Driver low beam not working

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by redprius10, Dec 16, 2024.

  1. redprius10

    redprius10 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2024
    16
    4
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Hi folks....need some help. Driver low beam not working. It's not the bulb. Bought a new bulb (Syvania 9005). No go. Swapped with working passenger side bulb. No go. All other lights on both sides work, including high beams on problem side.

    I tried to test voltage at the connector, but getting very low reading so I'm probably not testing it correctly. I did measure resistance and got a reading of 1.4 ohms which I believe is normal.

    I didn't check anything in the fuse box since everything else tied to that 40A fuse is working.

    Not sure what to do next. Replace the headlight connector?

    Any guidance would be much appreciated. Thanks.
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    10,685
    1,849
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    H4 connector suspect . You measure voltage w ground on chassis and probe the three contacts in plug with lo beam on note hot term . Now hi beam on probe again note hot added .. low voltage switch maybe
     
  3. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2021
    1,283
    482
    0
    Location:
    South Central PA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Let me point out to you that the 9005 bulb is for the high beams. You need an H11 bulb for the low beams.

    I know that this will not help you fix your problem, but I wanted to make the correction.
     
    Merkey likes this.
  4. redprius10

    redprius10 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2024
    16
    4
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    My plug is a two wire plug....Violet and Black/White
     
  5. Merkey

    Merkey Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2012
    276
    251
    0
    Location:
    Birmingham, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I was going to say the same. H11, not 9005.
     
  6. redprius10

    redprius10 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2024
    16
    4
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I only have a single bulb for high/low beams. It is a dual filament bulb.
     
  7. Merkey

    Merkey Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2012
    276
    251
    0
    Location:
    Birmingham, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Must be unique to the four. My 2010 is a II with separate low and high bulbs.
     
    redprius10 likes this.
  8. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2021
    1,283
    482
    0
    Location:
    South Central PA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    The 9005 is a single filament bulb.

    Can you please upload a picture of your headlights and the bulb?
     
    redprius10 and BiomedO1 like this.
  9. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    2,057
    1,047
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    If you place a known good bulb into the socket and it still doesn't work, It has to be the connector or wiring. NOT the fuse or switch, since that's common to both left and right side. It could be a relay, depending on how it's wired - but most OEM's use a low beam relay and a high beam relay to make things easier to troubleshoot. Your fuse cover usually has a map of fuse locations that'll give you a clue of how it's laid out, but you'll first need to figure out what bulb you need first and get the correct one!! You stated a 9005, clearly a single filament bulb. Attached is the two most likely candidates for an automotive duel filament bulb. They are obviously NOT interchangeable, unless you rewire your connector.

    Hope this helps....

    9007 vs. 9004: What's the Difference Anyway?
     
    #9 BiomedO1, Dec 17, 2024
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2024
    Merkey and redprius10 like this.
  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    25,077
    16,345
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Low beams in your 2010 are fed directly by the "integration relay", the long white box down the side of the fuse box, which also feeds a number of other things.
     
    Merkey, redprius10 and Brian1954 like this.
  11. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,941
    3,151
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    You say you bought a new Sylvania 9005 bulb, that's a single filament bulb for the highbeam on a 2010 Toyota Prius.

    As noted, the low beam bulb is an H11 bulb.

    SM-G781V ?
     
    redprius10 likes this.
  12. redprius10

    redprius10 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2024
    16
    4
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Ok guys...maybe I'm an idiot. The circled light is the one that does not work when I turn the headlight switch on. It does work when I turn on the brights. The same 9005 bulb (see photo) was installed on both sides and the new one I bought is exactly the same bulb. I could have sworn, but now I'm doubting myself, that on the working passenger side, the circled light came on with light switch in regular position and went to bright when switched to bright.

    IMG_2333.jpeg IMG_2331 2.jpeg
     
  13. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2021
    1,283
    482
    0
    Location:
    South Central PA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    The circled light is the high beam. The light next to the circled light is the low beam (looks like a fish eye).
     
    #13 Brian1954, Dec 17, 2024
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2024
    Merkey, redprius10 and BiomedO1 like this.
  14. redprius10

    redprius10 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2024
    16
    4
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Ok...I will confirm this evening when my daughter gets home with the car, but I think maybe I have a different issue than I thought. I think the passenger high beam turns on in the low beam switch position. I'll report back. Thanks for all the replies.
     
  15. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    2,057
    1,047
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    Outer lamps ON in headlamp on position (low beams) green lamp indicator. Inner lamp on with signal stalk pushed forward, blue high beam indicator ON. You should probably re-read your operations manual.
     
    Brian1954 likes this.
  16. redprius10

    redprius10 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2024
    16
    4
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I understand how the lights work. I believe the passenger high beam is coming on when the switch is in the low beam position, but need to confirm when my daughter gets home with the car.
     
  17. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,702
    5,190
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    You are probably seeing a parking or running light

    IMG_6946.jpeg
     
    Brian1954 likes this.
  18. redprius10

    redprius10 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2024
    16
    4
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Hmmm....daytime running light. Now that makes more sense. I assume that's a separate bulb?

    Edit: Did some reading....I don't think my car 2010 Prius IV has daytime running lights. Am I wrong?
     
    #18 redprius10, Dec 17, 2024
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2024
  19. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    2,057
    1,047
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    My 2012 Prius C had, off, DLR, parking, ON - depending on trim level, there may be an auto position.
    Canadian car DLR's were a requirement, I don't think they had the DLR option on their stalk.
     
    redprius10 likes this.
  20. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    2,057
    1,047
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    Sorry, It doesn't seem like you know how the lights work, their position, operations, nor bulb configuration. :censored: