I have a 2012 Toyota Camry. I’ve never attempted any electrical work on any automotive vehicle.

I live in Massachusetts, USA. There is a state law that basically states, if your wipers are on, so should your headlights. As I am totally accustomed to the auto headlight feature, I am at risk of being pulled over and receiving a traffic violation ticket. It seems to me that it should be simple to add a circuit to also turn on my headlights with my wipers.

My current thought is to tap into the fuse block, and add a reed switch in a coil in series with the wiper fuse (fuse 9).

I am now trying to turn on the headlights. I have two unanswered questions that I’m researching and hope that people in AAC can assist with.


The first is where do I control the headlights! I’m thinking that a relay which switches between console control and the output of my wiper current circuit. But, I’d like to still have manual control over low/high beams. And I’d have to also control the rear lights without affecting turn signals. Where would I tap in?

Secondly, if in intermittent mode, I would expect that the current through the fuse would also be intermittent. Thereby, requiring additional circuitry. I could use a micro or perhaps a missing pulse detector. But reading posts here, in an automotive environment how do I power such circuitry.

Any advice, direction or insight would be appreciated.

I’ve been thinking about this for a while. But it became more important to me this week, when I accidentally left my lights on in a rainstorm and drained my battery. It happened on the night that I let my cell phone drain it’s battery. So, obviously I need to protect myself from myself.

Thanks!

 

The vehicle doesn't come with DRL's? Mandatory in Canada.
I thought it was pretty mandatory for most of N.A.
Especially on an import.
I would at least expect you have a daylight sensor on the centre of your dash?
If so, place a small cap/cover on it so the auto headlight feature comes on!
Max.

 

I see that the DRL's weren't always fitted to the Camry.
https://www.toyotanation.com/forum/...n-2012-2017/510978-2012-camry-drl-module.html
Max.

 

Ohio has the same law headlights with wipers. But it is grandfathered here, cars before the option was available are exempt, but urged to do it.
Does the Camry have a headlight relay? You could put a wire and diode from the wiper motor to the coil of the headlight relay. That would turn the headlights on with the wipers, and the diode would stop the wipers from coming on when the normal headlight is on. Most cars newer than the 70s use a headlight relay, but I don't know about Toyota.

 

Strange that GM USA autos had DRL's back in the 2000's according to my Florida bought Aurora!
Max.

 

Ummm, what’s a DRL?

Headlights with wipers are a State by state law. Mass has it; nearby neighbors don’t.

 

Daytime Running Lights.
Max.

 

‘when I accidentally left my lights on in a rainstorm and drained my battery’

I’m surprised that a 2012 Toyota Camry does not have an audible lights on reminder/warning.

I installed such a circuit on one of the first cars I owned; the circuit consisted of the anode of a diode connected to the positive of a sidelight bulb – the cathode of the diode was connected to the positive of a 12V sounder and the sounder zero volts connected to the switched ignition positive.

In operation, if the sidelights are on and the ignition off – the ignition circuit provides a sufficiently low impedance path for the sounder to operate. With the ignition on, the return path of the sounder is at 12V, and the diode prevents the sounder being reversed biased to the sidelight bulb.

 

‘when I accidentally left my lights on in a rainstorm and drained my battery’

I’m surprised that a 2012 Toyota Camry does not have an audible lights on reminder/warning.

I installed such a circuit on one of the first cars I owned; the circuit consisted of the anode of a diode connected to the positive of a sidelight bulb – the cathode of the diode was connected to the positive of a 12V sounder and the sounder zero volts connected to the switched ignition positive.

In operation, if the sidelights are on and the ignition off – the ignition circuit provides a sufficiently low impedance path for the sounder to operate. With the ignition on, the return path of the sounder is at 12V, and the diode prevents the sounder being reversed biased to the sidelight bulb.

Oh, I’m embarrassed to admit that it does. I ignored it, thinking it was the open door alarm.

And the door was indeed open.

Of course, that only sounds if a) the door is open and b) the key is in the ignition. I had the keys in my hand.

My only defense (a weak one) is that it was near the end of my work schedule, from 2:00 to 8:30... during which I was standing the whole time, after throwing my back out, dealing with a dozen high school students.

My brain was fried.

 

I have a 2012 Toyota Camry. I’ve never attempted any electrical work on any automotive vehicle.

I live in Massachusetts, USA. There is a state law that basically states, if your wipers are on, so should your headlights. As I am totally accustomed to the auto headlight feature, I am at risk of being pulled over and receiving a traffic violation ticket. It seems to me that it should be simple to add a circuit to also turn on my headlights with my wipers.

Thanks!

Taking your supply from the fuse will do nothing for you as it is powered all the time the ignition is on.
You need to connect two diodes, anode side to the slow speed and fast speed supply wires to the motor. Join the cathodes of both diodes together and connect to the coil of a standard12V relay, ground the other side of the coil. Use the relay contacts to operate the headlights.
If you car has intermittent wipe you will need to add some form of timer or latching circuit so that the lights don't flash on and off when the wipers are in intermittent mode. The timer needs to stay on for a slightly longer duration than the maximum interval of the intermittent wipe. Hope this is of help.

 

Taking your supply from the fuse will do nothing for you as it is powered all the time the ignition is on.
You need to connect two diodes, anode side to the slow speed and fast speed supply wires to the motor. Join the cathodes of both diodes together and connect to the coil of a standard12V relay, ground the other side of the coil. Use the relay contacts to operate the headlights.
If you car has intermittent wipe you will need to add some form of timer or latching circuit so that the lights don't flash on and off when the wipers are in intermittent mode. The timer needs to stay on for a slightly longer duration than the maximum interval of the intermittent wipe. Hope this is of help.

Almost what I said in post #4, except didn't think about the intermittent cycle.