Did you know your 4Runner did this?

Forgive me if this has been discovered already, but some members may find this useful. I have a '23 ORP. The vehicle is in locked status; the key fob is in one of the many pockets of my cargo pants shorts. Yes, I know... cargo shorts are not stylish.

So as I walked by the car with the key fob in my shorts, the car lights up as I walk by. It seems the car senses the key fob as I walk halfway past the car in either direction and turns on the interior lights and puddle lights.

As a side note, I’ve also upgraded the interior and exterior lights to LED, making the vehicle brighter overall. If you are interested in doing this yourself, there are a lot of youtube videos out there, or I can show you how to do this. It's really easy.


I've embedded a Youtube video demonstrating what I'm talking about for reference. Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RvrTl_6ZAMg

 

I’d be interested in upgrading the puddle lights. Which ones did you get? Do you have a favorite installation video? Does your 4Runner have cameras in the mirrors?

 

I like cargo pants.

 

Hi Captain!

I purchased a generic set from Amazon which had decent reviews. I wanted to try them out first and see if I liked the overall look of the led lights. The light bulbs include a plastic pry tool which is the only tool I used during installation. Overall, it was a pretty easy process but does take time. Time will tell if these bulbs will last and/or dim as they age. There are more expensive choices available, but for now, this will work. The car is definitely brighter inside and I'm pretty satisfied with the outcome. I changed all the bulbs (map lights, dome light, door lights, tailgate lights, license plate holder lights, vanity mirror lights, and puddle lights) with the exception of the glovebox light.

I do enjoy the warmer light color of the existing bulbs but the light output wasn't great. Let me know if you want me to post some pictures with new lights on for comparison.

My 4Runner does have cameras in the side view mirrors, I didn't even think that is what is triggering the system. Overall a great feature I wasn't expecting.

Please find some links to videos that I found helpful and product information below:

1)

$25 AUTOGINE 16 Piece White Interior LED Lights Kit for Toyota 4Runner 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Super Bright 6000K Interior LED Light Bulbs Package + Install Tool

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0834MQ2D1?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
2) Helpful Video Links:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP8gdqe8E4I&t=103s
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u17EFBgc4Hc (great tip for using cellophane tape to remove map light bulbs)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSv9wO4Tf5Q&t=63s

 

Don't we all!

 

FYI- Sylvania and Philips LED’s from the big box and auto parts stores are actually pretty good.

 

Me too!

 

I think it’s the key fob that is triggering the lights to come on when you approach the car. I only mentioned the mirror cameras because I wondered if they complicate the puddle lamp replacement.

 

Regarding the cargo pants issue: my knees are shot. When the knees go, anything resembling a squat becomes difficult. When you stop doing squats the glutes disappear. When the glutes are gone, excess weight in the pockets tends to pull the pants down. Tightening the belt is uncomfortable. For a while I tried suspenders, but I’m just not a suspenders guy. Ultimately the solution was the pocket vest. I carry nothing in my pants pockets now, and receive occasional compliments on the quazi-tactical look of the vest. The only downside is that with so many pockets the compliment of EDC items does tend to grow.

 

Cool stuff!

Oh, and cargo pants rule!

 

Does it come as a kit? What I purchased had pretty much everything to do a full interior + license plate led swap

 

lol for a second I thought we had the 4Runner’s version of “Sentry Mode”!

 

As long as your comfortable, that’s what matters!

 

Thanks. And please don’t take my remarks as disparaging of cargo pants in any way. The pocket vest is an adaptation, an evolution if you will, of the cargo pants concept.

 

Yep; my ‘22 ORP does that also. A very nice touch in the early AM darkness. I upgraded the mirror puddle lights to LEDs and it made a HUGE difference. YouTube to the rescue.

 

I’m pretty laid back Captain, so definitely didn’t take it any offense.

 

Same here, minimal effort/cost and pretty high return in terms of better visibility and appearance

 

I came here for the “your car is going to burn down” comment, but instead got a detailed analysis of the mechanism behind why pants fall down. I would have never put those things together. Not that I don’t like vests, but I’m gonna try to do more squats from here on out. Love this forum!

 

As someone whose knees are basically garbage, I'll probably have to look into this pocket vest concept, eventually. Or, start doing more squats.

 

Is there some fire hazard involved in switching to LEDs that I haven’t heard?

P.S.: to my younger 4Runner brothers - take care of your knees lest you fall prey to my fate!

 

No, not a kit. You buy individual bulbs.

Most of the bulbs in mine were all 168. The dome light and inner tail gate lights were DE3175.

 

Cargo Vest?

 

Some of those cheap LEDs sometimes fail through short circuit. Which isn’t a big deal if there is a fuse, but IRC I read on this forum that some of the interior light circuits (I wanna say the doors) are not fused, they go directly to the body control module. Somebody posted a while back that they fried their BCM when a door LED failed.

For that reason alone, I would skip the Amazon led light kits and get the more expensive branded lights (philips/sylvania). Theoretically, branded lights have a bit more skin in the game to make lights that are more reliable, or at least fail “open” more reliably, like a regular incandescent light.

 

I love cargo shorts as well…..but I hate them in the kitchen, they get hung up on the lower cabinet knobs.

 

My wife had a 2020 Pilot that did this and her new Subaru does too, it's the key fob.
And I don't care what's 'in style'.. I like cargo shorts

 

the free pry tool that comes with the Amazon LED kits was tempting but the exposed LED and PCB left quite a bit to be desired. some of my friends use them and they all seem to be an out of this world lumens output at 6000k. i ended up going with VLEDs 5000k lights that are bright but not retina searing. the units are also nicely enclosed so you’re not worrying about pcb damage when installing.

i def don’t miss lower pockets on cargo shorts getting caught on things. i’m at a stage in my life where i buy clothes from costco. i may refuse to skimp on interior LED lights but $12.99 venture shorts from costco are something else.

 

I have a different take. I didn't have your glutes issue (they are good, if I am may say so). But with cargo pants I put in so much crap in it kept pulling my pants down. Plus they take too much space when traveling.
So even though I liked them I have been cargo pants free since 2008.

 

im wearing cargo pants right now. Love them