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1999 Camry Speedometer Backlight and A/C backlight

Hello.

I have a 1999 Camry, and there are two backlights that are burnt out. One is on the speedometer (I can still see the speed though, because the other backlights here still work). The other is the backlight for the A/C and heater knob controls.

Can anyone tell me how to get at these bulbs so that I can replace them? The dealer says it's about 1 hour labour (for each job) which would cost me $92 per hour for a total of $184 labour. This seems rather excessive just to replace a part that should cost only a couple of dollars.

Thanks for any info.

John

Reply to
John
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Wow. I'm not familiar with a '99, but generally Toyotas are made with 3 or

4 screws holding the Inst. panel in at the top, and a couple at the bottom, usually covered by the bottom dash panel. You'll have to remove the bottom dash panel, remove the screws and then the screws in the top. The inst panel will pull out with some difficulty, for some reason they make them large enough so the steering wheel is in the way.There are connectors behind there. You'll see the bulb holders (generally brown) they twist out. Some have replacable bulbs (168s) and some you have to replace the whole thing. I checked for a Nissan I had; dealer item: $11.30 EACH! Try gently pulling the bulb and see if it comes loose. I have been able to replace the assembly type with 168s, you have to bend the contacts on the bulb to make contact with the copper contacts on the holder. This has worked for me for about 3 years. Oh, and the green prophylactics...GENTLY remove them from the old bulb so they will be reusable. (I replaced the bulbs in one car with blue bulbs; they look cool but are harder to see at night, particularly at dusk...there are also red and ambler...

The A/C is similar, you'll have to remove the access trim panel, unscrew the heater controls and replace the bulb the same way. These are usuall much smaller bulbs; AutoZone has them (if you're in the US; since you spelled LABOR as labour, I'm assuming somewhere else...) It should be replaceable; at one tome Toyota had a nasty habit of soldering these in.

Reply to
hachiroku

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