1989 Camry Tail Light Yellow Box Sensor Inside Trunk - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jmj99f · 10-16-2010, 08:40 PM

I have a problem with trying to remove the yellow senor box in the rear trunk. I pulled off the gray molding and able view it. I am just having a hard time removing it

. Please give me suggestions. All my tail lights no longer work, the reason why I am trying to remove and replace it. Here is a picture

Thanks

hairball · 10-19-2010, 08:21 AM

Mine is always messing up too, but I've found the easiest thing to do is to pry it open with a small flat head screwdriver and simply remove and replace the circuit board. IF you can find one at a wrecking yard (they're usually the first thing to sell I've noticed).

The nice thing (if you can call it that) is that when mine goes out, the "Lights" indicator on the dash comes on. But someone showed me how to solve the problem and save on trying to find more of those yellow boxes to replace.

Here is what he told me to do:

Looking at the box from the front, where you see the part numbers and plug, locate the dark green and light green wires on the far left side and place a jumper wire with inline fuse between those two wires. Bam! Problem solved!

I have no idea HOW this helps, but it does. My friend knew about the trick, and since I've done it, my yellow box has not burned out ever since! He suggested a 15amp fuse.

Their is a little thing on the circuit board that burns out very easily. I'm on my 4th one in 14 months! But since installing this fuse, I haven't burned any out. If for some reason the fuse blows, the "Lights" indicator on your dash will come on, telling you to check that fuse.

I know this might sound like a shade-tree mechanic's way of fixing something, but the guy who told me about it has owned a foreign car repair shop for over 40 years and knows his stuff. He doesn't tell customers to do this, but since we've been friends for so many years he told me.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

As for unplugging it, I'm not sure why you're having so much trouble. Have you tried a flat head screwdriver?

jmj99f · 10-19-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hairball

Mine is always messing up too, but I've found the easiest thing to do is to pry it open with a small flat head screwdriver and simply remove and replace the circuit board. IF you can find one at a wrecking yard (they're usually the first thing to sell I've noticed).

The nice thing (if you can call it that) is that when mine goes out, the "Lights" indicator on the dash comes on. But someone showed me how to solve the problem and save on trying to find more of those yellow boxes to replace.

Here is what he told me to do:

Looking at the box from the front, where you see the part numbers and plug, locate the dark green and light green wires on the far left side and place a jumper wire with inline fuse between those two wires. Bam! Problem solved!

I have no idea HOW this helps, but it does. My friend knew about the trick, and since I've done it, my yellow box has not burned out ever since! He suggested a 15amp fuse.

Their is a little thing on the circuit board that burns out very easily. I'm on my 4th one in 14 months! But since installing this fuse, I haven't burned any out. If for some reason the fuse blows, the "Lights" indicator on your dash will come on, telling you to check that fuse.

I know this might sound like a shade-tree mechanic's way of fixing something, but the guy who told me about it has owned a foreign car repair shop for over 40 years and knows his stuff. He doesn't tell customers to do this, but since we've been friends for so many years he told me.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

As for unplugging it, I'm not sure why you're having so much trouble. Have you tried a flat head screwdriver?

I appreciate your advice. I will try it our ......

hairball · 10-19-2010, 08:46 PM

Oh, I was a bit mixed up when I posted my reply due to only my first cup of morning coffee. I meant to say...

With this fuse, EVERY time you turn on your lights, the "Lights" icon comes on in the dash. I meant to say that if the fuse blows or you get a burned out bulb, the "Lights" thing goes off. It's annoying to see that on your instrument panel, but believe me, you get used to it. It's a small price to pay for assurance that your brake lights are working and you're not going to get pulled over.

hairball · 10-20-2010, 05:53 PM

Here is your problem when you lose your tail and/or brake lights. I picked up a spare today while I was at the wrecking yard. It's a nice thing to have an extra one of. I circled the thing that has always been burned when I've opened some at wrecking yards, or mine when they used to blow.

jmj99f · 10-21-2010, 10:07 AM

Hairball,

I am going to the junk yard this weekend to pull one from a Camry. The circuit board pictured will help me greatly when hunting for one. I have already purchased 15Afuses, T-Taps, connectors and fuse holder from Radio Shack. I will tell you my results.

Thanks Again.

Kyle1! · 10-21-2010, 10:45 AM

Where is the location of this sensor box in the trunk? I have been having a "no tailight" situation plus the "light indicator" on the dash turn on in the 88. The light indicator has been on for some time but the no tailight has been a problem just for the last few months. I'm blowing the tailight fuse when I turn on the lights and can't seem to find any bad wires.

Could this be it? I'm thinking of doing a motor swap from my current ride 88 into a 91 that has been sitting in the garage for awhile because it is getting dark on the plains. The body on the 88 is also falling apart. Can't drive around with no tailights and I have already met the sheriff who was

. Thanks

Brian

csaxon · 10-21-2010, 11:32 AM

The yellow relay box is behind the carpeting on the left side of the trunk near the trunk hinge. It is a little bigger than a pack of cigarettes. Unhook it from the body and remove one plug. You can open the relay and see if any circuits are burnt out.

hairball · 10-21-2010, 01:15 PM

csaxon,

open your trunk. on the far left (driver's side) behind the felt covering you will find this box. It looks like in the pic I posted above. Sometimes they can be stubborn to unplug, but usually a flat head screwdriver helps. Once you get it off and look at it from the front, it will look like this:

On the face, it measures 2-1/4 inches each way.

From what I have discovered on another forum, they go out a LOT! In fact mine has burned out a few times... until I installed the fuse per a friend's suggestion. Again, study (or copy or print) that picture I posted above (unless you have a killer memory) and before you buy one at a wrecking yard (IF you can find one, they're gone from 95% of the Camrys I've found unless the car just came in), take a small screwdriver with you to pry it open BEFORE YOU BUY IT!!! The circuit board will fall out (not attached to housing). Look for anything burned. I didn't know this at first and bought a few that were already bad!!! In today's economy, it helps to get a good part on the first trip. Besides, I've never seen a wrecking yard take returns on electrical items.

Good luck, everyone!

Tnexus · 10-22-2010, 05:41 PM

I had a similar problem with my tail lights. The image that Hairball posted was not my problem, although from research that seems to be the most common thing. My problem was actually one of the solders on the back was bad. If you turn the circuitboard over, look at the solders where the connector is. One of those ended up frying somehow and it stopped my taillights from working. NOTE: Look very carefully. I missed it in passing twice before I stopped to examine each pin solder. It was just a tiny blemish, but it was enough. I just put a dab of solder back on it, and it's been working fine for months. (*nock on wood*) Hope you have success fixing it!

hairball · 10-22-2010, 06:41 PM

was it by chance the same diode I circled in the picture, only on the other side? Just curious. Seems they should have installed a bigger diode. Just another way the dealer can continually sell you a very expensive electronic component. LOL! I don't even want to know what one of these boxes cost from a dealer!

Tnexus · 10-22-2010, 08:06 PM

Nope, looking at your image (the one with it still in the box), I think it was the bottom left pin. I want to say it was the green wire?

hairball · 10-22-2010, 08:30 PM

Green wire? OMG! How ironic! My friend told me about hooking up a fuse between the dark green and light green wires (both on far left if you're facing the box) and I never burn out the boxes now! Apparently the green wires have issues!

This is how I fixed MY problem...

hairball · 10-23-2010, 11:11 AM

jmj99f · 11-01-2010, 09:12 AM

Hairball,

All your quotes were excellent and helpful.

I discovered the problem. It was a lose solder joint on the circuit board.
You gave me a great clue. You mentioned the diodes go bad on the circuit board. I checked the diode with my multimeter and it was fine.

I turned circuit board over and found a loose joint connection. I asked my friend, who is an engineer to solder it. He went a step further and re-soldered everything.

All my lights have been restored.

The only thing left is to install the fuse.