I took my 2007 Prius to the dealer today to fix two issues: 1. My passenger side headlight will intermittenly turn itself off. It will come back on after you "cycle" the headlights. 2. My front-passenger and right-rear doors will not unlock via the fob OR the switches in the door inside the car. Since my Prius is at 42,000 miles, the dealer estimated that a new headlight (if that was the problem) and two door actuators - plus labor - would be around $1200!!! Needless to say, I balked. Are these typical prices? Can it be done for cheaper? I'm not the most mechanically inclined, but I imagine I can swap out a headlight - how hard is it to switch out an actuator? HELP!
There's a very long thread in this subforum on HID headlight problems. Some folks have been able to get Toyota to pay for the replacment lights even though they're past the warranty period. Others have replaced the lights themselves.
Call Toyota Corporate at (800) 331-4331 and explain the headlight problem. Most likely they will agree to pay for the repairs. There are numerous reports of problems with HIDs in the 06 and 07 models. I also recommend filing a safety complaint with NHTSA (Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), File A Safety Complaint). Hopefully, if enough owners file a complaint, Toyota will issue a recall.
My mechanic wants a $1000 to replace the front door lock actuators (on my 2007 Prius). Does this make sense? Looking up the parts: Door Actuator - Auto Parts Warehouse it doesnt' look like they cost much. I'm assuming there's other parts that I'm not thinking about, and of course labor. I'm reasonably mechanically inclined. Is this something I could replace myself??? What kind of tools would I need. Thanks guys,
No special tools that I know of. You have the usual clips that can break when you pull the door panels, but I don't know of any special problems. Tom
Thanks. What am I missing here? If the actuators only cost ~$20/piece, there's gotta be other parts right? If I can open the door panel and replace it myself, what on earth are they charging me a grand for?
The weird parts are the plastic clips, as mentioned, and the fact that a lot of the door innards are behind a translucent plastic membrane that is sort of "gooped" to the inner panel of the door and needs to be peeled back to access anything. I've been into there in my driver's door once, but I don't remember where the lock solenoid is or if the actual glass has to be taken out or not to allow access to it. So it *might* be a big labor thing for them, not sure. . _H*
An un-necessarily high tech, expensive light bulb, placed in a location such that even a mechanically-inclined person can't access. Hence, you take it into the dealer, to pay $150 for the part + $200 labor. Include tax, and some $400 later you have a new headlight. Where is the justice in that, I ask? I hate cars, and I hate the automotive industry for the stranglehold it places on the average working man/woman. When GM was in peril, I said let it burn, no use in saving that building. Here I thought the Prius was a reasonable answer to my distaste for cars (an efficient, well-maintained machine). I was dead wrong. All of this leads me to conclude that the best car is NO CAR (no need for one, that is).
As far as the headlights go, watch this video on Youtube, hit up eBay for 2 bulbs, do it yourself!!! As far as the actuators go, you can access the door, just be careful with the plastic, and goopy stuff. I would download Door PDF from Toyota Information Service and see if it is some thing you want to tackle youself.
Interesting, thanks. But I cant really tell what she's doing. If I look under the hood, I should be able to find the panel and get thru it, right??? (I did so on my last car, an Audi A4, plenty of times . . . just never replaced the bulbs on a Prius).
You need to remove the fuse box cover on the drivers side, and couple of things on the passenger side. At least one thread on PC explains exactly how to do it. Some people prefer to remove the plastic bumper cover. If you do that, you can get to the entire assembly. Tom
Here's another uTube presentation on how to do it the official way. It's agonizing to watch after seeing Carolyn do it in so little time. But you can see what she had to be doing with that hand inside the bumper.
What did you end up doing with your door actuators? Both front door actuators are going out in my 2001 Prius. OEM part cost is #131. apiece, but I found this Gold Key Universal part... which would require some modification at the Auto Parts Warehouse link posted above. Is it worth it to get the universal part, or will the labor costs eat up the potential savings? Thanks, MeriJeen 2001 Prius owner since 4/15/2005. 130,000 miles (also currently a high pitched noise in the Hub when pushing hard uphill and a 3009 Master code (leaky voltage?). )
the web sites auto check says that tihs item is not compatible with a 2006 prius but you say you put this in a 2007, i'm confused did they change something in the 2007?
