As of yesterday, my 1997 Camry developed a very strange problem with the headlights that I can't seem to track down. Here are the symptoms:

1) headlights do not work when the car is running. I still get all other exterior lights and dashboard lights, just no headlights. The headlight switch works normally to turn off the exterior/interior lights (just the headlights aren't working).

2) when the car is turned off, the headlights are always on regardless of the headlight switch position.

Story: I got to my car late last night after leaving it in the airport parking lot for a few days and my battery was dead. I got a jump start and began to leave when I noticed that it my headlights weren't working, but all other lights worked normally. I thought that I had a blown fuse and that I would call my wife for a ride and fix it in the morning. When I turned off the car, the headlights lit up. No matter what I did, the lights stayed on with the car off. I restarted the car (hoping I would have lights to get home) and the lights went back out. Anyway, the lights suddenly coming on with the car off explains why my battery was dead when I found the car, but now I need to know what is causing the lights to come on when the car is off.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Does the car have auto off, auto on or daytime running lights?

What engine V6 or 4 cylinder?

 

Sorry, I should've given more info. It's a 2.2L 4 cyl with headlights that are auto off, and no daytime running lights.

In order to drive it around and not always have to disconnect the battery cable, I pulled the headlight relay. As of now, I'm thinking the relay might be the problem, so I have one on order that will arrive tomorrow morning. I'm hoping that works.