Can you tell me if these problems simply require fuse changes?

[waqqas31]

Hi All,

This is my first post here! I drive a 1990 White Camry V4, and I had a couple of small issues:

1. The light that illuminates the speedometer, RPM-meter, fuel-level thingy on my dash board has gone out.
2. Only the two highest settings on my A/C fan control work, the others result in no airflow.

Do these two problems stem from blown fuses?

If so, can you help me locate the fuse box? I have no clue where it is! I tried looking for any sort of markings or stickers, but no luck yet.

Thanks in advance!

[nuron]

Originally Posted by waqqas31

Hi All,
1. The light that illuminates the speedometer, RPM-meter, fuel-level thingy on my dash board has gone out.
2. Only the two highest settings on my A/C fan control work, the others result in no airflow.

1. Probably have to take our the cluster and replace the bulbs.

2. I forgot the exact name but the 'coils' on your unit probably shorted out. Argh, this is a common problem but I don't remember the name of the component that handles the fan speeds.

[TBayToyotaBoy]

The guage pod definitely has to be removed to replace the little bulbs. It take awhile, and unless you're familiar with a) the locations of all the screws, and b) how to disconnect the speedometer cable, I recommend you have a mechanic do it.

The fan speeds are regulated by a resistor array, which is located in the firewall at the passenger's right foot. The array has several little "coils" or resistors that resist the voltage and allow the fan to work at different speeds. The highest fan setting is 12 volt, unresisted. A new array costs around $65 at the dealership, unless you can go to a u-pull-it scrap yard and get one for around $5.

I have to admit, since you called the fuel guage a "fuel-level thingy", you're probably not 100% mechanically inclined. If not, write down that the bulbs and the resistors need replacing and tell a mechanic to do it for you...

Good luck

[waqqas31]

Thanks guys! I am definitely a *little* new to car mechanics

[Mike Gerber]

Item number 2 is more commonly refered to as the blower motor resistor.

Mike

[atobe]

anyone with a screwdriver can take out the gauges... there's 5 screws for the cover .. 3 in the middle 2 on each side where the hazard/defroster buttons are.. and the gauge itself is held on by 4 screws... then you can pull it straight out.. you don't have to disconnect the speedo cable.. you'd just have to disconnect misc wire connections... and then in the back there should be 4 green bulb holders those are the ones that illuminates the whole gauge. just goto the store and get 4 194 bulbs.. pull the old out of the holder pop in the new one.. reinstall everything....

and the resistor pack is only 1 screw

[TBayToyotaBoy]

The reason I recommended caution with the guage cluster is that ALL of my Camrys have come to me with gouges, scratches, missing screws, and stripped screws all over the dash. Apparently it's not as straightforward as we think, others seem to make a huge mess of it...