re: Neutral Safety Switch, 89 Camry

[sfjen]

Aloha Folks-

Have a question for our automatic 89 Camry Wagon V6:

I have been noticing so often when I go to put the car in reverse the letter "R" does not light up. But when I put the car in park the letters "P & R" light up.

The transmission seems to be fine, no slipping, engages well. Could it be that the neutral safety switch is going bad? I am curious about this or possibly an electrical connection or something?

Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks so much.
Mahalo

[Doctor J]

This thread may be helpful:
Gear position indicator panel mystery

[sfjen]

Aloha DoctorJ-
Thank you for this thread! By the way, since my car is a 1989, would it be helpful to get a part from a 1990 or 1991 Camry? I only ask because we have some junk yards in driving distance. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by Doctor J

This thread may be helpful:
Gear position indicator panel mystery

[Doctor J]

As far as I know 90 & 91 should work; however if it is same design it may give you the same problem.

[71Corolla]

The gear shift indicator is the same electrically from 1987-1991, but Toyota changed the later ones slightly, reverse is in amber instead of green. Otherwise they are the same units. As mentioned, there is a good chance a salvage part has the failing print through rivet and/or bad solder joints. Fairly easy fix luckily.

[sfjen]

Aloha Doctor J and Corolla 71-
Thank you for your replies. Corolla you are probably right, not worth getting a part from the salvage yard as it will most likely have the same problem. So, I will do Doctor J's fix. My concern is taking off trim and breaking something but it sounds like hopefully a phillips screwdriver should do the trick to getting the dash board pieces off so I can get at that circuit board with the lights on it.

From what I understand Doctor J, from the 2 yellow dots you marked on the board (one on each side), that shows the rivet where the wire needs to go through and the path it should follow on both sides, then just solder this wire on both sides making sure the fix stays with the path-circuit track if you want to call it.

I am curious what gauge of wiring did you use? I was curious if a small gauge of solid core wiring would work but maybe you like the stranded wire because it can soak up more solder and thus make a better connection-bond to the circuit board.

Thanks again for your help on this.
Mahalo,
Glen

Originally Posted by Doctor J

As far as I know 90 & 91 should work; however if it is same design it may give you the same problem.

[atobe]

Removing and cleaning the Neutral Start Switch read this thread

[white90dx]

You could also just replace it with the blanking plug from a manual trans Camry.

It is fairly easy to remove the gauge cluster surround, as long as you have a stubby phillips screwdriver and an adjustable steering column. I believe there are 5 screws - make sure you get them all.

-Charlie