My 08 recently showed problems with my HID bulbs. I've read about this many times in this forum and now it is happening to my own Prius. Problem: right side or left side would go out...but everytime I turn Off then to On my headlight switch, both lights will go back on. I called my shop dealer about the problem and stated to me that they will replace my HID headlights since I qualify within their 5 year under 50K warranty. Is this what dealers normally do for HID problems or is their any other unit they should replace?
In the vast majority of cases the bulbs are the only thing that need to be replaced. What you describe is exactly the symptom of failing bulbs. New bulbs are all that you need. Be on guard about your dealer pushing other repairs while you are there.
now that i've replaced both HID bulbs myself, i urge others to purchase bulbs on e-bay for $50/pair and install on their own. use either 4300K (Stock) or 5000K (a bit whiter w/out the annoying blue haze). it's a simple/effortless process if you follow the directions/suggestions listed on the PRIUSCHAT website. i now can change out a pair of bulbs in under 30 minutes. any recall event by Toyota is a means for the dealer to get you into their shop, then "tack-on" additional service work and keep your car for the entire day. it's expensive and inconvenient. do not let those "TROLLS" take your money. WINNING!
Thanks guys for your input. All I plan to have them do is to replace both headlights and nothing else. I am a pretty heavy DIY and love to tinker with my cars....so I know what kind of curve ball they are about to throw at me. To my understanding, this replacement will be done under warranty. I will need to reschedule at an earlier time, because it got dark in front of going to work in the morning.
So today I took the car to have both bulbs replaced. TheToyota warranty is 5 years or 50000 miles...car is below that. It took them almost an hour - no charge on the work. Now, my headlights don't go out any more (for how long?@-_-).
I bought my 08 Prius with HID's on 2/5 and the car came with a complete coverage warranty for so many days from the dealer. On the Drive home the Drivers HID was intermittent. I had it replaced. now 35 days later the Passenger was out. Turning the lights on and off would get it to turn on for a few seconds and then it went out again. I called the dealer and was informed i was out of warranty, and it was not covered under the standard warranty. I doubled Checked the facts about the class action here, and had to call back the dealer and told them it should be covered under the 5yrs/50000 extension. I had to wait on hold for quite a while while they checked it out, but the did finally come back and say yes it is covered.
My car's HID lights are doing the same thing as the OP's. After being on for a small amount of time, the drivers side goes out...cycle the OFF/ON switch, both come back on. My question is, do I just change the drivers side bulb? Or is it better to change both at once?
I suggest you replace the failing bulb first. If you find that the new bulb produces light of similar color and brightness as the passenger side bulb, why replace the other bulb if it is still working well?
Thanks for the quick response. Fixing to search Amazon for the best deal I can find. *EDIT for more info* After I posted this question I kept searching other threads to read up. And it seems there's a big debate on whether to change just one, or both at once. Reference thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/91969-do-new-hids-have-different-color-temp.html
No problem! A few other reasons most people suggest changing both is that you can bet the other side is going to fail soon too. They are used at the same time and go through the same abuse and life. Finally, since your hands will already be dirty, why not just finish it and not have to worry about it for another 5 years?
Maybe I could tap your brains a little more. Are you familiar with these?http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B002GZ7208?tag=priuschatcom-20 Seems too good to be true at that price. A pair (2) for $51 bucks.
Hold on there, friend. Be aware of the color temperatures. 10,000k is extremely purple which I highly doubt is what you want. 4300k is the stock color temperature (white with a hint of yellow). I personally prefer 5000k which is as white as you can get w/o blue. 6000k is blue, and anything higher you enter purple land. You have a few more options in these. I don't know how good they are but this is closer to the specs I'd be looking at; http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B00480J4KA?tag=priuschatcom-20
The driver's side is the easiest to replace. But go ahead and get two bulbs now. It will only be a few weeks/months before you lose the passenger side. Absolutely, you should have both replaced at once if you are taking it to a dealer/mechanic, so that the labor can be combined.
Thanks a lot MACMASTER05! Took your advice and ordered the "MAXLUX HID Xenon Bulb D2R 5000K (1 Pair, Pure Star White)" for $37 bucks. I thought by first glance it was only one bulb, but the ad says "pair". So this is a better deal. Just thought I would let you know that your effort did help me out. Thanks again.
I just dropped off my 2008 Prius for scheduled 45k mile service and was told that the HID replacement is NOT covered under warranty... and that the class action lawsuit is "still going on". What do I need to do to help my Toyota dealer replace these under warranty? I hate to think I need to ask with a code word or find the right guy when the wind was blowing just the right way.... and he had his coffee. If anyone knows of a dealer in the SF Bay Area that is doing this, that would help too.
I think that's a lie. The lawsuit is over. You're under 50k miles, your HID headlight bulb is out. You qualify for the replacement under the class action lawsuit. What am I missing? Go back there and make a stink. :rockon:
When you said "still going on" I thought you meant they were "still honoring the outcome" not "the litigation is still in process." Shows you how egregiously dishonest or cluelesss they are, such that I couldn't even comprehend it.
