re: 89 Camry Instrument problems

[jbhome]

I have an 89 Camry LE V6.
I am having several intermittent problems.
1 - The gas gauge pins itself, and occasionally works properly.
- I got a used sender from the wrecker with the same results.
- I played with it tonite having checked the original sender worked properly.I took the gauge assembly out to replace a light as well. Things seemed to point to the connector between the sender and the harness but when I put things back together I was back to the pinned on full needle.
At the same time, the light I had replaced, started to flicker like the original. Are there any problems with the printed circuit on the guages? It seems like I have a wiring problem.
I am also having problem with the dash PRNDL indicators. Neutral fluctuates between N and R+N. P fluctuates between P and P+R.
I have a replacment switch but is there a simple way to repalce this? At the wrecker, I pretty much completely disassembled the shifter assembly to get the part out.

On another note, I have replaced the right drive axle.
Now when I'm driving, especially when I do highway driving, I get a mild vibration and noise from the front end. I have replaced the rotors, and don't notice any pulsation or other issues when I use the brakes.
Does this sound like the early stages of a CV joint?

My dad used to work on Rovers, always with at least one bolt that broke/seized.
It's amazing how easy Toyota has made so many things to work on.
My only complaint is prices. $250 for a new fuel sender.

Thanks for any help,
Sincerely,
Jim Brooks

[Doctor J]

Jim, unplug the connector at the fuel sender turn ignition on and look at the gage .It must indicate empty. If it reads full, the problem is outside of the tank.
Download the Body electrical manual from the top of the forum and refer to pages 31 to 38.
On the gear indicator let me describe the problem I have had:

• with car in P I had the P and R indicators glow at half of normal brightness
• in R , no light was on
• in N , R and N were glow in half-brighness again.

I f the poblem is the same -- the fault is in the indicator circuit board.
I fixed my board by soldering very small wire at the "rivet" which transfers the conductor trace to another side of the board. The ground (common for P, R and N) was open at this rivet allowing the the gear indicator bulb to be grounded through the Back-up light circuit !
For the axle noise check the the support bearing. Refer to on-line manual for more info.

[jbhome]

Thanks Dr J but...
While the guage was working, with the old sender plugged in and not mounted Lowering produced empty, and raising produced full form the guage. Removing the sender from the circuit left the guage where is was.
It seems like the problems I'm seeing are all poor connection. Finding the breaks is the challenge.
In the morning, the normal vs power indicator comes on. Once the car warms a bit, the normal indicator goes out.
The night light for the fuel guage has been replaced with the same flickering followed by no light situation. Since I've had the lamp socket out, and inserted the new lamp and there is no sign of corrosion, I'm beginning to wonder if the circuit board has fractured???

I'll check the bearing.

Thanks,
Jim