Light sensor for auto dimming mirror - OM section 1-3.

 

Section 1-3 in my book relates to opening, closing, and locking the door. My understanding is that the light sensor is on the mirror itself to the right of the "Auto" button. There is something else behind the mirror on the windshield.

 

I was wondering about that, too. It's pretty large.

I also assumed it adds $4 billion to the cost of replacing the windshield.

 

Are we talking about the same thing?

What I'm talking about are two sensors located on the front and back of the rear view mirror.

This sensor is not part of the windshield as the confusing thread, 2012 Camry Windshield Mounted Senor, title may imply, unless I'm lost in left field :dunno: .

 

Section 1-4 for hybrids. It is what I said it is if it's on the back of the mirror.

 

What ROSETHORNIL is talking about, I think, is the large object behind the mirror that is mounted to the windshield. I'll be at the dealer tomorrow and will ask about it.

 

Yes, that's right. It's rectangular and has a series of small slots on the passenger side. And yes, it does mount to the windshield.

 

If possible, take another picture from further back. I have not perspective/clue what I'm looking at with the above picture.

 

Ok here is a better picture..thought this would be easy to identify...TCH XLE 2012


http://www.toyotanation.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/20482/ppuser/271269

Two things come to mind when looking at this thing:

1. It's a climate control sensor for the passenger side

2. It has a louver opening on all sides so it might be some sort of voice response unit?

 

HH20,
Thanks for the pictures which clarified that I was not on the same page as the rest of you as my SE does not have this gizmo.

Do you folks that have this gizmo
1) own an XLE
2) have the Safety Connect Option

I'm wondering if it's related to 1 and/or 2.

 

HH20,
Thanks for the pictures which clarified that I was not on the same page as the rest of you as my SE does not have this gizmo.

Do you folks that have this gizmo
1) own an XLE
2) have the Safety Connect Option

I'm wondering if it's related 1 and/or 2.

I own an XLE (Hybrid)

I did not order the Safety connect option.

 

Awesome pictures Rose :thumbsup:

The gizmo is a rain sensor, but only if you folks can confirm that the windshield wipers on your cars automagically turn on when it rains ......... please says yes .

 

Nope. My wipers require manual operation.

A friend suggested this could be part of our Sirius radio package?

What do you think?

 

I think this may be the light sensor for the navigation map page for daylight and dark. I should know for sure about mid week when I hope to talk to a certified synergy tech.

 

I thought the light sensor was the small bubble centered on the dashboard. In my car, when the headlights come on, the map goes dim automatically.

 

Sensors

I usually rely on the sensor in my passenger seat: my wife. She has the uncanny ability to tell me what do before I even think about it.

:facepalm:

 

It appears only/all the hybrids have humidity sensors. That's my bet.

 

Ok, called the Toyota Parts guy and he called it an Air Conditioning Thermometer Assembly. The part # is 88620-33010. He says it cost 606.91. I google the part # and this is what I got....

http://www.toyotapartszone.com/oem/toyota~thermistor~assy~air~88620-33010.html

Must have something to do with the dual climate control??

DOZNI4SE - do you have a dual climate control system (passenger can adjust the cabin temperature to their preferred temperature for their side)?

 

I have the sensor and dual climate control.

 

If my side moldings come in I'll be at the dealer Tuesday for installation and I'll find out what it does. Moldings were coming in today but didn't make it.

 

Here's what I found out at the dealer. It's for humidity control. Parts manager gave me a TSB print out (6 pages, Doc ID RM000000Y6M010) showing trouble shooting, wiring diagram, etc. A tech said he thinks it adjusts humidity by varying the AC compressor speed and the % outside air. Description from the TSB: The AC thermistor assembly(humidity sensor) detects cabin humidity. The voltage of the AC thermistor assembly (humidity sensor)changes in accordance with cabin humidity. The AC amplifier assembly reads changes in the AC thermistor assembly (humidity sensor). The humidity sensor is integrated with the AC thermistor assembly. Hope this is helpful.

 

Here's what I found out at the dealer. It's for humidity control. Parts manager gave me a TSB print out (6 pages) showing trouble shooting, wiring diagram, etc. A tech said he thinks it adjusts humidity by varying the AC compressor speed and the % outside air. Description from the TSB: The AC thermistor assembly(humidity sensor) detects cabin humidity. The voltage of the AC thermistor assembly (humidity sensor)changes in accordance with cabin humidity. The AC amplifier assembly reads changes in the AC thermistor assembly (humidity sensor). The humidity sensor is integrated with the AC thermistor assembly. Hope this is helpful.

Sounds fancy!

In fact, sounds like the humidity in the car is controlled more precisely than the humidity at the local art museum.

At any rate, thank you SO much for getting the info on this.

I've been more than a little curious.

 

Yap! I was in town today and stopped at the local Toyota Dealer and had the Service Manager verify the same thing that Camry Hybrid Driver says above.

Can you believe that part cost $606.91 retail? Amazing!!

 

That's why people in lower humidity areas get better gas mileage in the summer.

 

reroute you air intake to the cabin and you'll be getting better MPG too!
.
I do know a guy who moded his intake on his accord.
his summer MPG stays the same even when T goes up.
his engine sucks colder air from passenger cabin and does not suffer from 100+F heat.

 

$606.91 ?

Sheesh...

I guess I need to be more careful when I clean the inside of the windshield.

 

The 2012 Camry brochure mentions "Dual zone automatic climate control with air filter, electric compressor,
humidity sensor" for both hybrids ( LE and XLE ) and just the XLE includes "rear-seat vents".

So this is a hybrid-only gizmo and now we know what it is and why it's there. :thumbsup:

 

Teddy the Dog really likes those rear seat vents. Vast improvement over the 2003 Camry. She had to lean hard toward the front to catch a waft of cool air from those front/center vents in the 2003.

 

I am glad to finally see a answer to this question. I posted about this sensor a few months ago without a picture but got little response. I might have posted in the non-hybrid section by mistake.

 

This explains why I feel that the TCH A/C seems more comfortable and consistent than any other vehicle I've owned. I started a thread to that effect about a month ago. Several people agreed that the TCH does a great job of maintaining a consistently comfortable cabin.

I just thought it's because the compressor isn't running at a constantly varying engine speed.

 

Yap, an hope it never breaks it cost $600.

 

Has the title of this thread always been "2012 Camry Windshield Mounted Senor" with the second "s" missing from "Sensor" am I just noticing that now?

edlsoccer, can you fix that?

 

Almost makes that extended warranty for $1149, 8 years, a steal......

8 YEARS 100,000 MILES $1,149.00

or the 8yr - 75K for $749

 

I paid $1,700 for eight years, 125,000 miles, and have no complaints.

 

gizmo next the mirror

I asked when I took my 2012 Camry hybrid in for its 10,000 miles service this morning. It is the antenna for the Safety Connect service. The service agent had to ask three people before she found one who know the answer.

 

Rain sensor?

I had a windshield company repair a rock chip. They also said it was a rain sensor. My wipers have never turned on without my intervention.

 

Definitely not a rain sensor...

 

See my 8/12 post.