Red LED dash light? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

KerTiZ · 10-22-2003, 01:25 AM

Hey.. I bought my 97 camry XLE used.. and theres this lil red LED by the steering wheel that does absolutely nothing....dones't even blink. Could anyone tell me what it is? Also.. my trunk doesn't seem to pop open with the remote.. any clues on how i can fix it?

Nick · 10-22-2003, 01:35 AM

try to take that panel off (should be something in the haynes manual) and see what its connected to

TRDragoon · 10-22-2003, 01:35 AM

the LED is for your alarm.....
i think your alaram/power accessory/remote starter is not working or hooked up properly....

KerTiZ · 10-22-2003, 01:36 AM

well... i didn't get an alarm remote at all... How can i check to see if I have an alarm installed?

TRDragoon · 10-22-2003, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oldman
try to take that panel off (should be something in the haynes manual) and see what its connected to

its not OEM factory installed item......usually OEM don't come with LED on their alarm system......

the one he got is after market....

Nick · 10-22-2003, 01:38 AM

my guess is that its just filling in the hole, the last owner probably put in an alarm and took it out before selling, didn't want a hole in the dash, so plugged the led to a power wire

Number Eight · 10-22-2003, 02:14 AM

The trunk problem is either the remote or the receiver in the car. Take the remote to a dealer and see if it's broken, if it is, then decide if it's worth it to get it replaced. If it's the receiver in the car you have something that'll cost a fair bit to fix.

KerTiZ · 10-22-2003, 02:16 AM

hmm.. mayb the trunk problem is the reciever cuz when i hit the trunk button.. the lights on the car flash.. but no trunk pop =[

oranz · 10-22-2003, 06:05 AM

my camry had the same led in the same place... still is... I checked it out... it ain't even connected to anything... my alarm led is in another place...
I think it is once used on some kind of alarm....

I think it ain't connected to anything in your car either

Tubbyc · 10-22-2003, 09:13 AM

I have seen that in my friend's 1998 camry here in Toronto.. but in his, it blinks, because it is his alarm system. Usually, the alarm light is located beside the speedometer in our gen 4 camry. but I remember, for CE or LE version previously, they don't have alarm as standard, however, it is a factory-installed option. if yours don't blink, maybe it is deactivated or the wiring or something else (fake?), you can bring the car to Toyota dealership and they will find out what's wrong with that.

Tubbyc · 10-22-2003, 09:20 AM

wait.. did you even get a keyless entry remote from whoever you bought the car from? becuz you should get it, I believe it is standard on 1997 Camry XLE V6. The alarm, if it is factory installed, there would have been a button (red color) on it to manually activate it when you sense some sort of danger around you when you approach your car. remote trunk release (I mean thre remote control one) doesn't come until in gen5 camry.

BigPete · 10-22-2003, 01:26 PM

That is the LED for your car alarm. If it doesn't light up, it's because the alarm is deactivated. Try pushing the button in (or out if it's already pushed in). I thought the same thing about my car when I first got it, but, I read the owner's manual and it had a section with instructions on the alarm. My actual key has the buttons for the alarm (lock, unlock, and an accessory button that I don't think is hooked up.) If you have some way to turn off the alarm (i.e. a remote), then you can try to disconnect the battery for about 5 minutes and then connect it back. Your car alarm should go off immediatly if you have a system installed. I'm pretty sure your car came with one factory. If you have the little "This Vehicle is Protected by an Anti-Theft Device" stickers on your windows, then you more than likely have one.

Good luck

P.S. When you get figure out how to use your alarm, push the little red button six times to make the alarm arm without honking (great for sneaking in at 4 am.)

BigPete · 10-22-2003, 01:28 PM

Quote:

try to take that panel off (should be something in the haynes manual) and see what its connected to

When I was working on my dash a few weeks ago, I noticed a box behind the LED that said ABS. I just left it alone.

Fever · 10-22-2003, 03:48 PM

On my '97 XLE V6 that area on the dash holds the "TRAC OFF" button for the traction control. The factory alarm (piece of shit that it is) has a red light near the tach showing whether it is activated or not.

Your red light must be for an aftermarket alarm system. Look under the hood for the rest of it. If it is check for the brand name then find out which shop in your area sells / installs those. They may be able to help you figure it out.

Gene.

Corsulian · 12-27-2003, 06:16 PM

I got my 94 camry used and it had a little red LED down between the little fuse box area and the mirror control/dash dimmer area. I figured 'hey--this thing has one of those fake security systems.' Then I realized the thing never blinks--took off the dash bezel and there's just a short wire coming off the back that isn't connected to anything. I assumed the last guy put something in and then took it back out and just left the light.