DRL ?

Does the vehicle need to be in gear for the DRL to activate? I don’t have a light sensor installed in my dash so the ambient light conditions probably are not involved? I know the parking brake needs to be released and the engine needs to be running. Turned DRL on today and looked at lights while idling and they are not on?

 

They come on once you take it out of Park.

 

DRL's come on when you start the vehicle (and select the DRL option on your stalk). Well, that's how it is for most vehicles. It may be different for our 4Runners. I never use 'em, so I wouldn't know. I keep the headlight switch in the "on" position at all times.

I think DRL's are a bad idea. Here's why: I see people driving at night or early morning on the highway and I cannot see their tail lights. They forget (or don't care) that just because their dashboard is lit up and they can see the ground directly in front of them illuminated that everything is cool. But it's not. This is especially dangerous on dark colored vehicles.

Sorry to rant. But I hate DRL's. I wish they would stop putting that feature on cars.

 

They just turn on when I turn them on. No need for vehicle to be in park or whatever.

 

FYI, If they don't come on in D, there is an on/off option on the infotainment screen.

 

Right there with ya, brother.

 

I think on my 2019 they will come on when the parking brake is released

 

Mine was set to “off” in the vehicle customization settings. Works now even in park.

 

Yep, DRL’s on mine are always on unless:

manually selected off on the stalk,
parking brake on,
headlights on,
or toggled off in headunit as OP found

I personally like them for the extra smidge of visibility plus insurance knocks a teeny bit off the price for having them.

I’m less negative on them too in terms of user error since I’ve seen plenty of high beams and even cars without DRL’s driving around with no lights at night. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss my old Sienna’s warm green dash that lit up only when the lights were on.