Toyota Avalon Electrical Problems

abfisch · October 2005

Hey:

I trade you secrets. I hard wired my Valentine ONE by running a beige ribbon thin telephone wire through the sunvisor cloth, then under the trim for the front driver's side pillar. Goes through the firewall, directly connected to the battery. Came out great. Cannot see the wire nor the detector from outside.

Now, I just picked up a 2004 325ci. Don't really feel like messin with it yet, but how did you wire yours up and what model year of BMW did you do it on??

abfisch

lovalon · November 2005

2000 XLS with 51,000 on it. The interior map light, odometer light, headlights and dash lights flicker when the engine is running. Doesn't do it when the engine is off. Alternator is new, as is battery. Cables are fine. Any suggestions?

wwest · November 2005

Remove the battery post connections and clean and burnish the posts and the connectors. If the problem continues then check and/or do the same with the far end of both of these cables.

Alternator is new......

Be sure those connections are electrically solid also, may have been left loose, or not cleaned and burnished, when the new alternator was installed.

It may also be that one or more of the three phases of diode rectification is open. Even a single phase left working would supply enough recharge capability except for night driving. But this latter case would likely only be noticeable, more pronounced, at idle.

whealy53 · December 2005

I used this thread to get my hard wired via the rear mirror wire harness the night I bought the car. It was pretty straight forward, but Ive done this kind of work many times before. Thanks to n0v8or for posting the wiring information needed to get this done.

Hope that helps.

jose7 · January 2006

I was looking through the forum as an Avalon owner and this thread caught my eye. I used to mount my detector up high/on visor and when I bought my new Escort detector a couple years ago, I was wondering about the same question and then I came across this website. Thought I'd share it:

http://www.radarbusters.com/support/maximize-detector/2.asp
(Sorry couldn't get this to hyperlink)
Rick

abfisch · January 2006

jose7:

Very very good to read. Thanks very much for that article. I do have a couple of disagreements, real world that I would like to share. Nevertheless, the article was good to hear a counterpoint. Now, let me explain another point.

1. In the Valentine One manual, which I read in its entirety, at least for K and Ka band, the detector will capture the beam much earlier and completely on hills, or on-off ramps, where radar is used.

2. The difference of mounting in the middle of the windshield and the visor couldn't be more than 24 inches, tops.

3. Since purchasing the detector in 1998, I have gotten zero speeding tickets. That is not to say I will not get one in the future, nor was I never speeding but I have not got one.

4. That article could not be more wrong when it comes to stealth. Luckily, the 00-04 Avalon, not sure about the 05 and newer, the roofline starts to decline before the windshield. This leaves a "pocket" up in the roofline/headliner for the visor and detector. You could not see my detector in my car from more than 5 feet away. You could see one mounted on the window in plain view. So...his/her reasoning is very flawed when it comes to stealth. Plus, you would have to have the wire coming down from the middle of the window or dash. Mine is 95% concelled through the cloth of the visor and then down the inner panel of the A pillar.

5. Valetine One Detectors pick up radar in almost 360, especially focusing not only on the front but the back. If you mount the radar low on the windshield and you have the Avalon headrests, the back lens will not protect you. So, yet another reason that article has major flaws.

Obviously, no detector is 100% affective, and instant on Lasar or Ka band, with no one on the road but you, and it is time for a ticket. Other than those situations, this unit has been flawless and cost effective.

See the website for more details.

thanks again for the discussion.

abfisch

tomstuff8 · March 2006

Can you resend the instructions to turn off the seatbelt chime for the Toyota Avalon if you still have them available.

Thanks Tom

mauve · March 2006

I have a 2006 Avalon Limited. The puddle lights do not come on, any suggestions.

bobwiley · March 2006

I'd suspect a blown fuse and if that's not the problem, take it to the deler.

mem4 · March 2006

I think they only come on if the car is locked and you approach with the Smartkey. They aren't very bright and they take 2-3 seconds to come on so it is easy to miss them. I'm already opening the door by the time they start to come on.

tkaz · March 2006

Mine come on when I approach the car with my fob when the car is locked. They will also come on if I hit the unlock button on the fob.

fmayberry · June 2006

Does anyone have experience splicing into the electrical system of a 2005/2006 Avalon for trailer lights? Which power adapter did you use? Did you run a dedicated power line from the battery to power the lights? Where did you splice into the electrical system? Any other point or tips to be aware of? Thanks.

wseattle78 · June 2006

I have a 1999 XLS that recently had a dead battery which was surprising because it was new -- I charged it back up and a few days later went out to my car at 1am, and surprise, the headlights were on for no reason -- it explained the dead battery but does anyone know what is the reason the lights would come on randomly??? The selection on the turn signal is on off, not on auto and no key in the ignition.... any suggestions before I have a mechanic change $75 an hour with a min of 2 hours just to figure out the problem. Thanks in advance.

user777 · June 2006

an alternator which is possibly failing.

badgerfan · June 2006

Huh? How could a failing alternator cause headlights to go on when the car is parked and not running? Did you really read the post?

More likely there is a fault in the electrical wiring, healight switch, ignition switch, etc that would cause this to happen.

user777 · June 2006

yes i read the post...and my post.

let's see, when the vehicle is running, power is being supplied by the alternator which maintains a charge on the battery. bad alternator, and eventually bad battery.

now then, many cars are controlled by a miriade of computer systems. a poor voltage regulation section on the alternator may result in blowing headlights.

in addition voltage spikes might find there way over to the various computer systems, and as I'm sure you know, that may result in a computer system getting into a random state or actual damage to components. but yeah, you'd expect this to be an issue with the vehicle running. however, if the damage to the computer was done when the vehicle was running, it might exhibit itself later with the vehicle parked.

but back to the battery, if it discharges below some threshold because of a bad alternator, yeah, i can imagine a program running errant. ever have a computerized kid toy go crazy when the batteries run down past some point?

a marginal alternator isn't out of the question, so i thought the randomness and a failed (new) battery could be caused by a flakey alternator.

ok, maybe it's something else. maybe a bad main computer, or maybe some parasitic load drawing the battery down when the vehicle is not running.

i wonder how many more ideas will be generated by the readers of this forum to the problem...

ok, i'll add another, a key FOB in someone's pants pocket or purse or in the hands of a little one.

never did i claim to know the root cause, but the one i postulated is still a reasonable one given the limited information provided.

yes/no?

yes, your ideas are also possible. nowhere did the poster ask for an exhaustive listing of possibilities.

am i out of the dog house?

badgerfan · June 2006

You are out of the doghouse, but you might be overanalyzing this. Then again, with the increasing complexity designers have managed to complicate simple functions, you could be right

Makes me glad headlights on our vehicles are only controlled by a simple headlight switch and no day/night automatic sensors, etc. The only interlock is it warns me if I open the driver door with them still on.

Sometimes life is simpler when the driver alone controls the operation of the headlights!

wwest · June 2006

Not random.....?

On earlier Lexus versions if you stopped with the headlights on they would turn off automatically if you first turned off the ignition and then opened the drivers door. Open the drivers door first and the headlights would remain on forever....

user777 · June 2006

now that's funny.

kicker9 · June 2006

I have an 03 I'm trying to do the same thing with, I tried splicing in with the tail light bulbs but couldn't get the parking lights or the brakes lights to work properly, probably will have to take it to someone more knowledgeable and pay the fee.

kicker9 · July 2006

Follow up to trailer lights wiring, it turns out I wired my car properly, but, as it turned out, my New utility trailer had faulty wiring causing the lights to work improperly, new trailer, correct lighting.

You will need a wiring harness with a built in convertor, available online for 25 bucks or so and wired as follows:

There are 5 wires coming from the convertor that need to be wired to the car under the bulb access covers in the trunk,

Yellow goes to the green/yellow wire of the LEFT rear turn signal bulb

Green goes to the green/yellow wire of the RIGHT rear turn signal bulb

Brown goes to the solid green wire of the LEFT rear brake/tail light bulb

Red goes to the green/white wire also of the LEFT rear brake/tail light bulb

White goes to a ground, you can use the nut and stud under the LEFT cover

abfisch · July 2006

A couple of things I would like to add to this forum at this time. I have 83K on a 2002 Avalon XL. I have another car now that I use during the summer months, but use the Avalon for trailing, winter, and everyday useage.

1. The blower motor makes a clicking sound and will not go to defrost any more. Sounds like the cheap teeth to the gear that turns the flap door is stripped. Another part I have to have someone replace requiring taking the dash apart. Not looking forward to this. Glad I have a third car.

2. I kinda over did the towing and headed up the bearing in one of the axles, so I would think that the estimates the manufacurer gives is generous, and I would recommend trailing below the limit, not at the limit anymore. I trailed 2000lbs(a ton) back and forth from the nursery, and a front driver this old, just could not really take it. The new ones have half the tow rating, whoever is towing is not towing too much.

3. I replaced the rear control arm bushing(had someone else do it) with quite remarkable results. I used Energy suspensions PU CAB set, and the rear of the car follows the front much more precisely without any transmission of more vibration. I run standard size 205/65-15 tires on the car. When things start getting worn, I would recommend these bushing over the OEM parts or the entire arms which sometimes they try to sell you.

abfisch

jenshi · August 2006

I bought my current car by this Jan. This is my first car. When it did the inspection, the car changed the new battary. but 2 months later, the car can't be started, the car was towed to repair center(it is also a gas station), i was told the the battary was not good and the charging system(i don't know car, so i don't know how to call it) who pass the electricity to battary didn't work for the battary, need to replace both of them, the cost was around $400. Because i don't the car, i don't know whether the car repair center ripped me off. this was my first car repair experience.
This time my car has problem again, three lights (check, vsc and vsc off)on when i am driving the car. this time i did the search from internet before i went to the car repair center. First i went to the toyota dealer service, i just want to know what's wrong with my car, but i was told the diagnosis will charge me $220, it is too expensive. i went back home then went to another car repair center, they charged me $35 for the trouble code. the trouble code is p0171. The DTC detecting condition said: when air-fuel ratio feedback is stable after engine warming up. fuel trim is considerably in error on rich side. The guy told me: the trouble areas are 1)open or short in A/F sensor(bank1,2 sensor1) circuit 2/A/F sensor(bank1,2 sensor 1). so i need to buy two sensors, the sensor price from toyota dealer is $207 each, he said if i repair the car all from him, the total charge is $405(the parts also from toyota dealer,he said he will give me $187 each). sign, i am really bad luck, the car always give me trouble, like a momey eater.
Now my questions are:
1)does three lights on, and trouble code is p0171, show the problem what the guy told me, and i need to replace two sensors? or maybe any other problems? like air indcution system problem, if so ,is it a serious problem?
2)if i don't repair it , will they hurt my car, and lead the big trouble later on?
3)should i go to toyota dealer's service or the place i mentioned above. i know from dealer the repair cost is more expensive than other personal repair center. but i think the toyota dealer is more trustable, they won't do bad thing on my car?is my thought true?
Thanks everybody here can help me, i am a female and i don't know about the car,i am the only driver in my family. so i really need your help me to tell me what i should do. thanks again.

jennifer

bobwiley · August 2006

jennifer: First, how many miles on the car? How much did you pay for it? You'll have to fix the problem sooner or later (sooner better), get the problem fixed!!! 2000 Avalon's did have electrical problems according to Consumer Reports. Talked to my mechanic and he said---price is VERY fair. If no other codes--should be OK to go. You have to decide when "enough is enough" regarding repairs. Overall, 2000 Avalon's were VERY good cars. Good luck and let us know the outcome.
Bob

jenshi · August 2006

thanks Bob, when i bought this car, the mileages already 97990miles, it costs me around 10K(including tax,i am in ny). my neighbour tole me it is a deal. i am just doubt whether it is a deal or not, since it gives me so many troubles. the car still hasn't been repaired, since i am searching the possible problem, sign, it is very hard for a female who doesn't know anything about the car. i searched the same problem as mine car, said possible need to clean the MAF sensor. i am trying to do myself to take it off and clean it, but i don't know where it is located, the guy who printed the trouble code for me didn't like to show me, i know he wants me to repair the car from him. But i am just worried about he knows me i don't know anything about the car, he may rip me off. i really hate my first car repair experience, because my neighbour told me the guy must rip me off. i feel so helpless, because no one really can help me except i go to the dealer who i may trust.

bobwiley · August 2006

jenshi: Do you have a Firestone/Goodyear/Pep Boys near you? they are all very reputible repair places and their prices are well within the acceptible range as they use standard "Shop Hourly Rate Charge" in computing repair costs. As I said before, our mechanic said the price you were quoted is VERY fair. The yearly mileage on your 2000 figures to be about 14.000 (98,000 miles divided by 7 years old), and 98,000 miles on an Avy is nothing. Our friends just sold their 95 Avalon with 170,000 miles on it for $3,900 and it runs like new. I know how frustrating it can be when ya feel like nobody cares or their just trying to rip ya off. I'd recommend fixing the car---afterall, it is mechanical and electrical and things do go wrong. Good luck!
Bob

jenshi · August 2006

thanks again, Bob, ur input is very important to me. i do find the Firestone/pep boys around my home. my question is: do they charge the same hour rate as Toyota dealer? Because toyota dealer is near my home,just 5 blocks, if the price is same, i would go to dealer service, but if they are cheaper than dealer, i still like to drive there to get the car repaired. i want to find a place that it has good reputation and the price also reasonable and afforable. the guy told me to repair my car, the parts must be bought from toyota dealer, otherwise will still give trouble.

bobwiley · August 2006

jenshi: It is true--most parts for a Toyota must be bought from the dealer. However, my mechanic gets the oil filter for my 06 Avy Ltd for $6----not sure from where--Don't ask--Don't Tell!! Call Pep Boys/Firestone--you know what needs to be done--they can at least give you a quote. I'd probably go to the dealer--only 5 blocks away--also,, ya know he's close if it ain't fixed right!! I've been very fortunate to locate an HONEST mechanic--fair pricing and if i need "emergncy" work--because he services my Avy and wife's Jeep, we get priorty attention. Good luck and let us know the results!
Bob

jenshi · August 2006

i went to the another store to diagonose my car. the guy just help me to shut off the three lights. he said, the lights may or may not comes back,if come back, he will repair it. he think it is the TPS -truck control sensor is bad. and i asked him to write down the trouble code for me, a lot of trouble codes: p0172, p0120,p0121,p0715 and p1128. obviously, i went to two stores and got the different results. the first one only said the trouble code was p0171, nothing else. i don't know who i should trust. the second one also suggested me do a lot of turn-up:
1, spurk plugs 2, wires, 3,air filter,4 gas filter,5 pcv valve 6,clean the trotle. i just let him replace the air filter, others i am not sure whether should do or not. i know most of techinicians let ur replace here and replace there.
here i need ur help:
1.what all these trouble code mean,p0172, p0120,p0121,p0715 and p1128?
2. how much is the TPS -truck control?
3. should i just follow them to do what they suggest me?

sign, my car didn't get repaired, but i already spend $80 for the two diagonosis.
your inputs is very important to me, thanks.

user777 · August 2006

the TPS is the throttle position sensor. it tells the engine control unit (ECU) how much air (and thus fuel) is being commanded for the engine because the TPS measures the position of the throttle valve.

cars are supposed to run to a specific Fuel/Air ratio. the throttle is the valve that lets the engine suck more or less air comming from the air intake and filter.

your car's engine is essentially an air pump. it does it's work based on the compression and expansion of that air (in unison with fuel and spark) to mechanically move the pistons and apply torque to the drive train connected to the engine.

When the throttle valve commands more air, the vehicle needs to add more fuel via the injectors to keep the F/A ratio within certain limits, but also to add power.

for the trouble codes, why don't you google each one of them? you can do it.

bobwiley · August 2006

jenshi: Stop wasting your time and go to a Toyota dealer--must be one or two in your area. They (should) know the car and early Avalon's were fairly bulletproof cars. Good luck!
Bob

markas · September 2006

I am actually having this problem right now with my 2002 XLS. It just started yesterday and is irritating me. A lot.

All of the electrical systems work fine. I can turn on the headlights and play the radio etc., but when I turn on the ignition, everything dies. If I open the hood, then shut it again, the lights come back on. Sometimes, the car will start and be fine. Sometimes the dashboard doesn't work at all but the climate control and radio will work. It seems that there is some issue with the engine immobilizer. Could this be an issue with a fuse or is the compter going wonky?

steve326a · September 2006

It sounds very much like you have corroded terminals in either your battery or the cables and clamps connecting them. Check them out thoroughly, I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that this is the case. Once you find the corroded terminal(s), your problem should be solved.

Steve

markas · September 2006

I checked the termninals and the cables and there isn't any corrosion. I started the car last afternoon about 15 times in a row and it started fine and all of the systems were working. However the dashboard data was all reset (January 1st, compass pointing the wrong direction, etc...).

I guess it's time to take it in. Thanks for your help.

netwon · September 2006

Hello wseattle78,

My mother had this same problem with her 99 Avalon XLS. In Canada they came with automatic headlights. It says in her owners manual to turn the headlights to the off position, as to extend battery life, as the sensor can drain power when the car is off. On a side note in her case it turned to be that the keyfob is open the trunk after a very light press. (future Avalons require you to hold the trunk open option for several seconds) The light in the trunk is a simple loop from battery to trunk switch to trunk lamp to ground, with no light in the dash to indicate its opening. The lamps draws alot of power and caused her to run down 3 batterys before I trouble shot the problem. (we live 2000km apart) Installed an LED trunk light that drew less power and her problems were solved($12.00). Also if you find that that helps I can provide info to install an inline LED to the trunk lamp circuit so it lights up in the dash cluster to indicate the trunk is open.

Sorry for the winded reply,

Netwon

jenshi · October 2006

the three light was turned down two month ago, now three light is on again. so i have to repair it at no choice. today i went to the dealer first, i just want to know the retailer price. the guy told me the TPS is THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR $75, and not the technician said truck control sensor, but the technician told me TPS will cost around $400. so i want to know does anybody here know about truck control sensor, or the technician gave me the wrong name? and does someone here know how much the TPS, I just want to make sure the guy gave me the right price for my 2000 avalon. thanks a lot.

jenshi · October 2006

three lights are checking engine light, vsc, and vsc off .

rstuck · November 2006

Traction control off light comes on when car is running.
ABS is off.Trac on /off switch is O.K. What might make this light stay on?

abfisch · November 2006

Forum:

My washer pump is not working. 86K on 02 car. Wipers work so it is not the fuse (25A). Pump located underneath car. Can someone go through how to do it yourself if they have before. If not, I will do it myself on Saturday. No way to access pump from engine bay. Toyota wanted $60, Advance Auto $33, and NAPA $26.

abfisch

jayminer · November 2006

did you figure out why the light comes on? my avalon is doing the same thing.

steve326a · November 2006

Usually happens when an error code is stored. Anytime the engine has a problem, the ECM detects it and shuts off the trac control. Don't know why Toyota did that. Check for an error code 1st. Also, does it come on after you start the engine like within 3 seconds or so, or does it come on while driving?

Steve :shades:

jayminer · November 2006

It comes on when the car is started and yes my check engine light just came on then the trac off light came on right after and has been on ever since. I will have to check for code errors I believe it might be an oxygen sensor.

Jay

2ktoy · January 2007

Recently purchased a 2000 Toyota Avalon XL 80K miles on this baby, when I start the car at night to go work I notice the lights tends to slightly flicker, head lights, inside lights and dash board lights not very noticeable, but just enought to get your attention. Engine clean, batterys cables clean, I was wondering if it's the Alternator going or this comes with age and miles? thanks.

2ktoy · January 2007

Tring to find out how much it is going to cost to replace or repair an ALTERNATOR on a 2000 Toyota Avalon?.

Thxs.

tjc78 · January 2007

Do the lights flicker just one time and never again? Shortly after you first start the car the ABS unit does a self test, I did notice on my '03 XL that when I started it at night with the dash lights on I would get a little flicker when I heard the self test, much like the lights in your house dimming when the Air conditioner or Fridge cycles on.

rpfingsten · January 2007

ok boys help me out here... when I bought my 07 avy the only thing I hated about it was the fact that the seat belt chime would ring 59 times before shutting off. then someone on this board sent me instructions on how to bypass the chimes and it worked perfectly.. but almost immediately after doing that I noticed a light on the dash that I never noticed before. over to the right on the dash, when i first start my engine, there is a light that says "passenger", just below that are two icons that look like seats.. as you're looking at the dash, the icon on the left says "off", the icon on the right says "on". does that mean when I bypassed the seat belt chime that I also turned off my drivers side air bag? and if so, can I turn it back on by repeating the process I used to bypass the seatbelt chime...heck, I'll start wearing the damn seatbelt if I have to, but i sure dont want to travel without that airbag on. any help you can offer will certainly be appreciated... thanks.

Roland

tjc78 · January 2007

It may have been me that gave you the instructions. But the light you are seeing has to do with the newer generation airbags. If there is not enough weight in the seat (i.e. small child) the light will read "airbag off" When an adult sits in the seat it will change to "airbag on." Try this, when sitting in the driver's seat press hard on the passenger side seat bottom, the light will switch to "airbag on" This is the way it works on my '06 and my seat belt chime has been disabled since the second day I owned the car.

2ktoy · January 2007

It continues to flicker, however as the car warms up and is driven it becomes a little less noticable, last night I disconected the positive cable from the battery while the car was running it didn't shut off, but the dash board lights started to flash.">

rpfingsten · January 2007

Tjc78...

First of all, thank you very much for those instructions. I appreciate it enormously.. my only question to you is "does disabling the seat belt chime also disable the drivers side or any other air bag in the car? Thanks again.

Roland

tjc78 · January 2007

I can not imagine that disabling the seat belt chime would shut off the airbags. That would be totally insane. I seem to remember reading on another forum, that someone had a dealer perform the procedure (after a lot of arguing) so that alone leads me to believe that the airbags are not affected.

Also, when someone sits in my passenger seat the light on the dash says "airbag on." You are welcome for the instructions, but I can't take credit I copied it from another posting.

Toyota Avalon Electrical Problems

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