Help with climate control panel removal

[toy4mendi]

New member here... signed up trying to find info to help my Daughter-in-law with a climate control problem in her 1988 Camry LE.

Did a search and found a great thread that just may do the trick as it sounds very much like what she's experiencing: 1988 Camry Heater Cycles Between Heat & No Heat

The problem is that the fix mentioned in the thread requires pulling the control panel out from the dash to check the PC board and I have no clue how to do that on her car.

Can anyone help?

I'm not a novice when it comes to working on cars... just a newbie with this Carmy, and the last time I worked on a Toyota was back when I had a new '82 Celica

Thanks much!!

[Fever]

It's been a while since my '88LE, but the outer trim that covers the climate control/stereo pulls out. Theres probably 6-8 snaps holding it in. You pull sharply straight out. But of course it is plastic so be careful. Once that trim is out you should see screws holding the climate control panel. Work from there.
Good Luck.

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by Fever

It's been a while since my '88LE, but the outer trim that covers the climate control/stereo pulls out. Theres probably 6-8 snaps holding it in. You pull sharply straight out. But of course it is plastic so be careful. Once that trim is out you should see screws holding the climate control panel. Work from there.
Good Luck.

Whoa!!! Don't forget to remove the two screws that hold the top of the black trim piece in first!!

-Charlie

[Doctor J]

In addition, there is a flat snap behind the ashtray.Removal of black center trim requires removal of glovebox panel and driver's side panel under steering column just to get to the two screws on the top corners of center trim.

[SymtecX2003]

my electronic climate control failed once it was a pain ://

[toy4mendi]

Jeez... ok, so the steps are... remove the glove box panel and driver side under panel, to get to the 2 screws holding the center black trim on, remove those and then pull the center trim off (6 - 8) "snaps"... plus the flat snap behind the ashtray?

Is removing the glove box panel and driver side under panel fairly straight forward to figure out by looking at them?

The care & feeding of 2 classic ('80's vintage) Mercedes diesel sedans in our household is my main "car job" at home, and if there's one thing I've learned figuring out how work on these beasts is that there is a wrong way, the way you think it should be done, and the Mercedes "only way in hell that it can be done' way of how to work on stuff.

So, before I break some irreplaceable or obscenely expensive plastic part on the Camry, I'm double check to make sure I have the right idea for the process.

My Daughter in-law will be coming over tomorrow night (Thursday) for dinner so I'll get my first look at what I'm up against then.

Thanks again, you folks are being a great help!!

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by toy4mendi

Jeez... ok, so the steps are... remove the glove box panel and driver side under panel, to get to the 2 screws holding the center black trim on, remove those and then pull the center trim off (6 - 8) "snaps"... plus the flat snap behind the ashtray?

Is removing the glove box panel and driver side under panel fairly straight forward to figure out by looking at them?

The care & feeding of 2 classic ('80's vintage) Mercedes diesel sedans in our household is my main "car job" at home, and if there's one thing I've learned figuring out how work on these beasts is that there is a wrong way, the way you think it should be done, and the Mercedes "only way in hell that it can be done' way of how to work on stuff.

So, before I break some irreplaceable or obscenely expensive plastic part on the Camry, I'm double check to make sure I have the right idea for the process.

My Daughter in-law will be coming over tomorrow night (Thursday) for dinner so I'll get my first look at what I'm up against then.

Thanks again, you folks are being a great help!!

Its easier than that. Two screws near the top (look up from the gearshift, you'll see 'em). Pull out ashtray. Pry out black plastic trim around the radio/climate control starting from the bottom. Then everything else should be obvious.

Japanese cars are generally easier. There's the "remove lots of stuff and its really easy" way or the "remove just a few things and its a bunch harder but still do-able" way.

-Charlie

[toy4mendi]

Got my first look last night at the control panel and surrounding trim... easily found those two upper trim screws. Removed them and the ashtray. started to pry out the black trim, starting from the bottom, and it will not budge.

It feels lke there is something else is holding onto it and I'm really hesitate to apply more brute force to it for fear of breaking the plastic trim piece.

I was able to pull it loose at the top and all the way down to the top of the radio, but from there on, it's not giving me any impression that "clips' or anything else is trying to release.

When I look where the ashtray goes, towards the back I can what looks like some kind of hardware attachment, is this the flat snap that Doctor J mentions?

If so, how does it release?

So close and yet so far.

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by toy4mendi

Got my first look last night at the control panel and surrounding trim... easily found those two upper trim screws. Removed them and the ashtray. started to pry out the black trim, starting from the bottom, and it will not budge.

It feels lke there is something else is holding onto it and I'm really hesitate to apply more brute force to it for fear of breaking the plastic trim piece.

I was able to pull it loose at the top and all the way down to the top of the radio, but from there on, it's not giving me any impression that "clips' or anything else is trying to release.

When I look where the ashtray goes, towards the back I can what looks like some kind of hardware attachment, is this the flat snap that Doctor J mentions?

If so, how does it release?

So close and yet so far.

There are just two more clips down there. I just put the trim back on my car last night.

Just yank straight out - pulling the ash tray out might help. Or maybe use a screwdriver to help pry on the side. It will feel like you are about to break it - but the plastic down there is quite strong.

-Charlie

[Doctor J]

The flat horizontal snap clip is behind and below the ashtray. Pull the ashtray out, use flashlight and you will see this clip right in the middle.The tab must be pressed up, I believe. You also need to unplug wire from lighter.