Haywire Camry Electrics

[Dangerr_3S-FE]

Hey i'm new to this forum an have only previously posted once before...

I have a couple of problems with my 88 manual wagon that I was hoping that I could get some helpful advice on

The heat shield on the exhaust manifold rattles like a bitch between 2000-3000 rpm. I was told by the bloke at the exhaust place

that these shields are unnecessary and I should bin it... I wouldn't mind doing this as the rattle drives me insane... Is it ok to do this?

Secondly, and firstly I will say that I am not making this up, it has absolutely dire electrical problems...

The right indicators (excluding the one behind the drivers side front wheel) will come on (but not flash) when the car is sitting there..

All of these electrical problems only occur whenever it rains (it's never garaged) the electrics have a mind of their own. If the interior light is set to 'door' the dash lights (oil, brake, engine, etc..) will come on and the interior fan will come on when there is no key in the ignition and it is set to 'off'... This has run the battery flat too many times and I am quickly loosing patience with it.. Also the (stock) stereo will hiss blocking out the music when the passenger doors on the left side of the car are opened and will go back to normal when they are closed... Also when I turn it off after driving it, the right speaker will slightly hiss and there are drops of water on the bottom corner of that panel below the speaker...

Does anybody know what is causing these problems and if so could they please tell me, I am very close to loosing my sanity... I have been told it's an earth problem, but where the earth wire is, I have absolutely no idea...

PLEASE HELP!!!

[D'Ice]

WOW... i'm 90% sure that the ECU doesn't control all those functions... so we're safe to say its not the ECU... but umm i'm GUESSING that it could be the fuse box area... water might be seeping in there and messing up everything... but ummm... all i can say is good luck lol... i say take it to a GOOD electrician...

[Rolla Boy]

Firstly, it's safe to remove the heat shield, but just make sure theres no wires or anything above that could be exposed to the extra heat...

Secondly, I'll agree with D ice... Sounds like water is getting into the electrics around the fuse box area which should be located at the drivers side kick panel (behind the trim next to the accelerator pedal)...

Water is possibly leaking thru the vents, windscreen, A pillar or firewall... Check all of these areas with a hose and someone inside the car to see if there is any water coming in the cabin...

Try that and see how you go...

Is everything work ok when it's not raining or do some of these problems occur at any time???

[perthcamry]

Could be the flasher unit I had to change the one in my 1990 camry/apollo for the indicators. Also could be one of the bulbs / conections playing up

Check the prices though Holden sold it for $12 for the apollo and Toyota $90. Always ask both of them for part prices as the difference is massive.

[Dangerr_3S-FE]

Thanks guys, I'll check the fuse box...

These problems only occur when it's left sitting in the rain, when the car is running everything works fine, excepting the hiss from the stereo

Thanks for the advice on the exhaust shield, I fully intend on taking the ***** off....

[Neon]

taking the heat sheid off won't make any difference. I took the heat sheild off mine and its fine

[Dangerr_3S-FE]

Last Friday I jump started my car for about the 1000th time since i got it. It was a rainy day so I needed to use the wipers, the wipers were very reluctant, but I though this was due to the problem that I have had with them for the past 6 months with them jamming. Everything seemed to be running alright excepting the wipers until i turned on my indicator to turn into my road after what I thought was a drive to recharge my battery. The indicator died and shortly afterwards, so did the engine. The 'charge' light on the dash had been constantly on for the preceding week.

Anybody with half a brain will be able to tell me that the alternator is completely stuffed. I had the auto electrician fix it (at a cost of $220!).

I cannot stress to you enough how much difference this has made to my car in every aspect of how it runs. The auto electrician told me that the brushes were completely gone and that the regulator had also gone. He also informed me that this could cause the problems with my dash lights coming on as something in the alternator is linked to the dash lights (charge light).

My car has never run better since i got it a year ago, which means it has been fcking up for some time....

(oh and it fixed the jamming wipers too!)

[akuma]

lol, car never came with rwc?

[Zeus]

1988 model Camry, that's never been garaged. Hmm. I think that's your answer. Isn't that the first ever Camry?

[D'Ice]

Anybody with half a brain will be able to tell me that the alternator is completely stuffed. I had the auto electrician fix it (at a cost of $220!).

wow $220!!! is it a brand new alternator??? coz that's a RIPOFF... i got an alternator from the wreckers for $50... and it was a piece of cake to install... sooo easy when you have so much room in the engine bay

[Rolla Boy]

$220 would've been a reco alternator...

Thats an average price from an auto elec...

[Dangerr_3S-FE]

lol, car never came with rwc?

1988 model Camry, that's never been garaged. Hmm. I think that's your answer. Isn't that the first ever Camry?

$220 would've been a reco alternator...

Thats an average price from an auto elec...

Yes, the car did come with a RWC, the problems only started 6 months after I bought it and have been getting progressively worse.

The car does seem to have been well looked after before my ownership, the interior looks like new and the exterior isn't in that bad a shape, I just haven't garaged it since i have owned it.

And yes, the auto electrician told me that an alternator from the wreckers probably wouldn't last all that long and the parts cost $140 + it was on-site service so I think that what he charged me was reasonable.

The alternator didn't fix these problems, the other day it rained and we are back to square one!!!!

I think it has something to do with the relay in the driver's footwell. It hisses whenever its raining.... Probably best if I just sell the damn thing, it's probably going to be more trouble than its worth....