OldMech

Yes Trent, 'the most expensive option'... .that is sadly for sure. Repeating faults with solid state is a rotten problem. My 'vacuum tube valve' time was very different. No second chance or time to measure things with solid state. Bang, thats it!

I started my (3 years only) motor mech apprenticeship 1946,. RAAF radio / radar 7 yrs,. then TV service very many years, b'cast radio studios operator etc, etc now retired..That's why I was not too unhappy when I bought my 'latest' s/hand Camry a few years ago and found out it was the last of the carby models. . Driven around Aus twice in Sigma wagons. K.I.S.S.! Certainly i would get the vehicle back to Perth and to an authorised Toyota agency. But even then - who can one rely on nowadays. Perhaps the original diagnosis was wrong and now any service, repair, approach is going around in circles. Our 'cleverness' brings with it very tricky troubleshooting. Good luck. Laurie Edward ... on Facebook.. Rottnest Island etc my favourites. VirtualTourist.com 'australia2'.

How's ii going Chopperlamb? Any difference.

Just leave it and see what happens. It may be 'just oine of those things'. There are so many connection plugs and sockets under the dash it could take years to find the 'bad' one. If its annoying cover it up with tape. I have a $2 shop one sitting in front of my speedo as a 'spare'.. The main probems seem to be behaving. Things come and go. Cheers. Laurie.

Yes dim with the headlights on. 'Clock dull with headlights on, bright with them off - normal daytime driving, except if you want to be extra safe and have your headlights on in daytime!' Ive been replying on the notification email facility. And it's been 'bouncing' there! Sorry.

I think our replies have got lost in the email system. i'll just wait awhile, and check on my answer meantime. Clock dull with headlights on, bright with them off - normal daytime driving, except if you want to be extra safe!

Yes, I've just discovered on mine that the direct negative cable to the engine block - very, very important - had come adrift from the battery negative clamp. Another one in that clamp goes to the 'vehicle body earth' bolt - but that one to the block is the MOST important one.

Back again with no real answer. The 'voltage regulator' is built in to the alternator as far as I know and the alternator would need to be replaced to even just try to see if the fault goes away. http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/howitworks.shtml. The earth lead on the battery negative terminal (post) . is a clamp type on my vehicle which builds up 'verdi-gri' - corrosion inside, around the wire itself, and when we remove that terminal it disturbs that connection. All OK when I put it back on.The peculiar thing about my similar problem is that is occurs more after the car has been parked on a side slope!! Passenger side 'down-hill'! Weird. Also it's worse if the battery is down a bit. The intermittent aspect? A recharge top-up every now and then improves things. Good luck. Laurie. Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage_regulator. L.

Back again with no real answer. The 'voltage regulator' is built in to the alternator as far as I know and the alternator would need to be replaced to even just try to see if the fault goes away. http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/howitworks.shtml. The earth lead on the battery negative terminal (post) . is a clamp type on my vehicle which builds up 'verdi-gri' - corrosion inside and when we remove that terminal it disturbs that connection. All OK when I put it back on.The peculiar thing about my similar problem is that is occurs more after the car has been parked on a side slope!! Passenger side 'down-hill'! Weird. Also it's worse if the battery is down a bit. The intermittent aspect? A recharge top-up every now and then improves things. Good luck. Laurie.

".... one or more of the earth strap joiner clips" .... Jim where normally are they to be found in general. I have been wondering very strongly exactly along those lines. Laurie.

As per my very long history in electronic repair occupation (before B/W TV, RAAF 50's Radar.) the snag with this type of fault is that of its intermittent nature. Electronics are infuriating that way. Screamingly so. Thanks for the info anyway.

I know the problem well. But not the common answer! You have done well with what you have done. I'm going through the same experience. That strange aspect of removing the battery earth and putting it back again clearing the trouble - temporarily! At the moment I'm suspecting a 'bad' connection 'somewhere' between the block and the battery earth. Next I will try a new earth braid or heavy lead from a 1000% (!!) good connection to/on the block, straight to the battery negative pole. I've even run one side of my jumper lead for that - and it worked perfectly. There is a faint echo way, way back on the first Holdens. Yes I was there! Good luck.

Hi all. After a while of feeling dodgy the selector shift lever has stopped working. I've taken off all the interior console covering and uncoupled the 'cable' from the lever. The cable is jammed in a very small amount of movement. Can inspecting its movement only be done from underneath the vehicle? The Haynes manual doesn't show the path of the cable. I suppose it would be the same for all the 4 cyl models. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Sorry, but I beg to differ - that is, 'from a general point of view'. They are all belts between 1990 and 2002, (to the best of my knowledge, see link). The current question then is that it would be a chain in that case. < http://toyota.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7690/~/does-my-vehicle-have-a-timing-belt-or-timing-chain%3F >

Sounds rather nasty. Time for a workshop mechanic's investigation. I agree with what you've suggested. It's fairly close probably. Not a job for a plain home mechanic. Good luck. Laurie.

Hi and welcome Corey. Say Hi to Forest Hill & Wagga for me. I was there for eighteen months from 1949 as a trainee Flight Mechanic, then Aircraft Electrician! Saturday night Dances with the lasses at Gumley! Ended up after 7 years at 10 Sqdn Townsville as a Radar/Radio Tech. Trained for that at Ballarat A&GRS. Wagga was known then as a city with a pub on every corner - probably still is. :) Enjoy TOC and your Sportiva. Laurie.

All OK now. Suitable mechanic found in Clayton. Nice guy. Does restorations too. Thanks TOC.

For anyone bumping into this thread late, I haven't seen mention of the fact that a leak won't show properly until the engine is cooled and you carry out a pressure test. Amazing and revealing results. Pressure testers are now inexpensive and save a ton of money and time! Believe you me.

I'm finding it a bit difficult to find a mechanic willing to take on the job as above heading. Could anyone point me in a suitable direction. She's blowing quite a waterspout. Cap was not properly tightened on a country trip. I live in Hawthorn, Melbourne's east. Thanks.

Could I please be added to the Member list. 'OldMech' - '91 - Red - Camry - Wagon - Hawthorn - Victoria. Thank you. Laurie. (New member. 2013)