instruments not illuminated

[potion]

I installed a new stereo in my 1999 camry and now the instrument lights aren't working. I checked fuses and couldn't find any problem there.

I used the original wiring harness, so I don't see how I could have messed up any of the wiring. I mean, I didn't really do any wiring, just plugged it in. And I don't see how the stereo could have caused bulbs to burst.

Any ideas? Should I try new bulbs?

My turn signal indicators work, as do the cruise control light, seatbelt light, etc. It's just the illumination for the MPH and tacometer that isn't working.

[tavalon]

maybe u turned the illumation dial down to make light go out, turn it back up.

also check fuses

[JadeButterfly]

yeh recheck the fuse.
had that happen to me once....

[biggriggs]

I haven't driven in the dark yet but I think mine is doing the same thing, as is my friends Grand Prix. Did you connect both the positive and negative dimmer wires or just one or the other, or not at all? That is what I am going to try.

[MenaceSQL]

Maybe the illumination control (rheostat???) switch wasn't plugged back in?

[biggriggs]

Originally posted by JadeButterfly
yeh recheck the fuse.
had that happen to me once....

Which fuse is it, I can't make out which one I should be checking, and I am too lazy to pull them all!

[Ikon]

lol lazy bum..

i got a '95 but...if you locate ur fuse box theres a diagram explaining which fuse handles which function...take a peek...hope u find the one..if indeed it is a fuse

[biggriggs]

all jibberish, I can't make out what is the one I need by the abb. (if you don't know what I'm talking about then that explains my poin.)

[potion]

I checked all my fuses and I don't see a break in any of them. I only checked the little ones marked 5, 10, 15, etc. There are some bigger things in that fuse box that don't seem like they want to come out so I've left them alone.

I tried the illumination dial. No dice.

I also tried changing bulbs. Turns out one of the bulbs was burnt out but replacing it didn't help.

I'm going to try pulling my stereo back out to see if there's anything in there that isn't connected to something, but I'm not optimistic that will help since I basically just plugged one harness into another, as I remember it.

[potion]

ok, I tried taking my stereo out to see if there might be something wrong with the hook-up, and I don't see any problem there. I double-checked all the fuses. No problem there. Ideas?

[biggriggs]

there is a fuse somewheres that is out, its not in the fuse box though. Reading my Haynes manuel to try and figure this out, I think I might have found it in the book but finding it in the car could prove tough

[JadeButterfly]

i forgot which one it was...but my camry is a 1994 so I dont know if it is the same...

Instead of pulling it out, my friend had this tool which u use to determine which fuse is out.

[biggriggs]

Take the change drawer to the left of the steering wheel out, there are more fuses there, locate the panel fuse, its a 7.5 amp fuse. There is your problem. Make sure you disconnected the illumination wires on your cd player before you change that fuse too, that is what is causing the problem.

[potion]

well, the fuses in the coin drawer is a major breakthrough, and I've found the burnt fuse. Now I just need to know which is the illumination wire for my stereo... my stereo manual wasn't of much help. Anyone know which of the Toyota wires I should cut?

BTW, I tried changing the fuse but as predicted, the new fuse broke immediately, so I do indeed need to disconnect the illumination to my stereo, I guess. What affect will that have on the operation of my stereo? Will I have a non-illuminated stereo?

[biggriggs]

none at all. Mine works fine. It was the orange wire on mine btw.