1995 Toyota Corolla Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I NOTED A POPPING SOUND WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER. ( SOUNDED LIKE THE POP SOUND WHEN THE LIGHTER IS READY FOR USE) HOWEVER I DID NOT PUSH IN THE LIGHTER TO USE IT, I JUST IGNORED THE SOUND, BUT DID HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME BEFORE ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION, PARKING AND LEAVING MY VEHICLE. THANK GOD I HAD FORGOT MY MILITARY ID AND HAD TO RETURN TO MY VEHICLE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY VEHICLE THERE WERE FLAMES SHOOTING UP FROM INSIDE MY VEHICLE. I QUICKLY RAN BACK TO MY OFFICE AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SEVERAL OTHER CO WORKERS, WE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE USING FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. AFTER CLOSER EXAMINATION OF THE FIRES LOCATION, I CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE SAME AREA OF THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER, BEHIND THE CONSOLE.

THE TAIL LIGHTS (STOP LIGHTS) ON MY 1995 TOYOTA COROLLA FAIL CONSTANTLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN I REPLACE THE BULB(S), THE PROBLEM IS BACK WITHIN WEEKS. SOMETIMES THEY START WORKING AGAIN BY THEMSELVES. I HAVE GIVEN UP TRYING TO KEEP ALL FOUR LIGHT BULBS FUNCTIONING. SOMETIMES WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FLICKER. MANY OTHER COROLLAS OF THE SAME YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MOST OF THE 95 COROLLAS I SEE ON THE ROAD HAVE AT LEAST ONE NON-FUNCTIONING BULB. WHEN I SEE A 95 COROLLA ON THE ROAD, I WATCH IT AND WAIT FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO COME ON - ALMOST ALWAYS AT LEAST ONE BULB IS NON-FUNCTIONING. I HAVE TWO ENGINEERING DEGREES AND I CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THE TOYOTA DEALER TO CHECK FOR RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM DURING MY LAST SERVICE, AND THEY IGNORED MY QUESTION. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THE HEAT FROM THE BULB CAUSES A HIGH RESISTANCE BETWEEN THE BULB AND THE SOCKET. THAT IS WHY I CAN TAKE THE BULB OUT, AND PUT THE SAME BULB BACK IN AND IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. ONCE A CAR PULLED ALONG SIDE OF ME AND TOLD ME THAT ALL FOUR BULBS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING, AND THAT ONLY THE REAR WINDOW LIGHT WAS OPERATING. I AM CONCERNED THAT SOMEDAY EITHER MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE IN A 95 COROLLA MAY GET INTO A REAR-END COLLISION.

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH HEADLIGHTS ON THEY COULD BLINK, AND SOMETIMES WILL GO OFF. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT TELL WHAT WAS CAUSING IT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CAR WAS PARKED AND IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, BUT ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY CONTINUED CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO CATCH FIRE.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN DASH. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE STARTER DID NOT DISENGAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION . *AK

THE RIGHT INSIDE BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS SHORTING OUT. THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER FOUR (4) TIMES AND HAVE REQUESTED A CHECK TO FINDOUT WHY IT WAS HAPPENING. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A SOURCE FOR THE SHORT. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS MY SELF TWICE AND HAD THEM SHORT OUT SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLATION.*AK

SOMETIMES INTERIOR LIGHT/SEAT BELT LIGHT, AND OTHER LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WILL COME ON WITHOUT ANY WARNING. ALSO, BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE.*AK

STARTER FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE AND SMOKE TO BELLOW FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NLM

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE NOTICED A LOUD NOISE, BATTERY EXPLODED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

IGNITION SWITCH LOCK CYLINDER FAILED, VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF WITH KEY. MJS

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE BATTERY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, RECALL #95V195000, VEHICLE NOT LISTED UNDER THE RECALL. *AK

WHILE PARKED AFTER A SHORT TIME, COMPARTMENT BECAME SMOKEY AND VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE. JIMMY BRYANT TOYOTA-FL STATES ELECTRICAL FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

PARKED IN UNOCCUPIED LOCATION VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. RESULTING IN UNDERHOOD FIRE. TT