Illumination on heating cooling controls works when it wants to.

[leasure23]

I've notice that the light in my heating and coooling control knobs come on when they want to. I'll go down the road and they will finally come on. Any suggestions on whats going on?

[AutoBox]

that specific bulb is going to fail/burn out soon. i had a similar situation, they would light just like you said. replaced it and problem solved. there are two 74 type bulbs behind the HVAC controls.

[keithy]

I am glad you brought this up because I am having the exact same problem. Whenever the light is not illuminating when it should, I will give a light tap on the knobs and it will illuminate again. Weird..... Maybe as mentioned, the bulbs are about to go.

Originally Posted by leasure23

I've notice that the light in my heating and coooling control knobs come on when they want to. I'll go down the road and they will finally come on. Any suggestions on whats going on?

[leasure23]

how do you get to the bulbs? I removed the screws to the HVAC and it comes out a little bit but not enough to get my hands behind and un hook. Is there some sort of secret to unhooking the wires so I can get to the light bulbs that illuminate the controls?

[keithy]

There's a DIY for this a while ago. I believe it was by Snakeeye.

sorry got the wrong spelling, should be SnakeyeS. He's the man when it comes to this topic.

Originally Posted by leasure23

how do you get to the bulbs? I removed the screws to the HVAC and it comes out a little bit but not enough to get my hands behind and un hook. Is there some sort of secret to unhooking the wires so I can get to the light bulbs that illuminate the controls?

[Ranger X]

Can you not take the face off and then proceed to take it apart while it's still in there? I'm not sure, I've got the same problem, but I was thinking that you could do that.

[mzfe5speed]

mines doing that to, its getting anoying. seems to be a pretty common problem with camrys b/c my sisters does the same thing.

[SnakeyeS]

I think its not so much a bad bulb as it is bad design. The bulbs are just wedge bulbs and they tend to come loose after awhile. Its happened to a LOT of people on TN.

Steps to access HVAC bulbs: (gen4)
1. Remove radio trim by prying with a flat head screwdriver with a taped tip(to protect dash)
2. Pull off all 3 HVAC knobs and the outside/inside air knob
3. Undo all 3 screws behind HVAC knobs
4. Undo two plastic clips located on top of HVAC unit.
5. Replace 2 #74 bulbs

[SnakeyeS]

Oh, and for you ambitious folks:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t100888.html
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t102960.html