1990 Camry Tail Lights Don't Work???

[superdesi]

Originally Posted by edow

i have the same problem with u, and i already found the yellow box, my question is how u unhocked the box ? in my camry it's very difficult to unhock it ? thx ...edow

After you undo the screws holding it in place, simply press down and disconnect the 9 pin connector to it.

[G.I.JER]

Well here is what I came up with.

I located the yellow box.


Opened it up.


Found the prob.


Fixed it.


Hope it helps.

[G.I.JER]

Oh and have you guys never heard of posting pictures or what?????

j/k

This was just for an intermittent brake light problem. Don't know why it burned out like that but it did. Hopefully it'll last another 20 years before burning out again, and it was alot easier than finding and paying for another one, or paying some mechanic to replace it. Seems like the same thing could happen for the rest of the tail lights that are run through that switch. Just something to check out.

1988 camry wo alltrac.

[ca_sheprdboy]

i have 87 camry with same tail light problem. I located the yellow tail light failure indicator box and it was obviously burned out. I found one at a junk yard for $20 and replaced it and the lights worked for about 5 seconds and then the new light failure indicator burned out as well. aparently i have a short but I have not had any luck finding it. I'm just thankful I didn;t spend the 200 dollars the dealer wanted for it. any help?????

[ca_sheprdboy]

G.I.Jer - if it's not too much trouble, I'd love to have a close up picture of the other side of the 'yellow box' circuit. Apparently something shorted and burned out a resistor to the point that I can't tell what the value of the resistor is supposed to be.



or if someone could just tell me what resistor it is. Any help would be much appreciated!

[G.I.JER]

here ya go man, sorry but it looks like it's not much more than what you are already looking at on yours. Prob a short in the wiring.

[ca_sheprdboy]

thanks for the pic. It looks like it's just a wire. i figured there was some component there before that was burnt to a crisp. If i ever find the short, hopefully i can just resolder this connection. however, i'm about ready to just give up and only drive during daylight.

[twinbc]

I have a 94 camry wagon... Anyone know where this little yellow box would be since there is no trunk. I searched under the spare tire well and nothing. My manual is useless....

[G.I.JER]

Well I'd guess in the same place or near the same place. Behind the carpet on the LH rear QP. Just a guess.

[H.Remington]

Just i case anyone looks here and is comfused like i was and without brake lights. You can take the yellow box apart as shown in some of the pictures in the post and solder a jumper between the 4th pin from the right on the top and the last pin from the right on the bottom. i would have edited in pain but im not that smart . You will no longer have the light to show that you brake lights are out but who needs it anyway.

[mrb21]

can someone tell me in lamins terms how to wire around the box?

[ks_cowboy]

I know this is an old thread, but it is the only one i can find that addresses my problem. I have no brake lights, the fuse in the panel is fine, the stop switch apears fine since i am able to shift. I pulled out the "yellow box" and it looks fine is the any way to test it or are there other places i should check? thanks, Ross

[superdesi]

Originally Posted by ks_cowboy

I know this is an old thread, but it is the only one i can find that addresses my problem. I have no brake lights, the fuse in the panel is fine, the stop switch apears fine since i am able to shift. I pulled out the "yellow box" and it looks fine is the any way to test it or are there other places i should check? thanks, Ross

Just because you are able to shift the lever box, does not mean your stop switch is fine. Take it out and check the continuity. It is most likely the problem. Call me on my cell if u need further help.

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by ks_cowboy

I know this is an old thread, but it is the only one i can find that addresses my problem. I have no brake lights, the fuse in the panel is fine, the stop switch apears fine since i am able to shift. I pulled out the "yellow box" and it looks fine is the any way to test it or are there other places i should check? thanks, Ross

Have you checked the loom of wires inside the trunk by the driver's side trunk hinge? The wires inside there have a tendency to fray and break from all the flexing they are subjected to as the trunk is constantly opened and closed over the years. Just open up that loom of wires and looked for frayed or broken wires. Repair as necessary.

Mike

[Brian2]

1987 Camry with no tail lights. Tail light Fuse is good. All other lighting on the fuse is OK (glove compartment, rear lic plate, side markers...). Brake lights and backup lighs ok too. Found this thread on the web and gave it a shot.

Getting the yellow tail light sensor box out was a puzzle on an 87 Camry. There is a bracket spot welded onto the backside of a bulkhead on the driver's side of the trunk, that slips into a clip on the top of the box, and the unlocking mechanism is unseen even with bright light and inspection mirror. There is a catch on the box that must be pressed down pretty hard to release the box from the bracket. You can see just the catch through the connector hole in the yellow box cover on the left


I just wiggled the box until the bracket popped off, leaving a small hole in the bulkhead. I drilled a hole in the bracket and reattached to the bulkhead with a self tapping screw. Won't have that problem again.

The wire (a fuse?) in my light sensor showed signs of heat but not like this one.


Did not see anything wrong with the box so I reassembled and plugged back in, and it worked!

Wiggling the wire bundle Mike G wrote about did cause the lights to flicker so I need to do a closer inspection there.