DIY: Door Sensor Repair - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Luspher · 06-08-2007, 01:41 AM

Well, I know a lot of camrys have issues with the door sensors not working, or working inconsistently. To replace all four them it can cost you $50+. So to save you guys money I figured I'd publish a DIY on how to repair these guys.

Tools:

(Required)
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Lighter
- Razor blade

(Optional)
- Pencil Torch
- Qtip + Rubbing Alcohol (for cleaning parts after the surfaces have been scraped)
- Vise (makes things easier)

Procedure:

Remove the rubber covering by pulling it up from the bottom, over the moving part and sliding it down the wire.

Next, if you have a vise place the sensor in it as shown in the picture, and using needle nose pliers lightly pull on the metal grounding plate as you heat the pegs in the order shown. be careful as when you remove the grounding plate there is a spring that may decide to go flying if you are pulling too hard. Also be sure to avoid flame contact with the switch part (moving part that is sticking out)

With everything apart it should look like this

The next step is to separate the sliding contact from switch. Press one side in and slide outward.

using the flat part of the razor scrape the gunk and carbon off the contact placing emphasis on the raised portions.

With the sliding contact cleaned the next step is to clean the surface it mates with. to get at this you'll need to modify your razor blade. Using a vise and a pair of pliers or just two pairs of pliers break it so that it will fit in the housing. Scrape the carbon and gunk off the contact surface placing emphasis on the top 50-75%

Last thing to clean is the ground panel. The portion that sticks down into the plastic housing may have some buildup on it. Scrape that off with the razor blade.

Now that all surfaces will function as conductors again, clean the parts to remove any loose dust or gunk that could potentially cake back on. Re-assemble the parts as they came apart and place the assembled unit in the vise as shown below. make sure you push the pegs through the grounding plate. Heat the pegs and flatten them with the razor blade making sure to keep the flame off of switch peg.

Slide the rubber back on by putting the wire through and pulling it over the way it came off. When all is said and done it should look like this.

I hope this DIY has been useful. I know it would've saved me a couple bucks. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

-- Robert

leasaunce · 06-08-2007, 04:26 AM

thats a great DIY!!! STICKY!

roy7777 · 06-08-2007, 05:26 AM

Thanks for the sharing.
It's really very helpful.
Excellent!!

bigbird · 06-08-2007, 07:27 AM

good write up man

Luspher · 06-08-2007, 08:55 PM

cool, glad you guys like it. quick q, do you guys know if any other gens use this same style switch? I'm thinking it's probably in several toyota/lexus cars and trucks. Seems like something that would be pretty standardized, but that's just a guess.

mox · 06-09-2007, 02:29 AM

thanks for this DIY !

I got to do it on my car.. all four sensors need that!

Stillrunning · 06-09-2007, 08:32 AM

This IS a great DIY. When I inspected my non-functioning door switches I found the connecting plug at the end of the wire did not pull through the mounting hole. It looks like I may have to remove the interior trim to get access. Is that what you found or could you pull the plug out from the outside of the door pillar?

***eyeball96*** · 06-09-2007, 08:59 AM

Great DIY....Thanks!

Luspher · 06-10-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stillrunning

This IS a great DIY. When I inspected my non-functioning door switches I found the connecting plug at the end of the wire did not pull through the mounting hole. It looks like I may have to remove the interior trim to get access. Is that what you found or could you pull the plug out from the outside of the door pillar?

On the front all you have to do is pull up the door trim on the front and back on the sides of the pillar than pull the pillar off. behind that there's a white panel. pop that open and you have access to where it plugs in. I don't quite remember but i think with the rear you just pull them out to gain access.

Edit: You need to pull up the bottom of your rear seats to gain access to the bolt for the side parts of your rear seats (the parts that don't move when you fold down the top portions of the rear seat. ). Pull up on the front to unclip that part and slide forward. Then unbolt the side parts and slide them upward to remove. the wire for the sensor will be black, giggle the wire to help find it. It'll be in the hole behind where the seatbelt mounts. You can get at it with either small fingers or some needle nose pliers though.

Luspher · 06-15-2007, 11:59 PM

Hey, just wanted to see if anyone's done this other than myself yet. If so could you ship me some feedback, so i can make my next DIY better? Thanks.

PtBaller · 06-16-2007, 12:13 AM

wow I thought I was the only person having this problem which was caused by my body shop after I got my paint job!

midnightmach · 06-16-2007, 12:39 PM

Awesome STICKY!

tarbasd · 06-16-2007, 11:33 PM

I also have this problem, and I'm going to do this job for sure! (When I'll have a bit more time.) Thanks! This should be sticky.

Curry · 06-17-2007, 12:39 AM

Very nice and detailed write up. This hasn't happened to mine yet but if it does I know where to go.

Thanks!

Luspher · 06-17-2007, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PtBaller

wow I thought I was the only person having this problem which was caused by my body shop after I got my paint job!

If the problem started after the paint job, and they painted inside the door jams where the sensor sits chances are the bolt just isn't grounding. Check and make sure the threads it mounts too aren't covered with paint. if they are take the paint off and you should be good to go. The bolt is the ground for the switch.