I think my car has electrical gremlins... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Ranger X · 07-06-2005, 02:38 PM

My car has some weird electrical things going on. I know I posted some of this in other threads but I want to know if they're related. Well first off, the major thing, my starter went out about 4k miles ago, around 96k. I thought that might be pretty normal, but I still wonder what caused it (solenoid got stuck and the car wouldn't shut off). However there are some other things. The a/c switch bulbs have burnt out , or are just not working, and the shift indicator lights just don't work most of the time, either. Even when you shut all the doors, if you've just turned the car off, the "door open" indicator light stays on for some time, usually 5-15 seconds. The headlights are also on all the time, which is odd because there's still a switch. Sometimes it takes a while for the gauges to light up at night if the switch is off. Well, for one thing, I've got some kind of alarm on there, made by this company called SecuriKey. From what I gather this was a dealer installed option on cars sold by the Gulf coast. I haven't been able to find much information on it, just a brief programming guide that I couldn't really get to work. Now I'm all for having an alarm, but I think this may be the cause of my problems. Anybody have info on that? Thanks.

Ranger X · 07-06-2005, 10:14 PM

Bump. Nobody?

Cyorke · 07-06-2005, 10:37 PM

I would try getting the alrm disconnected first. it is worht a shot anyway. In my experience Toyota's are not really known for electrical problems. Sounds like you may have a bad ground or something like that. It very well could be the alarm or have you done any kind of mods to the stereo or add on type stuff that you could go back and double check all the wiring on those. Probably the best place to start.

Ranger X · 07-06-2005, 11:47 PM

I haven't done any of those type of mods. In fact I've never even touched any of the wires in my car until recently, and these things have been happening since I bought it. Also the alarm is prone to going off just whenever, I don't think it's the shock sensor causing it. I guess I should look at disabling it but I really have no idea about this alarm system or what it might do to my car if I disable it.

camry-4-ever · 07-07-2005, 12:00 AM

Either take it to the dealer or an alarm shop somebody there should know and could probably tell you how to disable it.

Skunkworks77 · 07-07-2005, 12:24 AM

Disconnect it. Dealers hire outside people to come in to install alarms. They might not have done the job properly.

00SolaraV6 · 07-07-2005, 10:59 PM

AudioVox SecuriKey+ with remote start? Yeah, those are Gulf States Toyota alarm systems, and call Gulf States Distributors immediately with your VIN. The systems are recalled for causing fires and electrical failure.

My 98 has this same system, and it's a POS. It has now stopped working all together, but up to this it would randomly not start and do weird stuff. Gulf States said my VIN was not in the range of recalled products, so anyway..

Best of luck, it's the alarm, not the Camry that is the problem here.

Edit: Your key and remote are built together, correct? SecuriKey+ is an Audiovox company.

A google search should give you the recall information, I seem to have lost it.

Ranger X · 07-08-2005, 07:51 PM

Oh man! Thanks for that info...I had no idea! I tried searching for stuff when I first bought the car, but it was to no avail. I will try to find the phone number for Gulf States Distributors, but if I can't find it let me know if you do. Yes, the key and remote are built together. It's got a lock, unlock and a green button. But I don't think my car has a remote start, and if it does, I'm not sure how to enable it. What I can't figure out is, why on earth would a car sold near the gulf coast have a remote start? It's not like it's cold down here. The really weird thing is that my car was originally sold in Dallas, which is nowhere near the coast. I guess it could have been driven up there, but I don't know why they'd do that.

Edit: Okay, I tried searching for Gulf States Distributors, all I could find is some company that sells police equipment...So what should I do, take it to a dealership, tell them I have a recall on this alarm, and see if they'll fix or disconnect it based on that?