it's busy and the other car is looking left/right and either sees the lights go on or off and thinks they've been flashed? I personally don't flash and even if someone does flash I make my own check. Honestly I often wish people would take their right of way and let me work it out. Pretty sure highway code or driving manuals say don't wave/flash - let the other driver make the decision. But like so many things it's become the norm.

[Al-Kibir2017]

On 9/27/2024 at 1:08 PM, jthspace said:

I had set the sensitivity of the auto on headlight setting to the least sensitive but the headlights still come on under trees or bridges and then go off so the car in front must think I'm flashing them for some reason.

I found a replacement cover for the sensor that is clearer than the OEM one and will let more light in and therefore reduce the auto switching-on (hopefully) to just when it is dark outside.  If it means I have to ocasionally turn the lights on manually (shock, horror!) that won't be an issue.

AliExpress £5 and less than 15 minutes to do the job - taking pictures took 5 minutes of that time!

Original Sensor

Cover popped off and disconnected.

A trim tool came with the cover

Sensor and covers - Original on left, Replacement on right

Sensor reinstalled

Refitted trim to dash

Let's wait and see if the change in sensor cover works . . . 

Interesting... my similar sensor is actually the Aircon sensor.

[MardyMarvin]

On 10/1/2024 at 12:19 PM, trashman1965 said:

Possibly where it's busy and the other car is looking left/right and either sees the lights go on or off and thinks they've been flashed? I personally don't flash and even if someone does flash I make my own check. Honestly I often wish people would take their right of way and let me work it out. Pretty sure highway code or driving manuals say don't wave/flash - let the other driver make the decision. But like so many things it's become the norm.

flashing is actually used incorrectly like you say. You are meant to flash people to say "Hello I am here in case you did not see me" and not what most people seem to think it means by "You are ok to go" it falls under code 110

[jthspace]

Update:  I was driving along some country roads today in and out of the sunshine as the trees shielded the road.

A Tesla in front had his lights come on and go off a few times as we entered and left shady areas.

Pleased to report the Yaris Cross lights did not come on at all.

It may be the Tesla is more sensitive to shade or it may be the mod let's more light in and stops the lights coming on - the only true test will be when the same road conditions are there and there is a Yaris Cross in front or behind me.

For the £5 I spent, I'm happy

[Mojo1010]

Or you could put the original back and try the same road again 😉

[hind]

On 9/27/2024 at 2:08 PM, jthspace said:

AliExpress £5

Any links? 🙂

[jthspace]

2 hours ago, hind said:

Any links? 🙂

Aliexpress link

 

[Kental]

16 hours ago, jthspace said:

Update:  I was driving along some country roads today in and out of the sunshine as the trees shielded the road.

A Tesla in front had his lights come on and go off a few times as we entered and left shady areas.

Pleased to report the Yaris Cross lights did not come on at all.

It may be the Tesla is more sensitive to shade or it may be the mod let's more light in and stops the lights coming on - the only true test will be when the same road conditions are there and there is a Yaris Cross in front or behind me.

For the £5 I spent, I'm happy

Even if it is another Yaris Cross, the sensitivity could be set differently so may not be comparing like with like.

[jthspace]

UPDATE

The occasional on/off of the headlights as I drove through treelined roads or under short spans of road bridges has almost stopped completely.  I recently drove through Thetford Forest (lovely road!) and although heavily treelined and patchy light, they did not come on.

In fact, the only time they popped on recently was today as I pulled under a well shaded canopy about mid-day.

Lights coming on normally as dusk falls have not been affected.

Happy with a cheap and easy mod.

[HarryW2024]

Interesting don’t know if much changed with MY24 but mine when the sensitivity is set to ‘normal’ it was too sluggish to come on. MY24 you can go up 2 more notches; ‘Bright’ then ‘Brighter’ to make it more sensitive and 2 notches down to; ‘Dark’ then ‘Darker’ to desensitise it. I actually went one notch up to ‘bright’ as I found they didn’t come on until it was too dark and not at all when it was raining heavily in poor vis.

re the time on, mine says default is 30 seconds on before going off, this can be extended by the dealer up to  60,90 & 120 seconds.

[Graham47]

27 minutes ago, HarryW2024 said:

re the time on, mine says default is 30 seconds on before going off, this can be extended by the dealer up to  60,90 & 120 seconds.

Isn’t that a completely different function setting ?
 

 

[jthspace]

13 minutes ago, Graham47 said:

Isn’t that a completely different function setting ?
 

 

I think that function is "light my way to the door" 

[HarryW2024]

I think you are right, the manual is not an easy read 😂