Well, I know a lot of camrys have issues with the door sensors not working, or working inconsistently. To replace all four them it can cost you $50+. So to save you guys money I figured I'd publish a DIY on how to repair these guys.
Tools:
(Required)
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Lighter
- Razor blade
(Optional)
- Pencil Torch
- Qtip + Rubbing Alcohol (for cleaning parts after the surfaces have been scraped)
- Vise (makes things easier)
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Procedure:
Remove the rubber covering by pulling it up from the bottom, over the moving part and sliding it down the wire.
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Next, if you have a vise place the sensor in it as shown in the picture, and using needle nose pliers lightly pull on the metal grounding plate as you heat the pegs in the order shown. be careful as when you remove the grounding plate there is a spring that may decide to go flying if you are pulling too hard. Also be sure to avoid flame contact with the switch part (moving part that is sticking out)
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With everything apart it should look like this
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The next step is to separate the sliding contact from switch. Press one side in and slide outward.
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using the flat part of the razor scrape the gunk and carbon off the contact placing emphasis on the raised portions.
![]()
With the sliding contact cleaned the next step is to clean the surface it mates with. to get at this you'll need to modify your razor blade. Using a vise and a pair of pliers or just two pairs of pliers break it so that it will fit in the housing. Scrape the carbon and gunk off the contact surface placing emphasis on the top 50-75%
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Last thing to clean is the ground panel. The portion that sticks down into the plastic housing may have some buildup on it. Scrape that off with the razor blade.
![]()
Now that all surfaces will function as conductors again, clean the parts to remove any loose dust or gunk that could potentially cake back on. Re-assemble the parts as they came apart and place the assembled unit in the vise as shown below. make sure you push the pegs through the grounding plate. Heat the pegs and flatten them with the razor blade making sure to keep the flame off of switch peg.
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Slide the rubber back on by putting the wire through and pulling it over the way it came off. When all is said and done it should look like this.
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I hope this DIY has been useful. I know it would've saved me a couple bucks. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
-- Robert
Tools:
(Required)
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Lighter
- Razor blade
(Optional)
- Pencil Torch
- Qtip + Rubbing Alcohol (for cleaning parts after the surfaces have been scraped)
- Vise (makes things easier)
Procedure:
Remove the rubber covering by pulling it up from the bottom, over the moving part and sliding it down the wire.
Next, if you have a vise place the sensor in it as shown in the picture, and using needle nose pliers lightly pull on the metal grounding plate as you heat the pegs in the order shown. be careful as when you remove the grounding plate there is a spring that may decide to go flying if you are pulling too hard. Also be sure to avoid flame contact with the switch part (moving part that is sticking out)
With everything apart it should look like this
The next step is to separate the sliding contact from switch. Press one side in and slide outward.
using the flat part of the razor scrape the gunk and carbon off the contact placing emphasis on the raised portions.
With the sliding contact cleaned the next step is to clean the surface it mates with. to get at this you'll need to modify your razor blade. Using a vise and a pair of pliers or just two pairs of pliers break it so that it will fit in the housing. Scrape the carbon and gunk off the contact surface placing emphasis on the top 50-75%
Last thing to clean is the ground panel. The portion that sticks down into the plastic housing may have some buildup on it. Scrape that off with the razor blade.
Now that all surfaces will function as conductors again, clean the parts to remove any loose dust or gunk that could potentially cake back on. Re-assemble the parts as they came apart and place the assembled unit in the vise as shown below. make sure you push the pegs through the grounding plate. Heat the pegs and flatten them with the razor blade making sure to keep the flame off of switch peg.
Slide the rubber back on by putting the wire through and pulling it over the way it came off. When all is said and done it should look like this.
I hope this DIY has been useful. I know it would've saved me a couple bucks. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
-- Robert
