Why does the Camry's AUTO headlight turn on during the day?
4 Answers
It is normal for the Camry's AUTO headlight to turn on during the day, or it may be due to the light sensor being overly sensitive. Normal situation: The automatic headlights determine whether to turn on based on the brightness of the surrounding light. On cloudy days when the light is insufficient, the headlights may turn on. This is a normal phenomenon. If you want to save battery, you can turn off the automatic headlights. Sensitive light sensor control: If it's not the daytime running lights that are on, then it may be due to the light sensor being overly sensitive. Factors such as cloudy or hazy weather, driving through tunnels, or the car being in a poorly lit area can cause the automatic headlights to turn on. However, if the headlights remain on even when the car is parked under clear sunlight, it should be taken for repair. How to turn off the headlights: When the lighting control is set to AUTO, the low-beam headlights will turn on if any of the following functions are enabled in the system settings: "Daytime Running Lights," "Automatic High Beam Control," or "Adaptive Front Lighting System." The only way to keep the headlights off is to disable all three functions in the system settings. Current models come with an automatic headlight switch, and the light sensor only works when the switch is set to "AUTO." Typically, setting the master lighting switch to "0" will turn off the automatic headlights.
In my decade of driving, I've encountered this situation frequently, and it usually boils down to a few common causes. The most frequent one is when the light sensor on top of the windshield gets covered by objects like parking permits or sunshades. Another reason could be the tint on your front windshield being too dark, especially metallic films that filter out too much UV light, making the car think it's nighttime and automatically turning on the lights. A small detail to check is whether the hood is properly closed, as a faulty hood switch can also trigger the light protection mechanism. Once, after washing my car, a deformed seal caused this issue, and simply unplugging and replugging the sensor connector fixed it—no need to rush to the dealership and waste money.
This issue stems from the sensor principle. The automatic headlights of the Camry rely on the light sensor located at the base of the rearview mirror on the windshield. Just the other day, while helping a neighbor fix his car, I noticed that the heat-insulating film he applied only had a light transmittance of 35%, causing the lights to turn on as soon as the sunlight dimmed even at noon. You can try wiping the small circular window of the sensor with a tissue—dust accumulation can lead to misjudgment. Additionally, check the light sensitivity settings in the car's system; the factory default is medium, and setting it to high sensitivity mode may cause the lights to turn on more easily by mistake. Actually, manually turning off the auto mode and using the small lights is also an option—it doesn’t harm the car, it just consumes a bit more electricity.
Sister Wang, who drives a Camry Hybrid, asked me the same question last week. Her car's low beams were staying on even in broad daylight. It turned out that when the car was washed, the worker used a high-pressure water gun to spray the gaps in the hood, and water got into the sensor circuit board connector, causing oxidation. Also, for those who have modified the dashboard, be aware that aftermarket decorative panels might sometimes block the light sensor window. I reminded her to test it by driving into an underground garage at night. If the light switching delay exceeds 3 seconds, it's most likely a sensor malfunction. Replacing the sensor module costs a little over 400 yuan, which is half the price quoted by the 4S store.
