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Toyota Camry 2007-2011: How to Replace Headlight Switch

The headlight and turn signal switches can sometimes be dislodged, or the electrical contacts can be corroded. Keep reading to learn how to fix them.

By Jared Hammond - August 28, 2015

This article applies to the Toyota Camry (2007-2011).

There are a couple of issues that can happen with your headlight switch. Sometimes, it can get dislodged inside the steering wheel column and will be too loose to adjust the headlights. There are also cases where the electrical contacts inside will become corroded and need to be cleaned. Whether you're planning to clean those contacts or replace the switch entirely, you're going to need to get access to it. The instructions below will detail this process.

Materials Needed

  • Replacement headlight switch
  • Electrical contact cleaning spray
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Torx screwdriver
  • Pry tool or flathead screwdriver

Step 1 – Disconnect the car battery and air bag connectors

Start by disconnecting the negative terminal on your battery. Then pull back the driver's seat and tilt up the steering wheel as much as possible. Pry off the two silver panels on either side of the center air bag panel on the steering wheel. There should be two Torx screws on the inside of both panels. By removing these, the air bag assembly should come loose. Carefully pull it out and disconnect the two electrical connectors on the back.

  • Figure 1. Location of two Torx screws.
  • Figure 2. Numbers 1 and 2 point to the two electrical connectors.

Step 2 – Disconnect the steering wheel assembly

Once the air bag is safely out of the way, you should see that it's held to the steering column by a 19 mm nut. Loosen the nut, but do not remove it entirely. When you pull the steering wheel off the steering column, it's going to pop off violently. Without the nut to stop it you could get injured. Now grab the steering wheel with your hands at both ends and start to wriggle the steering wheel assembly. It will take some effort, but eventually it should pop loose. Go ahead and remove the nut and the steering wheel assembly from the steering column.

Step 3 – Remove the steering column panel

There will be two Phillips screws holding down the two halves of the steering column panel. Remove these screws then pull up the tabs on either half of the paneling. Pull off the clip at the top of the steering column, then pry off the two halves of the panel.

Step 4 – Replace the headlight switch

Simply remove the screws and undo the clip holding the headlight switch then unplug the electrical connector. The switch should just slide out from the steering column. If you want to clean the contacts on the switch, there is a clear plastic cover on the back that can be unclipped to access the electrical contacts.

Figure 3. New headlight switch.

To install the headlight switch, do the reverse of the previous steps:

  • Install headlight switch to steering column. Plug in electrical connector, tighten down screws, and reinsert locking clip.
  • Reattach steering column panels by reattaching the top clip, pulling down the tabs, and tightening down the two screws.
  • Reattach steering wheel assembly and tighten down center nut.
  • Reconnect the air bag to the electrical connectors and tighten down the two screws on either side.
  • Reattach the side panels on the steering wheel assembly.

Start the car and test to make sure that your headlight switch is working properly. If this does not fix your problem, then you should take it to a dealership to have it diagnosed.

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