Morimoto 2nd gen headlight glitch

Has anyone with the second gen morimoto headlights noticed the low beams flash every 30 to 40 minutes for about one second? I was hanging out at a friend's driveway, my 2020 4runner venture, at first I thought maybe I accidentally hit the smart key, then it kept happening. Really odd. I've emailed morimoto about it. No response yet. I'm hoping there's a fix.

 

Has it happened multiple times without someone touching the truck? I know that most Toyota vehicles do a fuel pump "check" about 40 minutes after turning the vehicle off, and then again a few hours later. The low beams shouldn't be impacted by this activity unless there is a wiring issue though.

Don't know the answer to that question, first time I've noticed it. But you're right, the low beams shouldn't be impacted by that. Never happened with the original headlights and wiring is hooked up as per instructions, its plug and play, every thing works fine except for the flashes.

 

I have had them for more than 6 months and have not noticed this on my ‘22 Pro.

 

Do you have the DRL circuit piped into the INJ fuse?

 

Negative Sir, EFI is were i plugged into, which is where morimoto support told me to plug it into.

 

Ok. I'm willing to bet that fuse is active during the fuel pump check. Your DRLs are probably what flashed.

 

I sure wish it was, but me and a friend both witnessed this 4 times while the 4runner was in the driveway facing us, we had a few beers but we both saw the low beams. DRL's is very distinctive

Haven't watched it since, its hot in the garage.

 

This issue has happened on the Tundra side for a couple of the guys. They changed fuse locations.

 

I'll give that a go. Just need to look up which fuse to try. If you have a suggestion, please let me know? Thanks

 

The problem is that 4Runners have always had very strange management when it comes to headlights, particularly the DRLs. From 14-21 the high-beam and DRL is the same bulb, it just uses pulsed voltage to dim the bulb for DRL use. LEDs and PWM do not mix well, since LEDs illuminate instantly all you get is a flickering light at full brightness- very annoying. And 2021+ trucks have the halogen DRL lights wired in series, so they get a reduced (and therefore dimmer) voltage of +6V each.

Neither setup is very friendly to aftermarket lights with their fancy LED strips and extra gizmos, so Morimoto takes the easy way out with their DRL circuit and just plumbs it into a fuse that comes on when the truck does. You no longer have a selectable DRL mode on the stalk, because it's been circumvented. I'm guessing the fuel pump cycle is another goofball side effect of that shortcut.

 

I think I understand what you're saying, makes sense for the DRLs, that explains why the DRLs are so bright. I'll try a 12 volt to 6 volt inline reducer to see if that dims it a bit.. Still doesn't explain why its the low beams that flash, there should be no power to it unless the headlight switch is turned on.

 

Negative.....you can still turn the DRLs off using the stalk switch. We have the Gen 2's on our 2020 and we can turn them off.

 

Hmm interesting. Why do they need to tie into the fusebox at all I wonder?

 

Just a guess, it's probably because the DRLs in the morimoto's are 12 volts LEDs and won't work with just 6 volts.

Toyota runs 6 volts to high beams for DRLs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Only for 21 Pro/Limited and all 22+ trucks (those with factory bi-LED headlights).

All other trucks dim the DRL with pulsed +12 voltage (pulse width modulation or PWM).

 

Did you just answer your own question?
I appreciate you trying to help, but
Let's just head back to the direction of low beams flashing every 30 to 40 minutes shall we? my DRLs is fine.

 

Do you remember which fuse you plugged your DRLs to? Thanks in advance.

 

No, you said "correct me if I'm wrong", so I provided the correction.

His headlight wiring is different than your truck. Your truck is a 2020 and the headlight wiring (and therefore how aftermarket parts interact with it) changed in 2021.

 

Your correction is for 21 22 I never said mine was 2021 nor 2022 and it clearly says I have a 2020 on my profile.

And yes I realize his wiring are different. But they are the same morimoto lights. Maybe just maybe if I plug the DRL's wires somewhere else it will stop the flashing.

 

No, my correction is for earlier trucks like yours. I believe the fuse boxes changed in 21 as well so the solution may not be the same.

Try pulling that fuse tap out the next time you shut the truck off and see if the problem continues. The stock headlights do not flash after the truck is off, and I think the fuse tap is really the only difference in the Morimoto wiring. It sounds like they need a keyed +12V source to work though, not sure if there's a more opportune fuse for you to tap off from. Most of the fuses in the engine bay are function reliant, meaning that if you tap into the horn or air conditioning fuse, you'd have to activate those things for the fuse tap to get power.

https://imgvehicle.com/toyota/4runner-v-n280/fuse-box

 

I tapped one of the lines in the cab that had acc power. Not exactly sure which one. If you need me to check I will.

 

Aah, thank you Slimwood! I'll give that a shot. No need to look. I can find one with acc on it. Hopefully that cures the flash.

 

Don't forget about the startup sequence that utilizes the projectors... If you're tapped into a fuse that's active during the fuel pump check, maybe that triggered the low beam flash you saw without going through the full startup sequence.

 

New to this forum, but not to 4Runners. I redid all the wiring in my wife’s 2017 4Runner because it was looking like a rat’s nest. It’s a lot cleaner and I eliminated the Morimoto DRL fuse tap. While doing all that wiring, I would occasionally have the low beams flash and then fade out while testing circuits. It seemed to be when power was put on the DRL fuse tap wire without sending power to the headlights through the stalk. I think if you find a different fuse to tap, you’ll not have that problem. I believe @mynameistory was correct that the fuse you are currently using gets powered when the vehicle does the check at 40 minutes and then later

 

How do I check the start up sequence? Is there something i need to do? sequentials run when I push the smart key, DRLs doesn't come on when I turn them on, but releasing the emergency brakes turns thems on. Which doesn't really bother me, i don't have a habit driving with the emergency brakes on.
Note- the low beams are flashing only every 30 minutes or so with engine off sitting in the driveway.
These morimoto lights are a pain, one more problem, I just tried to adjust the vertical height of the low beam, it's not moving, like the adjustment screw is striped. Maybe I got a defective set. Thanks

 

If you tried adjusting them and couldn't because the screw is stripped, I suspect you may have gotten a defective set that someone previously returned... Where did you order them from? Supposedly 10A INJ fuse is the only one that supports the start-up sequence for the Gen2 housings. You can see it in the video below around the :07s mark. Happens when you turn on the vehicle.

IIRC, others have had success tapping into the 10A MIR HTR or other 10A Acc ports. They lose the start-up sequence but the DRLs still function correctly from what I read.

Releasing the parking brake to engage the DRL is a stock feature btw, you're OE housings did the same thing prior.

 

You're probably 99.9 % right about it being a return. I bought them directly from Morimoto, and after a few videos sent to support, they agreed its a bad set and sending me a new set. Just annoyed that I have to pull the bumper again. Looking at the YouTube video you attached, it doesn't go through that sequence, just sequential turn. No headlights. Definitely a bad set. Damn thing points so low, I was driving last night with the high beams and not one car flash their highs at me.

 

I have been following this thread. I'm going to be installing my Morimoto XB LED headlights on the Wife's 2022 4Runner SR5 Premium this weekend if the weather permits. So inorder to keep the lights start up sequence and have the lights not come on for a little bit every 40 minutes is to hook the fuse up to the INJ fuse?

 

No one else seems to have the 40 minutes flash problem, I may have gotten a bad set, find out when I receive the new lights.