94 Camry Dash Lights

[landlocked]

My dash lights for the fan switch and vent switch next to it are not working. I cannot seem to locate any bulbs that would illuminate the two switches.

I checked the repair manual but it only seemed to help with the instrument cluster lights.

I removed the radio and dvd player and am able to see the back of the switches using a mirror and penllight. I can only see white plastic surrounding the back of the switches, but no removeable bulbs are immediately visible.

I disconnected the wiring harness to the vent switch and checked it with a light to ground. I could not locate a circuit in the harness that responded to the dash light dimmer switch.

Grounding different circuits in the harness did cause the vent to cycle to different positions after turning on the ignition.

I would appreciate help even if were a page number in the repair manual (which I already downloaded).

Thanks.

[Daniel M. Dreifus]

This is probably not the answer you want, but same thing happened on my '94 and I just learned to operate those controls by touch - better for your driving in daylight also.
Dials are large, small, then large again, and the function control is logical so it may be simpler than it sounds.
If the illumination for speedometer / tach go out, then I'll take apart the instrument panel.
And this is not for lack of interest in keeping up the car. I recently changed ball joints, axles and control arms, and installed an Alpine stereo, -- just really haven't found the need for the temp. control illumination.

[xfeejayx]

Originally Posted by Daniel M. Dreifus

I just learned to operate those controls by touch

ditto.

but not the answer to any question.

[landlocked]

Thanks guys,

But I am making a little headway. I discovered that one circuit to the fan control responds to the dash light switch. It is close enough to the other control, that I'm hoping that a bright light inside the plastic housing might illuminate both.

I do have a mess though with my instrument panel and heater controls removed. The scary part is that I have to wait until next Tuesday to get the bulbs in from Toyota. I am hoping that I can remember how to reassemble the dash.

Thanks again.

[landlocked]

I have just finished replacing the burned out dash lights in my 94 Camry.

It required a lot of disassembly to get at the bulbs and only Toyota bulbs will fit. Some after market look the same but are slightly too big.

I finally located the socket housing the light illuminating the heater controls. It was necessary to remove the screws and pull the heater - vent control assembly away from the dash (about 1 1/2 in). I was able to see the plug on the top back approximately 2 in from the edge on the driver's side.

Toyota was unable to identify the bulb in the cigarette lighter socket, but I discovered that you can buy the miniature bulb for the instrument panel and carefully remove the wire from the base and then install it the cigarette lighter socket. It required breaking out the burned out bulb and then soldering the new bulb in its place.

After spending many days on this project, I would say you would have to be retired and have a lot of time to spare to make this a worth while project.

Thanks for the interest.

[300+]

Originally Posted by landlocked

I have just finished replacing the burned out dash lights in my 94 Camry.

It required a lot of disassembly to get at the bulbs and only Toyota bulbs will fit. Some after market look the same but are slightly too big.

I finally located the socket housing the light illuminating the heater controls. It was necessary to remove the screws and pull the heater - vent control assembly away from the dash (about 1 1/2 in). I was able to see the plug on the top back approximately 2 in from the edge on the driver's side.

Toyota was unable to identify the bulb in the cigarette lighter socket, but I discovered that you can buy the miniature bulb for the instrument panel and carefully remove the wire from the base and then install it the cigarette lighter socket. It required breaking out the burned out bulb and then soldering the new bulb in its place.

After spending many days on this project, I would say you would have to be retired and have a lot of time to spare to make this a worth while project.

Thanks for the interest.

Are you talking about the bulb in the lighter?
On my 92 that was easily dissasembled and takes that same Toyota only bulb used throughout the area you were working.
The whole assembly ring for the lighter is only a couple of dollars from Toyota
and would be significantly easier than what you described.
All of those lighter parts are listed in Toyota's parts diagrams.

[landlocked]

Yeah, one part of my light problem was that the bulb which illuminated the white plastic around the lighter socket had burned out. But it turned out to be an intergral part of the lighter assembly, which cost more than just a couple of bucks to replace.

It sounds like there must be some differences between your car and mine, since the local Toyota Parts man had trouble finding the 'bulb' assembly on his diagram. I looked at the screen with him and initially could not be sure the bulb was located in the white plastic assembly (from his diagram).

It was only after I removed a few parts from the lighter assembly, that I spotted the bulb. By this time I had decided to order some other bulbs for the dash and figured that I could replace that bulb (as I earlier described) for a lot less money.

Thanks for the comments anyhow.