License Plate Light - Need Urgent Help

[a1475]

Hello Friends,

I have a 2000 Camry CE. The License Plate light went bad and I see an icon glow up on my dash board. I replaced the bulbs still the light wont go on. went to Advanced Auto Parts and they checked old and new bulbs and told both are working. This could be fuse!

How do I know which fuse controls the connection to license plate light?
Also, how do I check if the fuse is broken or something else is gone bad.

The lights are bad after the severe snow storm 2 weeks ago!

Also, if you can help me figure out how do I put back the trunk lining into its place. the Tugs are too tight to go through the metal holes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[hill8570]

You sure it's the license plate light? AFAIK, the only burned-out bulbs that will cause the warning light on the dash to turn on are the brake lights (either the main ones or the high-mounted one in the rear window)

[Kenny_McCormic]

I couldn't figure out what was pissing off my my lamp failure sensor(little box in the trunk that lights up that light), so I studied the wiring diagrams and found that the lamp failure box directly powers the idiot light in the dash. 10 seconds and a pair of wire cutters later all was well!

[a1475]

Originally Posted by hill8570

You sure it's the license plate light? AFAIK, the only burned-out bulbs that will cause the warning light on the dash to turn on are the brake lights (either the main ones or the high-mounted one in the rear window)

Thanks for your reply. I checked all the rear lights, its on the license plate light thats not working. All other lights are working. the rear brake lights, the one over the trunk visible from rear windshield, right and left blinkers all are working.

And upon replacing the license plate bulbls its still not working. Nor the new bulbs lights up nor the dashboard light goes off. where is the fuse located that controls this thing? and how do one knows if a fuse is good or not? I checked some fuse under the hood they all look red, yellow orange rectangular slices. how do I know which is shot or not?

[hill8570]

Originally Posted by a1475

Thanks for your reply. I checked all the rear lights, its on the license plate light thats not working. All other lights are working. the rear brake lights, the one over the trunk visible from rear windshield, right and left blinkers all are working.

And upon replacing the license plate bulbls its still not working. Nor the new bulbs lights up nor the dashboard light goes off. where is the fuse located that controls this thing? and how do one knows if a fuse is good or not? I checked some fuse under the hood they all look red, yellow orange rectangular slices. how do I know which is shot or not?

The fuse for the license plate lights is the TAIL fuse (10A). It's in the fuse box to the left of the steering wheel, behind the coin box (or whatever it's called). To access it, you pull out the coin box, and squeeze a couple of tabs on either side of the coin box together so you can pull the sucker out.

Blown fuses are pretty obvious -- there's usually a continuous grey metal wavy thing going from one contact to the other in the fuse. If it's blown, it ain't so continuous -- usually there's a hole blown in the middle of the metal, or the whole inside is sooty black.

[Chris Crash]

Originally Posted by hill8570

The fuse for the license plate lights is the TAIL fuse (10A). It's in the fuse box to the left of the steering wheel, behind the coin box (or whatever it's called). To access it, you pull out the coin box, and squeeze a couple of tabs on either side of the coin box together so you can pull the sucker out.

Blown fuses are pretty obvious -- there's usually a continuous grey metal wavy thing going from one contact to the other in the fuse. If it's blown, it ain't so continuous -- usually there's a hole blown in the middle of the metal, or the whole inside is sooty black.

Look on the back of the coin box to see the diagram of the fuse layout to figure out which one to pull. you'll need a pair of needle nose pliers, grab onto the middle of the fuse and pull. If it's not blown, put it back.

[a1475]

Originally Posted by hill8570

The fuse for the license plate lights is the TAIL fuse (10A). It's in the fuse box to the left of the steering wheel, behind the coin box (or whatever it's called). To access it, you pull out the coin box, and squeeze a couple of tabs on either side of the coin box together so you can pull the sucker out.

Blown fuses are pretty obvious -- there's usually a continuous grey metal wavy thing going from one contact to the other in the fuse. If it's blown, it ain't so continuous -- usually there's a hole blown in the middle of the metal, or the whole inside is sooty black.

Thanks, I will check this out and get back to you in some time.
Earlier I was trying to locate at the wrong place (under the hood, large fuse box!).

If the fuse is blown, where is the best place to get it? and how much does it cost generally?

thanks again, will get back to you asap.

[hill8570]

Originally Posted by a1475

Thanks, I will check this out and get back to you in some time.
Earlier I was trying to locate at the wrong place (under the hood, large fuse box!).

If the fuse is blown, where is the best place to get it? and how much does it cost generally?

thanks again, will get back to you asap.

Never understood why Toyota hid that fuse box back there, but they've done it on multiple generations of the Camry, so they must enjoy doing it.

Any auto parts store, Wally World, etc. will sell them...usually a couple of bucks for a package of 10. Bring the old one with you, so you make sure you've got the right size (they're call something like "10A small bayonet fuses"). FWIW, there should be some spares stuck in one of the corners of the fuse box, assuming someone hasn't used them up -- just make sure you use another 10A fuse -- you don't want to fry wires using too big of a fuse.

[SexieWASD]

I like having the fuse box there, it means that i don't have to get on my knees to peek under the dash like an s-10, and I can check them without having the door open 100%.

[a1475]

Originally Posted by hill8570

Never understood why Toyota hid that fuse box back there, but they've done it on multiple generations of the Camry, so they must enjoy doing it.

Any auto parts store, Wally World, etc. will sell them...usually a couple of bucks for a package of 10. Bring the old one with you, so you make sure you've got the right size (they're call something like "10A small bayonet fuses"). FWIW, there should be some spares stuck in one of the corners of the fuse box, assuming someone hasn't used them up -- just make sure you use another 10A fuse -- you don't want to fry wires using too big of a fuse.

Thanks, please let me know if the Fuse 10A controls only the license plate light or other rear lights as well?

If I take out the Fuse 10A will this affect the car's functionality in any way? I mean are the other lights going to work? I am planning to take it out and take it to O'Rielly or Advanced Auto Parts.

Your mentioned about the spare fuse, where do I look for them?

Also, if you can give some advice on how do I put back the trunk liner with those plastic caps that are not going back into the holes in the metal body. Are they only one time use or can be reused to place them back holding the liner?

Thank you for your timely help and suggestions.

[Chris Crash]

Originally Posted by a1475

Thanks, please let me know if the Fuse 10A controls only the license plate light or other rear lights as well?

If I take out the Fuse 10A will this affect the car's functionality in any way? I mean are the other lights going to work? I am planning to take it out and take it to O'Rielly or Advanced Auto Parts.

Your mentioned about the spare fuse, where do I look for them?

Also, if you can give some advice on how do I put back the trunk liner with those plastic caps that are not going back into the holes in the metal body. Are they only one time use or can be reused to place them back holding the liner?

Thank you for your timely help and suggestions.

I would leave the fuse in, drive to the auto store, then pull it out. Pulling that fuse will keep all of your tail lights from working.

Look on the back of the coin tray, there's a diagram of all the fuses. There will be a few spots that say spare. Use the 10A one.

[Hajoca]

for 2000 to 2001 camrys You have 1 high mounted stop light.

4 brake lamps. two mounted in the rear fender and 2 on trunk on either sides of the license plate. did you check all those?? I seriously doubt the fuse.