tricking switch on tailgate

[bodywhomper]

Is there an easy way to "trick" the standard tailgate switch so that no lights come on in the cab when either part of the tailgate is open? i want to be able to leave the the tailgate open for long periods, such as when camping, w/o draining the battery.

apologies if this has been discussed, i searched. i'll delete thread if somebody points me to the correct thread.

cheers

 

[Pinittowinit]

It's funny you should ask this question. As I had the same issue the first time I went camping in mine. In my defense it was already dark and I had smoked alot of grass. there I am in a stoned haze fiddling with the locks and keys opening and closing the doors. An hour or so later my friend who sitting by the fire laughing at me very quitety says "hey, reach up and turn your interior light switches to the O F F position.

 

[badlander]

FYI, The lights turn off automatically after about 20 or 30 minutes or so.

 

[slimbuddha]

I found the switch early on, when I thought the bulb had burned out, but it was just the kids messing with the switch.

 

[bodywhomper]

Thanks for the responses. I'm talking about the lights on the doors and door ajar idiot light on the dash. IME, they stay on if the tailgate is open. Do those go out after a while, too?

 

[Pinittowinit]

Oh the vanity lights... No idea

 

[bodywhomper]

Thanks. "Vanity lights." I couldn't think of the term.

 

[Pinittowinit]

So after 20 minutes they automatically shut off. This time is adjustable too. It's in the owners manual I can't check right now

 

[SHAGGY101]

Everything shuts off after 15-30 min. You can modify this using tech stream. Go on eBay or Amazon and purchase a $20 cable download the program off of one of the tundra forums and not the cd that comes with the cable. You will have access to all of your other excuse if you want to change other settings, reset codes, monitor everything or run diagnostics.

 

[2000LC]

YES I actually just solved this issue about a week ago. If you just push the lock latch in on the top tailgate half (pretend the be the latch that it is hitting when you close it...) you can trick it into turning the light off. To open it you just pull the inside door handle and it pops open. Just be careful not to forget that the latch is closed and slam the top onto the bottom or you might break the latch mechanism. Hope that makes sense, if not lmk and I can take pics.

 

[bodywhomper]

Thanks all!!

Cheers

 

[thatcabledude]

Stick a carabiner in the latch. This does 2 things. It tricks the switch, and allows the lights to come on if you open another door. It would be annoying as hell to have to wait 15+ Each time a door was opened. Put some sort of "remove before flight" tag on it so you don't slam the hatch with it in there.

You can also hang a lantern from it.

 

[bodywhomper]

Stick a carabiner in the latch. This does 2 things. It tricks the switch, and allows the lights to come on if you open another door. It would be annoying as hell to have to wait 15+ Each time a door was opened. Put some sort of "remove before flight" tag on it so you don't slam the hatch with it in there.

You can also hang a lantern from it.

Bump. This is what i have been doing and it works great. Thanks for all of the suggestions.
Cheers

 

[cruzerDave]

Stick a carabiner in the latch. This does 2 things. It tricks the switch, and allows the lights to come on if you open another door. It would be annoying as hell to have to wait 15+ Each time a door was opened. Put some sort of "remove before flight" tag on it so you don't slam the hatch with it in there.

You can also hang a lantern from it.

BRILLIANT. I've been turning the lights OFF as I work on the drawers, then back ON when going out with the wife, then OFF to do more work, etc etc - thank you!

 

[FranceJohnson]

You can also use a standard Bic pen to cram in there. There will be two clicks, make sure it seats in the second one to turn the lights off.