1996 Camry headlights power up blower motor!!

[wkshp101]

Hey all
I've got a 1996 2 door camry with just over 100000 miles on the clock. A month ago I noticed the low beam on drivers side was dim and assumed it was a bad bulb. I changed it but nothing changed - at least in the headlamp department. When I activated the highbeams, the gauge fuse blew. Hmmmm. I replaced the fuse, started the car and checked things again - same thing. I turned the low beams on and shut the car off and to my surprise, all the gauge lights on the dash remained on, and the heater blower motor continued to run - with the key out of the ignition. When I shut the headlights off, the gauge lights went off, and the blower stopped!! I've spent days trying to find a short and the worst problem now is I can only get it to repeat the problem occasionally. Would the headlight switch be causing my grief!! I'm getting frustrated cause it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack - except the needle keeps moving!!

Thanks

[chronoti]

i would say check the wiring harness in the steering column and check for any shorts there, also check for any after market security alarms that may of shorted out. also look for corrosion on the ground points

[wkshp101]

I'm driving the Camry home from work this morning and suddenly it's accelerating all by itself - the pedal is right to the floor. I immediately shut the key off and coast to the side of the road. I turn the key to power and I watched the gas pedal return to the floor by itself!! Shut the key off and it goes back up. Key on, down. Key off, up!!! I open the hood and disconnect the plug going to the cruise. Problem solved - for now. Now when I have low beams on without the key in the ignition, I also have the blower motor running, several gauge lights on, and a gas pedal right to the floor!! I turn the high beams on and everything returns to normal. Activate the low beams and everything turns back on!! What could possibly control all this stuff on the same circuit?? This car is becoming dangerous to drive and I certainly wont let anyone else drive it. It's Frankenstein!! Could it be in the steering wheel wiring? Help!!!

[LynchburgCSI]

Something is SERIOUSLY messed up in the wiring. I'd have it taken in to a professional. Does this car sit outside where animals can gain access to it? Is it rusted out?

[wkshp101]

No rust, and it sits in a garage always. I'm guessing there is a wiring issue in the steering wheel - somewhere.

[LynchburgCSI]

Pull off the lower dash and steering column cover. Take a look around.

[wkshp101]

After much banging my head and studying wiring diagrams trying to put together what runs what and where I found the trouble spot. Had it not been for the cruise control going haywire I might still be looking. But tonight it's a tedious process of cutting, soldering, and wrapping about 10 wires all in a cluster beside the radiator, drivers side. It looks as though 15 years of vibration started a slow chain reaction of wires fusing together. There are about 20 or 30 wires in this grouping. Fortunately they didn't all get melted together. If I knew how to post pictures, I would. I'm pretty happy I found the culprit. But I liked the name Frankenstein so much, I'm gonna keep referring to the Camry as "Franky".

[LynchburgCSI]

There's a sticky at the top of every forum on posting pics. I wanna see this! Glad you got her fixed though.

[wkshp101]

So, I have all the wires cut, repaired and soldered. The camry is its' old self once again - almost. I went to activate the cruise and the light is blinking. Obviously when the wire welding happened something with the cruise did also. I'm thinking the ECU unit is probably NFG. But that's another story................................AND another repair for another day!! I ain't to computer savvy so I'll have to get my wife to post the pictures I took. Oh and this 1996 2 door coupe will be for sale in about 5 months - if anyone is interested.