I am so sorry I found you guys... ....joking...joking...

[Grant]

Ohman, I so wish I didn't find out about the existance of a Camry Club... now I'm gonna have to start modding my wife's car and she is sooo not going to like that... :grin: :grin:

"No hun, you only think your car looks different... I just waxed really good this time"...

But seriously, I do most of my own maintence work on 'our' cars... Who are your main "tech" guys? I'm having a minor electrical problem in 3rd gen Camry (base model-really base). Sometimes the parking lights won't shut off (we end up pulling the fuse) and the reverse lights don't come on when the car is put into .. uh .. reverse. Has this happend to anyone else before?

[Silver Streak]

On 2002-01-12 11:22, Grant wrote:

I'm having a minor electrical problem in 3rd gen Camry (base model-really base). Sometimes the parking lights won't shut off (we end up pulling the fuse) and the reverse lights don't come on when the car is put into .. uh .. reverse. Has this happend to anyone else before?

Welcome to the forum Grant...good luck dealing with your wife!

As for your electrical problems, can you be more specific about the parking light situation? When does it occur? Turning off the car, or turning it off using the parking light switch?

For the reverse light situation, there are three things that you should check:

1. Check the reverse light bulbs...make sure the contacts are clean, put in new bulbs if you have to.

2. Check the wiring in the trunk to the left hand side...it'll be wrapped in black...uh, wrap. You might have to slice it open with an x-acto...but be careful. There's a chance that the reverse light wire snapped right in half, it's a pretty common problem, happened to me as well. I think it's a green one but check them all out.

3. Your neutral safety switch (by the transaxle) is either dirty, needs to be adjusted, or just really worn out. If it's dirty, it can be cleaned. If it's worn out, you have to get it replaced and it's like $450 at the dealership! Try this test...tell someone to stand behind your car and shift through Park, Reverse, and Drive really slowly, of course with your foot on the brake. If the reverse lights come on for a slightest moment, most likely it just needs to be adjusted. It's a matter of loosening a bolt or two, moving the switch, and then retightening it.

I had a problem a few years ago where my reverse lights, and some brake lights weren't working. My light on the dash was on too. I went through all of the above, but dumb-ass me started with the safety switch. I took it apart, and cleaned it myself...back then I didn't even own a Haynes manual, I had to borrow it from the public library (get Haynes, not Chilton) Still had the same problems. Then I saw the snapped wiring, fixed that, and then I replaced the bulbs. Everything has been working fine since....

Good luck!




_________________
Henry

Visit my Camry Website!



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Silver Streak on 2002-01-12 13:35 ]</font>

[SpectraBlueCam]

Hey Grant! Welcome a&quot;board&quot;. You don't know me, but I know you for all the hard work you and your wife (Wendy, if I recall) put into the CCSA. Thanks and keep it up! :wink:

BTW, I've been playing for the NTCBC teams for the last 10 years or so, coaching for 6 or 7 of those years. How the years fly by... :roll:

I also know of you through your fellow TPC member, Vincent.

As for modifying the wife's Camry, go right ahead! Here's a pic of mine. Give me a shout if you need help or info on anything.

[phat555]

Wassupp silver streak...where in the Haynes Manual can I find out where to clean the neutral safety switch? I have no clue where this switch is. I'm having the same problem and it is step 3 where I have to clean the neutral safety switch. Where can I find out about this in the haynes manual?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: phat555 on 2002-01-12 22:16 ]</font>

[TRD 4Runner]

The reverse lights on our BMW went out before...it was fixed under warrenty. The switch (don't know which one, but I suspect the one that senses when its in reverse (manual transmission)) had fried itself...it didn't know it was in reverse, hence, no reverse lights.

[Silver Streak]

On 2002-01-12 22:15, phat555 wrote:
Wassupp silver streak...where in the Haynes Manual can I find out where to clean the neutral safety switch? I have no clue where this switch is. I'm having the same problem and it is step 3 where I have to clean the neutral safety switch. Where can I find out about this in the haynes manual?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: phat555 on 2002-01-12 22:16 ]</font>

It doesn't say in the Haynes manual on how to clean it...basicaly the contacts are probably getting dirty in the switch itself and you need to clean them with like steel wool or something like that.

How good are you with tools and stuff? This isn't a fun task...basically, to get to the switch, follow the shifter cable all the way down to the transaxle...you'll see the manual shift lever...this is connected to the safety switch. In the Haynes manual, it tells you how to disconnect it. To clean it, it's pretty obvious once you open it up...there's a crapload of grease in there, and you'll see the copper contacts in there....

Let me warn you, if you're not familiar with DIY stuff, I really don't recommend this. It's not a fun and easy task, I don't even know anyone else who's attempted this before...I didn't have fun doing it.... But, if you do, just make sure you leave an afternoon free...