1988 Camry Wagon LE problems

[Arkhan]

I just got one of these and have two problems:

1) The rear wiper wont work! Am I missing the button/lever to make it move, or is it broke! If its broke, how do I go about fixing it?

2) The tape deck is busted. It just keeps clicking like http://www.automotiveforums.com/t700851.html this case.

I don't want to spend the money on a CD-player, as I have a tape deck from a 98 Nissan Altima that I can use. But what I would really like is to replace it with the one that is supposed to be there. I like the way it looks (big silver buttons).

Is there a place where I can get these still, or a place/way to fix the one I have?

[Mike Gerber]

As far as the tape player is concerned, look carefully inside the unit with a small flashlight. You will see 3 white gears inside there. Look carefully at those gears. See if you see a crack in one of them. What happens if there is a crack in one of the two outside gears is the unit turns the tape for 1 revolution of that gear. Then the gear locks itself up on the interlocking gear when the crack comes in contact with the center gear. That crack doesn't mesh with the center gear since the crack creates a larger than normal split at that point on the gear. The unit thinks the tape has come to an end since it can't rotate it any further and reverses direction. The tape is turned 1 revolution of that broken gear again in the opposite direction and then locks up again. The clicking is the unit reversing direction after each rotation of that one broken gear. That happened to me with an 86 Camry, which I believe had the same tape player. I took mine apart and took the gear(s) out. (If my memory serves me correctly they are held on to a shaft by a little c-clip.) I took the gears to a radio/tape player repair shop and they sold me 2 new ones for $6 each. I reinstalled the new gears and reinstalled the tape player and everything worked perfectly again. I hope this explanation makes sense. Start by checking those gears carefully looking for a crack in one of the gear.

Mike

[Arkhan]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

As far as the tape player is concerned, look carefully inside the unit with a small flashlight. You will see 3 white gears inside there. Look carefully at those gears. See if you see a crack in one of them. What happens if there is a crack in one of the two outside gears is the unit turns the tape for 1 revolution of that gear. Then the gear locks itself up on the interlocking gear when the crack comes in contact with the center gear. That crack doesn't mesh with the center gear since the crack creates a larger than normal split at that point on the gear. The unit thinks the tape has come to an end since it can't rotate it any further and reverses direction. The tape is turned 1 revolution of that broken gear again in the opposite direction and then locks up again. The clicking is the unit reversing direction after each rotation of that one broken gear. That happened to me with an 86 Camry, which I believe had the same tape player. I took mine apart and took the gear(s) out. (If my memory serves me correctly they are held on to a shaft by a little c-clip.) I took the gears to a radio/tape player repair shop and they sold me 2 new ones for $6 each. I reinstalled the new gears and reinstalled the tape player and everything worked perfectly again. I hope this explanation makes sense. Start by checking those gears carefully looking for a crack in one of the gear.

Mike

Well that definitely sounds like what it is doing.

I will try to look in and see. Then comes trying to get the tape deck out of the car

Changing gears seems pretty painless.

[Arkhan]

UPDATE: It is kind of hard to see inside while its installed in the car.

How exactly do I go about getting the thing out???

[Mike Gerber]

Download the generation 2 factory service manual from this link. It should show how to remove the cassette player:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=497839

I still think you should be able to see the gears if you get you head down there and use a good flashlight.

Mike

[Arkhan]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

Download the generation 2 factory service manual from this link. It should show how to remove the cassette player:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=497839

I still think you should be able to see the gears if you get you head down there and use a good flashlight.

Mike

oh. I guess I didn't notice the screws in the dark. Might need to go find a good flashlight.

[Mike Gerber]

One more bit of information. The gears I'm talking about are white in color, so they should be easy to see and the crack (if there is one) should stand out.

Mike

[Arkhan]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

One more bit of information. The gears I'm talking about are white in color, so they should be easy to see and the crack (if there is one) should stand out.

Mike

hmm . Cant see any cracks. You are talking about the big white stand up things that actually spin the tape right?

Also dont see screws like the manual says to get the radio out

Dang.

[Mike Gerber]

"hmm . Cant see any cracks. You are talking about the big white stand up things that actually spin the tape right?"

Yes I am. The crack may currently be on the back side of one of the gears. Put a tape in for a second and then eject it. It may change the position of the gears and you might be able to see a crack. Try this a few times and then look for a crack.

"Also dont see screws like the manual says to get the radio out"

You first have to get the dash trim piece out. If I remember your generation correctly, there should be 2 screws facing upwards just under the top of that trim piece. Remove those 2 screws and pop out the top of that trim piece. Then work your fingers under the rest of the trim piece and pop the rest of it out. Refer to the manual before trying this. It should show you where the clips are that hold the rest of that trim piece in. I think it's best to pull outward right by those clips. Once the trim piece is out, you will see 4 screws that hold the cage in to the dash. Remove those screws and pull the cage out until you can reach behind and disconnect all the electrical connectors and the antenna. Don't lose those in to the dash or it will be difficult to retrieve them. Find some way to tie them all off. Maybe use a piece of string with a long piece of it hanging down in front of the dash, just in case they fall behind it. Then you can pull the whole assembly out. The screws that hold the cassette deck in to the cage are on the sides of the cage/deck. Remove them and the deck shoudl come out. I'm doing this from memory; it's about 10-12 years since I did this on my nephew's 87 Camry, so refer to the manual as needed.

Good luck.

Mike

[Arkhan]

oh. i missed the part in the manual with the two screws to get the trim off!


I got it now. Going to dismantle the radio tonight and hope for the best.