How to change dashboard light for Toyota Corolla 99

Dashboard Light Problem

This summer my Toyota Corolla dashboard light went off. This affected my night time driving as I was unable to understand my current speed, fuel level etc. I checked with body shopper for change and I was shocked when I heard the cost to replace the same. Hence, I tried to change it myself and I was successful. Hence I am sharing it with you all. I hope this helps.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Philips screw driver
• 194 Bulb

1. • 1
     194 Bulb

     Buy 194 type clear bulbs from Wal-Mart or Kmart or any other store. Approximate cost is around $3 for a 2-pack.

   • 2
     Cluster Screw

     Switch off the car and try to locate and remove the 2 Philips screws on top of the gauge cluster plastic frame. Next pull out the frame grasping the top end.

   • 3
     

     In the actual cluster, you should be able to find a few more Philips screws. In Corolla 99, I found 3 Philips screws. Remove all.

   • 4

     Lift the cluster up and take it out of the dashboard. No need to touch or remove any electrical connectors.

   • 5
     

     Access the backlighting bulbs by locating 3 colored sockets on the back side of the cluster. Twist to unlock, and pull out the 194 bulb attached to the socket.

   • 6
     

     Replace the bulb and pack the cluster again.

How to Fix Power Seats in a Toyota Corolla

Owners of the 2004 to 2007 Toyota Corolla can often be distracted by a noisy squeak coming from their power seats while driving. The squeak occurs because of unnatural contact between the floor pan location holes and the seat track locating pins. Fortunately, a fix exists to put an end to the noise and distraction and even confusion.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Power cut-off tool
• Flat blade screwdriver with taped tip
• Wax
• Paint

1. • 1

     Turn the ignition switch to the "Lock" position. Undo the negative battery cable and wait 2 minutes.

   • 2

     Use the screwdriver to take off the plastic front and rear seat track covers.

   • 3

     Remove the front seat assembly on the left side. Position the seat back so that it's upright before unscrewing the four seat track bolts, disconnecting the electrical connectors and removing the entire seat assembly.

   • 4

     Tilt the seat backwards and cut off the two seat track locating pins on the front, inner and out track with power cut-off tool. Leave only 2mm or less on each of the pins.

   • 5

     Clean up all shavings, use wax to clean the seat track locating pin remainder and paint metal surfaces to prevent corrosion.

   • 6

     Reinstall the left hand front assembly, reconnect the electrical connectors and put in the four seat track retaining bolts. Finish by reinstalling the plastic seat track covers. Reconnect he battery terminal and check to see if the problem has been fixed.

How to Change the Belts in a 1997 Toyota Camry

The serpentine belt propels many of the essential moving parts for the 1997 Camry.

The Toyota Camry was introduced in 1983. The 1997 Toyota Camry came equipped with the option of two different engines: a 2.2-liter in-line 4-cylinder, and a 3.0-liter V-6. The belts on both engines are routed in a nearly identical manner around accessories (the exception being the optional air conditioning for the 2.2-liter, which comes standard on the 3.0-liter engine). The drive belts on the 1997 Toyota Camry are located on the passenger side of the engine. Both of the 1997 Camry engine options include a power steering and an alternator belt, with the air conditioning compressor being optional on the alternator belt line.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

things you'll need:

• 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket set with a 4-inch extension
• New alternator belt (see "Tips" section for belt sizes)
• New power steering belt (see "Tips" section for belt sizes)
• Small pry bar

1. • 1

     Open the hood of the Camry and set the prop rod to hold the hood up for the duration of this project.

   • 2

     Loosen the top and bottom bolts on the alternator, using a 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket. Push the alternator inward, toward the engine. Remove the alternator drive belt completely.

   • 3

     Loosen the top and bottom bolts on the power steering pump. Push the power steering pump inward, toward the engine. Remove the power steering drive belt completely.

   • 4

     Install the power steering drive belt over the top of the power steering pulley. Route the drive belt down and under the crankcase pulley. The crank pulley is the large pulley located on the bottom center of the engine. Pull the power steering pump away from the engine, using a small pry bar for leverage. Move the pump outward, until there is only about 1/4-inch of play in the belt when you wiggle it by hand. Tighten the top power steering mounting bolt, using a 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket, then tighten the bottom bolt completely.

   • 5

     Install the alternator drive belt onto the top of the alternator pulley. Route the belt downward and around the front of the air conditioning compressor pulley, if the car you are working on is so equipped. Route the belt around the front and under the air conditioning compressor, to the bottom side of the crank pulley -- from the bottom the the crank pulley the belt will return to the alternator. If the Camry that you are working on does no have air conditioning, simply route the belt around the alternator, then around the crank pulley.

   • 6

     Push the alternator away from the engine, using a small pry bar against one of the mounting bolt tabs on the alternator. Do not push or apply direct pressure to the body of the alternator, as you can bend the soft aluminum cage around the alternator, rendering it useless. Move the alternator until you only have about 1/4-inch of play in the belt when you wiggle it with your hand. Tighten the top alternator mounting bolt with a 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket, then immediately tighten the bottom mounting bolt.

Tips & Warnings

• The belt sizes on the 1997 Toyota Camry are as follows:

• 2.2-liter engine power steering belt = 295K3

• 2.2-liter engine alternator with A/C compressor = 433K5

• 2.2-liter engine alternator without A/C compressor = 396K5

• 3.0-liter engine power steering belt = 347K4

• 3.0-liter engine alternator with A/C compressor = 408K6

How to Change Toyota Struts

When struts wear out, choppy wear on the tires that leave little uneven flat spots on the tread appear. The front or back of the car also bottoms out over hard bumps, or there is excessive rocking of the front of the car after traveling over bumps in the road. From a visual standpoint, oil on the strut housing will indicate a bad seal. Struts can be checked with the car sitting still by bouncing the front and rear of the car with your body weight. If the vehicle stops bouncing immediately, the struts are good. If the car to bounces more than once before settling, the struts are weak and need replacing.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Strut compressor
• ½-inch air gun
• ½-inch sockets
• Set of wrenches
• Floor jack
• Jack stands

1. • 1

     Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands. Remove the wheels. Remove the two large nuts and bolts holding the struts to the spindle.

   • 2

     Remove the three 13 mm nuts on the top of the fenderwell. Remove the 10 mm bolt holding the brake line to the strut. Separate the strut base from the spindle by pushing on the strut base and pulling on the spindle.

   • 3

     Install the strut compressor on the spring and use the air gun to tighten the compressor until the spring is loose inside the saddle and the top can be turned freely. Remove the top retaining nut with the ½-inch air gun. Lift the top plate off and lay it aside. Lift the spring off of the strut and carefully lay it down.

   • 4

     Take the new strut out of the box and remove the wires holding the strut from extending. If it is the type that does not use wire retainers, push down by hand on the strut shaft, rotate a half turn and release--it will automatically extend.

   • 5

     Hold the strut up on the floor with the mounting flanges to the spindle facing away. Remove the rubber seat from the old strut and install it on the new strut. Make sure that it is situated right where the end of the spring fits into the pocket in the rubber seat. Install the spring, making sure that the bottom of the spring fits correctly into the rubber seat.

   • 6

     Install the top bearing plate and make sure it fits properly into its groove, then install the top nut. Use the air gun to tighten the top nut. Release the tension on the spring by loosening the compressor.

   • 7

     Insert the studs on the top plate of the strut up through the fenderwell, install the 13 mm nuts and tighten. Push the spindle neck into the mounting flanges on the strut base, insert the large bolts and nuts, and tighten. Install the 10 mm bolt through the brake line bracket. Do the same to the other side.

How to Read a Toyota VIN

Vehicle Identification Numbers are serial numbers, each of which is unique to every vehicle. They were introduced in the mid-1950s in the US due to mass production of automobiles. However, it was not standardized and difficult to decode. Toyota introduced its first imported car in the U.S. in the late 1950s. By the early 1980s, the USDOT mandated a 17-digit VIN number in a standardized format in order to decipher specific information and history of every vehicle--Toyota included. By 1996, after safety restraints were mandated on vehicles, the VIN format changed slightly, but still employed the 17-digit coding.

1. Toyota VIN Format: 1996 to Present

   • You can gather a lot of information from the first 11 digits from the Toyota VIN. The last six digits present the sequential manufactured number of the vehicle made in the specific year of the Toyota. In other words, if the last six digits of the VIN display the numbers 000100, this shows that Toyota vehicle was the one hundredth vehicle of that model manufactured on the assembly line in that particular year.

     The first digit of the VIN displays the country of origin. Because Toyotas have manufacturing plants based worldwide, each country of origin has a specific digit.

     The second digit on a Toyota will always be "T" for Toyota. This displays the manufacturer of the vehicle.

     The third digit of the VIN displays the vehicle type (for example, sedan, coupe or truck).

     The fourth digit displays the body type of the Toyota. For example, two-door with two-wheel drive or five-door lift-back with four-wheel drive.

     The fifth digit displays the engine size and displacement.

     The sixth digit displays the series of the model Toyota--for example, luxury edition or limited edition.

     The seventh digit displays the safety restraint code. This shows how many airbags the vehicle is equipped with and the type of seat belts employed in the model.

     The eighth digit displays the model code; Camry, Corolla or Tacoma, or example.

     The ninth digit is a unique "check-digit" that is only specific to the year, make and model of the Toyota. This is used only to verify the validity of the VIN number altogether.

     The tenth digit displays the year the model was manufactured in. Usually, after August of the year it was manufactured in will display the following year as the date of manufacturing.

     The eleventh digit displays the specific plant the Toyota was made in. Again, since the Toyota Motor Corp. has plants around the world, this code will determine the plant in the country of origin that built the vehicle.

   Prior to 1996

   • There were five digits prior to 1996 with a slight variance to the VIN code. The last six were still the sequential manufactured number of the vehicle. Digits one, two, six, nice, ten, and eleven were all the same. However, the third, fourth and fifth digits displayed the category, the engine size and the model or platform of the vehicle in respective order. Because safety restraints were not mandated prior to 1996, the seventh digit displayed the grade of model for the Toyota. And lastly, the eighth digit displayed the body and chassis configuration of the vehicle.

   How to Use VINs

   • You can learn the history of a used Toyota by entering the VIN into a history check system for the vehicle. This will display and documented accidents or damage that has occurred to the vehicle. Understand that accidents or damage that occurred undocumented will not be revealed on any vehicle history reports, whether you have to pay for them or they are free.

     Since VINs are specific to every vehicle, they are also used by law enforcement to locate stolen vehicles and properly identify them.

How to Install a Stereo in a Toyota Camry

Installing a new stereo in a Toyota Camry gives you improved sound and allows adding updated features like navigation and subwoofers. Older models of the Toyota Camry likely have stopped working or the sound has severely deteriorated. Swapping out the stereo for a new unit takes a few basic tools and less than an hour. This guide covers models from 1987 through 2000.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Screwdrivers
• Wiring harness adaptor
• Toyota radio adaptor

1. • 1

     Open the hood and locate the battery. Disconnect the negative battery cable and ensure it doesn't touch any metal parts.

   • 2

     Pry the trim ring from around the stereo with your fingers, some early models have two screws at the top of the trim that must be removed. Pull the trim to the side and let it hang from the cigarette lighter wire.

   • 3

     Remove the four screws that secure the radio in the dash, two on each side. Pull the stereo out of the dash and disconnect the wires behind the head unit. Look for an amplifier behind the stereo and remove the wires if found.

   • 4

     Connect the wiring harness adaptor to the original harness, use the wire from the amplifier if there is one. Slide the new stereo into the Toyota radio adaptor and secure it per the manufacturer's instructions. Connect the wiring harness adaptor and antenna wire to the back of the new stereo and slide the entire assembly into the dash.

   • 5

     Reconnect the negative battery cable and turn the radio on. Verify the speakers and controls are all working properly. Secure the stereo into the dash with the original four screws and replace the trim.

How to Program Keyless Remote for 1996 Toyota Avalon

Program your Avalon keyless entry at home.

The Toyota Avalon began coming equipped with a keyless entry system in 1995. The system allows the vehicle owner to lock and unlock the doors from a distance and includes a panic button that sets off an alarm when pushed. Losing or breaking a remote does not mean you are stuck paying a large bill at a mechanic or locksmith. A new remote can be purchased online and the vehicle owner can do the programming in just a few minutes.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Keyless entry remote
• Jumper wire

1. • 1

     Remove the key from the ignition and open the trunk of the vehicle.

   • 2

     Look in the trunk near the driver's side hinge and locate the bulb failure warning module. It is a small plastic box that plugs into the wall of the trunk. Unplug the module.

   • 3

     Push one end of a jumper wire into terminal No. 2 of the bulb failure nodule space. Insert the other one into terminal No. 10. Listen for the doors to unlock and lock and for the trunk lock to engage. A jumper wire is any wire that has a metal core and will conduct electricity, such as speaker wire or any electrical wire.

   • 4

     Push any button on the keyless entry remote and listen for the vehicle to engage the locks again to signify that the remote has been accepted. Repeat this step with any other remote you need to program.

   • 5

     Remove the jumper wire from the terminals and plug the bulb failure nodule back in. Test your remote from outside the vehicle.