1996 Toyota Corolla Electrical Problems

After you removed the key from the ignition and parked your car in the garage, the engine kept running instead of shutting off. You noticed smoke coming from under the hood, so you called the fire department. They arrived and put out the fire, determining that faulty wiring in the engine bay caused the fire. This will likely require a complete inspection and replacement of the damaged wiring harness and any burned components.

Your car won't start when it's cold and damp outside, even when parked on level ground. The problem started around 110,500 miles and hasn't been diagnosed or fixed yet. A mechanic would need to test your battery, starter, and ignition system to pinpoint the cause.

Your tail lights flicker on and off intermittently, and when they're off, your cruise control stops working too. When you turn on the headlights, the cruise control cuts out even if the tail lights are on. The dealer has replaced the bulb multiple times, but the real issue appears to be a loose electrical connection—when you remove and reinsert the bulb, the lights work again, suggesting an intermittent short rather than a failed bulb. The fix will likely involve inspecting and repairing the electrical connections in the tail light circuit and cruise control wiring.

INTERMITTENTLY THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WILL BLOW OUT. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SOCKET AND THE CONDITION IS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR LIGHTS SOCKETS, THE INSIDE CONNECTOR IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND WHEN THEY GET HOT AND OLD IT MELTS, LOOSING THE CONNECTIONS WITH THE BOTTON OF THE LIGHT BULB, I HAVE TO PURCHASE FROM TOYOTA A NEW WIRING SET, BUT THE NEW ONES ARE MADE OF THE SAME PLASTIC, SO THEY WILL FAIL AGAIN, I HAVE SEEM PLENTY OF TOYOTAS COROLLAS WITH REAR LIGHTS MALFUNCTION IN THE ROAD. THANKS. *AK

AFTER TRYING TO START VEHICLE ENGINE WAS MAKING SOME NOISES, AND CONSUMER DECIDED TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. WHEN DOING SO, VEHICLE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ON. AFTERWARD, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

BRAKE LIGHT AND TAILIGHT GO OUT WHEN VEHICLE HITS A BUMP. CONSUMER HAS AN APPOINTMENT AT DEALER FOR REPAIRS.*AK

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT 10/23/00, IN WHICH I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. I WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH. MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO GO OFF. LUKILY, I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE IS OVER $6,000, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. ALSO, IN FEB. OF THIS YEAR, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED ME MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE CAUSED MY ALTERNATOR TO BLOW, AND THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER, AND NOT ONLY COULD THEY NOT FIND THE CAUSE, BUT THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. AFTER TOWING FEES, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ALL NEW FUSES, TAIL LIGHT AND WIRE HARNESS I SPENT $500.*AK

I SUSPECT THE ELECTRIC DESIGN HAS PROBLEMS, WHICH CAUSE THE STOP LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING. THE BULBS ARE USUALLY OK IF YOU TEST THEM. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OCCURANCES ON 1994 THROUGH 1996 MODELS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS.

DASHBOARD FIRE.

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SPARKS ON FLOORBOARD, PULLED TO SIDE, ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT UP IN FLAMES, NO WARNING, SPEED 10 MPH, VEHICLE TOTALED; MANUFACTURER CLAIMED VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTENING. *AK