Lights not going off

[magnumtoy]

My headlights (only) intermittently do not go off. This is a 1996 Toyota Avalon; non-daytime running lights, but has an auto-off feature when car turned off and door opened.

The headlights sometimes cannot be turned off, either by turning the headlight switch to "off" or by turning the car off entirely. They will always go on when I turn them on. Door switch seems ok because the dome lights/door ajar light, etc work when door opened and closed. When I remove the fuses, of course they go out; but when I put them right back in again, on they go, even with the car stopped and light switch off.

Does this sound like a relay? I don't know if relays fail slowly or just go bad all at once. Or, does it sound like a short or open circuit?

Any ideas on where to start? Thanks for the advise.

[Madman762]

check the automatic headlight sensor.

[Moppie]

My fathers Granvia van has the same problem.
The simple solution is to not use the "auto" feature.

If you find a proper fix let me know, and Ill do like wise.
But Im guessing the sensor is a good place to start.