3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
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I have a '93 camry (5sfe) and ever since i bought the car, the 'burnt out bulb' light has always been on. At first it was the right tail light, closest to the license plate, changed that, and INSTANTLY after replacing it, the same light on the opposite side burnt out, replaced that, instantly burnt another bulb. This time the main left rear light.
So basically, I can only have 3 working lights out of 4, one will burn out instantly if i replace it. It is not the same light every time, it wall alternate among the 4.
So basically, i'm wondering where is a good place to start, to trubleshoot this issue. What could be causing it?
I would like this fixed ASAP, because the dash light is annoying, and i've already gotten a warning from police about the lack of one brake light.
Wow -- there just not a lot that can go wrong in that area. Are you sure you're using the correct replacement lights? Some are double-filament, some single-filament.
New bulbs are burning out or just all the old ones?
What seems to happen with me on my 96 is I replace a bulb and 2 or 3 more are out when I get everything back together. In my dash and my tail lights. I figured they are just old and fatigued. Don't know the cause maybe bumps and bangs or a change in current.
New bulbs are burning out or just all the old ones?
What seems to happen with me on my 96 is I replace a bulb and 2 or 3 more are out when I get everything back together. In my dash and my tail lights. I figured they are just old and fatigued. Don't know the cause maybe bumps and bangs or a change in current.
Well i've gone through all 4 more than once now, so all of them are still fairly new, and still dying. And as for getting the right bulbs, it's correct as far as the what the catalog at the parts store says.
That is weird.
1157 bulbs for the tail lights. I really doubt you can get the wrong ones to fit. If you bought a off brand try a different source or buy some Sylvania brand bulbs. Maybe the store got a bad batch. I bought a cheap set of red 1157 bulbs online to replace white tail light bulbs because I have a crack and small hole in one of my lenses. Its only noticable at night when the white bulb shined through it.
Worked great and the crack and hole is completely unoticeable but the bulb only lasted a month.
Check the loom of wires inside the trunk by the driver's side trunk hinge. Open up that loom and look for frayed or broken wires. That loom is subjected to a lot of flexing over time as the trunk is constantly opened and closed. Eventually the wires inside that loom can frey and break. Repair what you find. You can even try this; with the lights on moves the wires around a bit and see if you can get the bulbs to blow. Just a hunch here, but maybe a broken wire inside there is broken just enough where the currrent is being quickly cut off and then quickly reconnected. If this happens quickly a few times the voltage spikes created in a heated up bulb may cause it to blow.
Check the loom of wires inside the trunk by the driver's side trunk hinge. Open up that loom and look for frayed or broken wires. That loom is subjected to a lot of flexing over time as the trunk is constantly opened and closed. Eventually the wires inside that loom can frey and break. Repair what you find. You can even try this; with the lights on moves the wires around a bit and see if you can get the bulbs to blow. Just a hunch here, but maybe a broken wire inside there is broken just enough where the currrent is being quickly cut off and then quickly reconnected. If this happens quickly a few times the voltage spikes created in a heated up bulb may cause it to blow.
Mike
Thanks, I will definitely give this a shot!
Oh and if this makes any difference, the license plate lights dont work AT ALL. as in new bulbs dont even work for a second. Their just... gone
Oh and if this makes any difference, the license plate lights dont work AT ALL. as in new bulbs dont even work for a second. Their just... gone
You mean they fry immediately? Wow. Have you taken a voltmeter to check what sort of voltage those guys are seeing? Just can't see how it could be over 14V, but ya gotta start somewhere.
This rig doesn't have any out-there aftermarket mods to the electrical system, like dual batteries, does it?
well i had a similar problem.. just random lights burning out.. so i changed them all to LED lights and well they dont burnt out anymore. the only ones i have yet to replace are the little block in the window..
the only odd thing is tha tnow everytime the lights are on and i breake .. the little dash indicator comes on.. but only when i brake..
the only odd thing is tha tnow everytime the lights are on and i breake .. the little dash indicator comes on.. but only when i brake..
Convering to LED's causes a changes in current which triggers the bulb out module. I would just pull that bulb out of the dash. Not needed if you know there never going to burn out.
well i had a similar problem.. just random lights burning out.. so i changed them all to LED lights and well they dont burnt out anymore. the only ones i have yet to replace are the little block in the window..
the only odd thing is that now everytime the lights are on and i breake .. the little dash indicator comes on.. but only when i brake..
so yeah.. have you tried LED bulbs?
This actually sounds great. Never need to worry again, basically. So umm, in order to convert to LED lights, is there a special procedure I need to follow?? By any chance is there a how to on this already??
Or is it as simple as replacing the bulbs for normal ones??
I'm really interested in this method, so any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Tail Light Problems
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