2001 Toyota Tacoma Headlights go out periodically

WHYEMIER

MEMBER
2001 TOYOTA TACOMA
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
143,000 MILES

When I'm driving with the headlights on at night they will go out, along with the dash lights, about 35 minutes into my drive. I can immediately turn the light switch off and back on and they will come on again. After another 35 minutes they will again go off. Thiis can be repeated indefinitely on a long night drive like "Old Faithful" every 35 min. I have already replaced the 'Head Light Control Relay' in the fuse/relay box under the hood. This had no positive results other than letting me know I had replaced a good relay.

7 Replies

FORDRACING24

MEMBER
65 POSTS

Sounds like a connector is loose. I'm not sure if the dash would be linked with the wire for the headlights but headlights going out periodically are usually from a loose connection. You can check a wiring diagram to see if they're linked, if they are that's most likely your problem.

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Friday, June 18th, 2010 AT 12:34 PM

ALSPROST

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3 POSTS

Hi,
did you ever find out what was causing this, I have the exact same thing happening on my 03.
Thanks

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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 8:33 AM

STEVE W.

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ALSPROST Could you please provide a bit more vehicle detail please, 4cyl or 6 and do you have Daytime Running Lights or not? Are yours acting the same in regard to the time interval? Also does it matter if it's high or low beam?

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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 3:26 PM

ALSPROST

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Hi Steve,

2003 Tacoma 4cly 2.7L no daytime running lights. Same. Time interval 30 minutes. When it goes dash, high, and low go. Don't know whether rear goes or not. Off /on with rotary fixes every time so far.

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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 4:27 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,573 POSTS

Okay, from the two descriptions I would say there is a problem in the switch or the body control module. Those are the only two components shared between the interior lights and the headlights. Plus because of the failure modes I would suspect the body control module more than the switch and that it comes right back on when you turn it on and off.
If it was in the switch and heat related it would come back on as soon as it cooled and turning it off and on wouldn't change that.