Dimmer problem on a '97 Camry

Hi,

I just bought a '97 Camry and when I was driving it at night I noticed
that when I try to increase the brightness of the dash board, I can't
see the speedometer, only one light is working - the one of the far
right, so I only see part of the tachometer... It looks like I need to
replace the other light(s) in the center of the dash board and on the
left-hand side. I can't imagine that this would be a fuse or wires...
What's the best way to fix that?

Also, I noticed that AC controls are not illuminated at all at night, I
can only see the Defrost and the AC bottons. I can't see the controls
for Low/High air flow or the Hot/Cold air control. Is this a design
flaw or are these supposed to be illuminated wehn the lights are on at
night?

Thanks in advance.

Pasha

"Pasha" <pasha.isu@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1141790038.070337.170300@j52g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hi,
>
> I just bought a '97 Camry and when I was driving it at night I noticed
> that when I try to increase the brightness of the dash board, I can't
> see the speedometer, only one light is working - the one of the far
> right, so I only see part of the tachometer... It looks like I need to
> replace the other light(s) in the center of the dash board and on the
> left-hand side. I can't imagine that this would be a fuse or wires...
> What's the best way to fix that?
>[/color]

First, try turning the rheostat on the outboard side of the steering column
clockwise. If that doesn't work, then you have to remove the instrument
cluster to access the bulbs.

[color=blue]
> Also, I noticed that AC controls are not illuminated at all at night, I
> can only see the Defrost and the AC bottons. I can't see the controls
> for Low/High air flow or the Hot/Cold air control. Is this a design
> flaw or are these supposed to be illuminated wehn the lights are on at
> night?
>[/color]
They should be illuminated when the lights are on.
[color=blue]
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Pasha
>[/color]
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Thanks, Ray.

"Pasha" <pasha.isu@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1141825981.195267.55110@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Thanks, Ray.
>[/color]

You're welcome!
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Pasha" <pasha.isu@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:1141790038.070337.170300@j52g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>> Hi,
>>
>> I just bought a '97 Camry and when I was driving it at night I noticed
>> that when I try to increase the brightness of the dash board, I can't
>> see the speedometer, only one light is working - the one of the far
>> right, so I only see part of the tachometer... It looks like I need to
>> replace the other light(s) in the center of the dash board and on the
>> left-hand side. I can't imagine that this would be a fuse or wires...
>> What's the best way to fix that?
>>[/color]
>
>First, try turning the rheostat on the outboard side of the steering column
>clockwise. If that doesn't work, then you have to remove the instrument
>cluster to access the bulbs.
>
>[/color]
Is this a tough job Ray?...(I have one bulb out I think, can't
see the gas gauge or the right side of that area at night)

--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

"Gord Beaman" <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote in message
news:lh3v02tn1dl2dj2ids9cbrmlqvk4ms0nvq@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>>"Pasha" <pasha.isu@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:1141790038.070337.170300@j52g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...[color=darkred]
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I just bought a '97 Camry and when I was driving it at night I noticed
>>> that when I try to increase the brightness of the dash board, I can't
>>> see the speedometer, only one light is working - the one of the far
>>> right, so I only see part of the tachometer... It looks like I need to
>>> replace the other light(s) in the center of the dash board and on the
>>> left-hand side. I can't imagine that this would be a fuse or wires...
>>> What's the best way to fix that?
>>>[/color]
>>
>>First, try turning the rheostat on the outboard side of the steering
>>column
>>clockwise. If that doesn't work, then you have to remove the instrument
>>cluster to access the bulbs.
>>
>>[/color]
> Is this a tough job Ray?...(I have one bulb out I think, can't
> see the gas gauge or the right side of that area at night)
>
> --
>
> -Gord.
> (use gordon in email)[/color]

To be honest, I have not taken out an instrument cluster in a long time. If
you can get at the screws surrounding the instrument cluster, you might get
lucky and be able to pull it straight out. The trick is putting it back
together with no parts left over ;-)
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Gord Beaman" <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote in message
>news:lh3v02tn1dl2dj2ids9cbrmlqvk4ms0nvq@4ax.com...[color=green]
>> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>
>>>"Pasha" <pasha.isu@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>news:1141790038.070337.170300@j52g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> I just bought a '97 Camry and when I was driving it at night I noticed
>>>> that when I try to increase the brightness of the dash board, I can't
>>>> see the speedometer, only one light is working - the one of the far
>>>> right, so I only see part of the tachometer... It looks like I need to
>>>> replace the other light(s) in the center of the dash board and on the
>>>> left-hand side. I can't imagine that this would be a fuse or wires...
>>>> What's the best way to fix that?
>>>>
>>>
>>>First, try turning the rheostat on the outboard side of the steering
>>>column
>>>clockwise. If that doesn't work, then you have to remove the instrument
>>>cluster to access the bulbs.
>>>
>>>[/color]
>> Is this a tough job Ray?...(I have one bulb out I think, can't
>> see the gas gauge or the right side of that area at night)
>>
>> --
>>
>> -Gord.
>> (use gordon in email)[/color]
>
>To be honest, I have not taken out an instrument cluster in a long time. If
>you can get at the screws surrounding the instrument cluster, you might get
>lucky and be able to pull it straight out. The trick is putting it back
>together with no parts left over ;-)[/color]

God yes, I'm famous for that, if I'd have kept all those excess
pieces I'd have had enough to build another car by now... :)

--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

I've done this on my 97 Corolla (fuel gauge bulb went out). It was
actually very easy (easier than other cars I've had to do this for).
Just a couple of screws to remove the black plastic trim, then 4 screws
holding the cluster to the dash. The Corolla engineering is wonderful
in that there is enough slack in the cluster harness so that you can
pull the cluster out and have enough room to look behind it and undo
the various connectors.

Once you have the cluster out, the bulbs are easy. I would recommend
replacing related bulbs in pairs (or whatever) since I found that
another older bulb blew right after I replaced the first one. I also
notice a slight color difference (I'm picky) - so I ended up just
replacing them all. I think there were 5 or 6 for the corolla.

Cheers,
Nirav
97 Corolla DX, 78k

"njmodi" <njmodi2@yahoo.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I've done this on my 97 Corolla (fuel gauge bulb went out). It was
>actually very easy (easier than other cars I've had to do this for).
>Just a couple of screws to remove the black plastic trim, then 4 screws
>holding the cluster to the dash. The Corolla engineering is wonderful
>in that there is enough slack in the cluster harness so that you can
>pull the cluster out and have enough room to look behind it and undo
>the various connectors.
>
>Once you have the cluster out, the bulbs are easy. I would recommend
>replacing related bulbs in pairs (or whatever) since I found that
>another older bulb blew right after I replaced the first one. I also
>notice a slight color difference (I'm picky) - so I ended up just
>replacing them all. I think there were 5 or 6 for the corolla.
>
>Cheers,
>Nirav
>97 Corolla DX, 78k[/color]

Thank you Nirav, I have a 2000 Corolla so it's likely
close...I'll just pick up the bulbs at my dealer's here.
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

The bulbs are available at your local Autozone etc, as well. I think
they are standard 194s or something similar.

Let me know if you have any questions. I would recommend unplugging
the negative battery terminal before doing this (I just like to be
careful when fiddling near the airbags).

Cheers,
Nirav

"Gord Beaman" <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote in message
news:jjbv02150sejf5m7l384f5jgrpj0gc8c74@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>>"Gord Beaman" <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote in message
>>news:lh3v02tn1dl2dj2ids9cbrmlqvk4ms0nvq@4ax.com...[color=darkred]
>>> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Pasha" <pasha.isu@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:1141790038.070337.170300@j52g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> I just bought a '97 Camry and when I was driving it at night I noticed
>>>>> that when I try to increase the brightness of the dash board, I can't
>>>>> see the speedometer, only one light is working - the one of the far
>>>>> right, so I only see part of the tachometer... It looks like I need to
>>>>> replace the other light(s) in the center of the dash board and on the
>>>>> left-hand side. I can't imagine that this would be a fuse or wires...
>>>>> What's the best way to fix that?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>First, try turning the rheostat on the outboard side of the steering
>>>>column
>>>>clockwise. If that doesn't work, then you have to remove the instrument
>>>>cluster to access the bulbs.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Is this a tough job Ray?...(I have one bulb out I think, can't
>>> see the gas gauge or the right side of that area at night)
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> -Gord.
>>> (use gordon in email)[/color]
>>
>>To be honest, I have not taken out an instrument cluster in a long time.
>>If
>>you can get at the screws surrounding the instrument cluster, you might
>>get
>>lucky and be able to pull it straight out. The trick is putting it back
>>together with no parts left over ;-)[/color]
>
> God yes, I'm famous for that, if I'd have kept all those excess
> pieces I'd have had enough to build another car by now... :)
>
> --
>
> -Gord.
> (use gordon in email)[/color]

LOL! I've got odds and ends stashed all over the place. I should try
making a car out of it!
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On Thu, 09 Mar 2006 04:37:18 GMT, Gord Beaman <gord@islandtelecom.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>"njmodi" <njmodi2@yahoo.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>I've done this on my 97 Corolla (fuel gauge bulb went out). It was
>>actually very easy (easier than other cars I've had to do this for).
>>Just a couple of screws to remove the black plastic trim, then 4 screws
>>holding the cluster to the dash. The Corolla engineering is wonderful
>>in that there is enough slack in the cluster harness so that you can
>>pull the cluster out and have enough room to look behind it and undo
>>the various connectors.
>>
>>Once you have the cluster out, the bulbs are easy. I would recommend
>>replacing related bulbs in pairs (or whatever) since I found that
>>another older bulb blew right after I replaced the first one. I also
>>notice a slight color difference (I'm picky) - so I ended up just
>>replacing them all. I think there were 5 or 6 for the corolla.
>>
>>Cheers,
>>Nirav
>>97 Corolla DX, 78k[/color]
>
>Thank you Nirav, I have a 2000 Corolla so it's likely
>close...I'll just pick up the bulbs at my dealer's here.[/color]

How long before my '92 Corolla bulbs are due?

LOL

--

Scott in Florida

Scott in Florida <MoveOn@outa.here> wrote:
[color=blue]
>On Thu, 09 Mar 2006 04:37:18 GMT, Gord Beaman <gord@islandtelecom.com>
>wrote:
>[color=green]
>>"njmodi" <njmodi2@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>I've done this on my 97 Corolla (fuel gauge bulb went out). It was
>>>actually very easy (easier than other cars I've had to do this for).
>>>Just a couple of screws to remove the black plastic trim, then 4 screws
>>>holding the cluster to the dash. The Corolla engineering is wonderful
>>>in that there is enough slack in the cluster harness so that you can
>>>pull the cluster out and have enough room to look behind it and undo
>>>the various connectors.
>>>
>>>Once you have the cluster out, the bulbs are easy. I would recommend
>>>replacing related bulbs in pairs (or whatever) since I found that
>>>another older bulb blew right after I replaced the first one. I also
>>>notice a slight color difference (I'm picky) - so I ended up just
>>>replacing them all. I think there were 5 or 6 for the corolla.
>>>
>>>Cheers,
>>>Nirav
>>>97 Corolla DX, 78k[/color]
>>
>>Thank you Nirav, I have a 2000 Corolla so it's likely
>>close...I'll just pick up the bulbs at my dealer's here.[/color]
>
>How long before my '92 Corolla bulbs are due?
>
>LOL[/color]

Well, mine just went so looks like a coupla years or so... :)

Christ this has been a great little car...this bulb is the only
bloody thing to fail (and bulbs are consumables - so...)

(152,000 km)
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

Gord Beaman <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>Christ this has been a great little car...this bulb is the only
>bloody thing to fail (and bulbs are consumables - so...)
>
>(152,000 km)[/color]

Oops...sorry, 105,000 km...damn...
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

Gord Beaman <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Gord Beaman <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>>Christ this has been a great little car...this bulb is the only
>>bloody thing to fail (and bulbs are consumables - so...)
>>
>>(152,000 km)[/color]
>
>Oops...sorry, 105,000 km...damn...[/color]

Just got my 105,000 km check done this afternoon, asked the
service mgr about the bulb...they changed two of them...said "no
chawge"...God, what a great company!...(mind you, we have 3
Toyotas in our driveway so...)
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)