TOYOTA CAMRY 1996 Repair Manual

Part 1Headlights and turn signals
55
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLSÐ
Chapter 1-4
Lights, Wipers and Defogger

Headlights and turn signals

Emergency flashers

Instrument panel light control

Interior light

Ignition switch light

Personal light

Luggage compartment light

Windshield wipers and washer

Rear window wipers and washer

Rear window defogger
To turn on the lights on, twist the knob
on end of the lever.
Daytime running light system (Canada
only)ÐThe headlights turn on when the
parking brake is released with the engine
started, even with the light switch in the
OFFº position. They will not go off until
the ignition switch is turned off.
To turn on the other exterior lights and in-
strument panel lights, twist the knob to the
first clickstop.
Under the daytime running light system,
the headlights turn on at reduced intensi-
ty. Twist the knob to the second clickstop
to turn to full intensity for driving at night.FIRST CLICKSTOP: Only the parking,
tail, license plate, side marker and instru-
ment panel lights turn on.
SECOND CLICKSTOP: The headlights
also turn on.
The lights automatically turn off when the
driver's door is opened with the ignition
turned off. To turn them on again, turn the
key to the ONº position or actuate the
headlight switch. If you are going to park
for over one week, make sure the head-
light switch is off.NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being
discharged, do not leave the lights
on for a long period when the
engine is not running.
ProCarManuals.com

56
For high beam, push the lever away
from you. Pull it toward you for low
beam. For the headlight flasher, pull it
further back.
A blue light in the instrument panel indi-
cates high beam is on.
The headlight flasher works even when
the headlight switch is off.For signaling turns, move the lever up
or down in the conventional manner.
The key must be in the ONº position.
The turn signal is self-cancelling after a
turn, but after a lane change, you may
have to cancel it by hand. You can signal
a lane change by moving the turn signal
lever partway and holding it there. If the
green light in the instrument panel flashes
faster than normal, it indicates that the
front or rear turn signal bulb has burned
out.To turn on the emergency flashers,
push the switch.
All the turn signal lights will flash.
Turn on the emergency flashers to warn
other drivers if your vehicle must be
stopped where it might be a traffic hazard.
Always pull as far off the road as possible.
The turn signal light switch will not work
when the emergency flashers are operat-
ing.
NOTICE
To prevent the battery from being
discharged, do not leave the switch
on longer than necessary when the
engine is not running.
Emergency flashers
ProCarManuals.com

57
To adjust the brightness of the instru-
ment panel lights, turn the knob.To turn on the interior light, slide the
switch.
With the switch in the DOORº position,
the light comes on when any of the side
doors are opened and goes out when they
are closed. On some models, the light re-
mains on for a certain time after all of the
side doors are closed.For easy access to the ignition switch,
the ignition switch light comes on
when any of the side doors are
opened.
The light remains on for a certain time af-
ter all of the side doors are closed.
Instrument panel light control Interior light Ignition switch light
ProCarManuals.com

58
To turn on the personal light, push the
switch. To turn it off, push the switch
once again.To turn the luggage compartment light
on, open the back door and push the
switch. Closing the back door will turn
the light off.To turn the wipers on, move the lever.
To make the washer squirt, push the
button on the end of the lever.
The key must be in the ONº position.
The wipers will operate at intervals when
the lever is in the INTº position. With the
lever in this position, the wipers can be ad-
justed to operate at intervals of 3 to 12
seconds depending on the interval adjust-
er setting between Sº and Fº.
If a single wipe is desired in mist, pull the
lever toward you and release it.
Also, the wipers will automatically operate
a couple of times after the washer squirts
even with the lever in the OFFº position.
Personal lightLuggage compartment light
(wagon)Windshield wipers and washer
(with interval adjuster)
ProCarManuals.com

59 If the washer does not work, check to see
whether the washer tank is empty. For in-
formation on adding washer fluid, see
Adding washer fluidº in Chapter 7-3.
In cold weather, warm the windshield with
the defroster before using the washer.
This will help prevent icing, which could
block your vision.
NOTICE
Do not operate the wipers if the
windshield is dry. It may scratch the
glass.
To turn the wipers on, move the lever.
To make the washer squirt, push the
button on the end of the lever.
The key must be in the ONº position.
The wipers will operate at intervals when
the lever is in the INTº position.
If a single wipe is desired in mist, pull the
lever toward you and release it.
If the washer does not work, check to see
whether the washer tank is empty. For in-
formation on adding washer fluid, see
Adding washer fluidº in Chapter 7-3.In cold weather, warm the windshield with
the defroster before using the washer.
This will help prevent icing, which could
block your vision.
NOTICE
Do not operate the wipers if the
windshield is dry. It may scratch the
glass.
Windshield wipers and washer
(without interval adjuster)
ProCarManuals.com

60
To turn the rear wipers and washers on,
twist the knob at the end of the lever.
The key must be in the ONº position.
The wipers will operate at intervals when
the knob is in the INTº position.
The washer squirts at the two marked
knob positions. The knob will automatical-
ly return from these positions when it is re-
leased.
If the washer does not work, check to see
whether the washer tank is empty. For in-
formation on adding washer fluid, see
Adding washer fluidº in Chapter 7-3.
NOTICE
Do not operate the rear wipers if the
rear window is dry. It may scratch
the glass.
To defog or defrost the rear window,
push the switch.
The key must be in the ONº position.
The thin heater wires on the inside of the
rear window will quickly clear the sur-
faces. An indicator light will illuminate to
indicate the defogger is operating.
Push the switch once again to turn the de-
fogger off.
The system will automatically shut off af-
ter the defogger has operated about 15
minutes.
Rear window wipers and
washer (wagon) Rear window defogger
ProCarManuals.com

61 Make sure you turn the defogger off when
the window is clear. Leaving the defogger
on for a long time could cause the battery
to discharge, especially during stop-and-
go driving. The defogger is not designed
for drying rain water or for melting snow.
NOTICE
When cleaning the inside of the rear
window, be careful not to scratch or
damage the heater wires.
ProCarManuals.com

62ProCarManuals.com

Part 1Fuel gauge
63
OPERATION OF
INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLSÐ
Chapter 1-5
Gauges, Meters
and Service reminder
indicators

Fuel gauge

Engine coolant temperature
gauge

Tachometer

Odometer and trip meter

Service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers
The gauge works when the ignition
switch is on and indicates the approxi-
mate quantity of fuel remaining in the
tank.
It is a good idea to keep the tank over 1/4
full.
This fuel gauge has a non-return type
needle which remains at the last indicated
position when the ignition switch is turned
off.
If the level approaches Eº or the low fuel
level warning light comes on, fill the fuel
tank as soon as possible.If the fuel tank is completely empty, the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Fill
the fuel tank immediately.
The indicator lamp goes off after driving
several times. If the indicator lamp does
not go off, contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
ProCarManuals.com

64
The gauge indicates the engine cool-
ant temperature when the ignition
switch is on. The engine operating
temperature will vary with changes in
weather and engine load.
If the needle points to the red zone or high-
er, stop your vehicle and allow the engine
to cool.
Your vehicle may overheat during severe
operating conditions, such as:

Driving up a long hill on a hot day.

Reducing speed or stopping after high
speed driving.

Idling for a long period with the air con-
ditioning on in stop-and-go traffic.

Towing a trailer.
NOTICE
Do not remove the thermostat in
the engine cooling system as this
may cause the engine to overheat.
The thermostat is designed to
control the flow of coolant to keep
the temperature of the engine
within the specified operating
range.
Do not continue driving with an
overheated engine. See If your
vehicle overheatsº in Part 4.
The tachometer indicates engine
speed in thousands of rpm (revolu-
tions per minute). Use it while driving
to select correct shift points and to
prevent engine lugging and overrev-
ving.
Driving with the engine running too fast
causes excessive engine wear and poor
fuel economy. Remember, in most cases
the slower the engine speed, the greater
the fuel economy.
NOTICE
Do not let the indicator needle get
into the red zone. This may cause
severe engine damage.
Tachometer Engine coolant temperature
gauge
ProCarManuals.com