headlites/tail lites failure dash lamp

[mcx]

i'm still trying to figure out why this warning lamp is getting triggered..could the brake pedal sensor? neutral safety switch? 1991 Camry

[white90dx]

Try a little experiment:

Start the car with your foot off the brake and the lights off. is the warning light on? If not, turn on the parking lights - does the light turn on? If not, put your foot on the brakes - does the light turn on?

Also, (yes, I have to ask) do all the rear lights affected by the sensor work (4x low and high filaments + center brake light). The turn signals, reverse lights and side markers are not part of the system. The brake pedal switch and neutral safety switch are also not part of the system.

-Charlie

[mcx]

I tried your experiment...the warning light only comes on when i hit the pedal.

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by mcx

I tried your experiment...the warning light only comes on when i hit the pedal.

Cool - that means is is narrowed down to the brake light circuit only. Check to make sure that all the bulbs are working (brakes) and that they look the same brightness first. It might be worth just replacing all the bulbs back there (including the center brake light) just in case. To get the center brake light cover off, you pop the center of the plastic clips in slightly, then the whole clip can come out - to put it back, you pull the center up a bit, push the clip in and pop the center flush again.

While you are in there, check all the ground connections and the trunk hinge wiring for damage.

-Charlie

[mcx]

Thx again...i'll buy all new brake bulbs which is cheap enough,....i'm glad to hear the brake switch isnt involved in the circuit...it looks painful tring to remove it...mike

[66conv6]

Before buying bulbs, I'd check the ground wire where it attaches with the bulb base into the taillight housing. That little screw often works loose and mild corrosion can get in there.

(It's the screw that holds the bulb assembly in the taillight housing.)

[mcx]

i rechecked all the rear bulbs and found out the reverse lights dont work..the bulbs are fine....any ideas?? thx mike

[white90dx]

Reverse lights will not cause the tail light failure sensor to trip... You could have a bad reverse light switch (top of trans), or it might still point to a bad ground near the tail lights.

-Charlie

[66conv6]

Perhaps the backup light wire in the wiring harness has been damaged? It runs along the left trunk hinge.

About 10-15 years ago we had electrical issues (can't remember what) and brought it to the Toyota dealer and $150 later it was fixed. They were reluctant to tell us where the wire break was so I told them for that kind of money we were entitled to know. I've kept that info for future reference in case it ever came up again.

good luck

[mcx]

i tightened down all those small ground screws and it didnt help[damn]...i looked over the trunl lid harness and it seems ok..i have to pull it apart to know for sure...i had disassembled the shifter console because i was feeling a click when stepping on the pedal....it seems there is a solinoid in front of the shifter for the interlock perhaps??...are there any connections in the consoole that i might have disturbed for the reverse lights???? mike

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by mcx

i tightened down all those small ground screws and it didnt help[damn]...i looked over the trunl lid harness and it seems ok..i have to pull it apart to know for sure...i had disassembled the shifter console because i was feeling a click when stepping on the pedal....it seems there is a solinoid in front of the shifter for the interlock perhaps??...are there any connections in the consoole that i might have disturbed for the reverse lights???? mike

The click in the center console is normal - it is for the shift interlock like you suspected. There is also a small solenoid in the key cylinder that keeps you from removing the key unless you are in park/neutral.

Reverse lights are operated by a switch on the top of the transmission. It is not related to the shifter assembly or neutral safety switch that is on the front of the transmission.

The rear light warning light has nothing to do with the reverse lights (just in case there is any confusion).

-Charlie

[mcx]

Charllie...thank you for sharing your knowledge...i owe you a few cold beers!! mike

[mcx]

i was able to get the reverse lites working again...i just jiggled the reverse switch connector on the tranny...they work again!!...still tracking down the brake warning dash lite...some days its on, other times a couple days and it stays off.

[white90dx]

Oh, the fun of an intermittent connection. My first Camry had a bad connection that would trip the warning light about 1/10 times I drove the car. Look for bad grounds near the lights and broken wires on the trunk hinge first...

-Charlie

[mcx]

NO LUCK!!!....can that dash bulb be disconnected easily???? i really dont want to drop the dash.