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hi forum - headlight help! shuts off automatically...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by tudes, May 31, 2010.

  1. tudes

    tudes LA commuter

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    Hi Forum... this is a specific issue, and I wasn't able to find an answer with the search feature, so my apologies if it has been covered...

    My headlights (mainly right, but sometimes left) would sometimes turn off by itself... if it turns off, I would then manually switch off the headlight and switch it back on (right away), and both headlights would come back on... I'm not sure what is causing this, and had thought it was a defective bulb. I went and bought new bulbs, but it doesn't seem like it's the bulbs that are causing it.

    Does anyone have any ideas?
     
    #1 tudes, May 31, 2010
  2. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Sounds like you have the HID headlamps. They are arc lamps, and there have been problems with the ballasts as well as the bulbs. You -may- be able to get help under warranty from a dealer, to replace the ballasts, but it's probably the bulbs. Where did you get the replacement bulbs?
     
    #2 David Beale, May 31, 2010
  3. patrickindallas

    patrickindallas Shire rat

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    If you've got the Hi-D bulbs, you are not alone. I heard some ideas bouncing around earlier about how the electronics were the cause, but it seems like the problem is with the OEM bulbs.

    I just changed mine out today (mucho thanks to Prius chat for the step-by-step) so we'll see how long they last. I bought mine from
    ebay.

    That said, there are numerous posts here in the forums related to this issue covering the gamut from DIY all the way to contacting Toyota corporate for out-of-warranty help.
     
    #3 patrickindallas, May 31, 2010
  4. tudes

    tudes LA commuter

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    from my understanding, I DON'T have the HID bulbs... I only have the halogen bulbs... But I didn't think it was an issue with the bulbs because they turn off automatically when they feel like. Sometimes just one bulb, sometimes both. But once I turn the headlight switch (in the car) off and then back on, the headlights will both come back on... and then after some time (it varies) either one or both headlights will turn off again...

    not the HID's... so thoughts? Could it be the bulbs where I can replace them or is this an issue that has to be addressed by Toyota?

    Thanks!
     
    #4 tudes, Jun 13, 2010
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Make sure you don't have HIDs. Guessing isn't good enough.

    Tom
     
    #5 qbee42, Jun 13, 2010
  6. LlamaJockey

    LlamaJockey Junior Member

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    I haven't heard of this issue in a car that doesn't have the HID bulbs..could be wrong! But it sounded pretty specific. I have a 07 Prius - non touring, and I've heard of this problem a few times from touring Prius owners. I'm not sure how to tell a difference between the standard bulbs and HID, but I thought HID lamps were standard in the touring packages? I get my years/packages mixed up sometimes!
     
    #6 LlamaJockey, Jun 13, 2010
  7. fgoodyear

    fgoodyear New Member

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    Only ones I have heard of with the problem have HID's. Do you have fog lights? If you do, you have HID's. That is the only way they came if you have fogs. Not sure if all HID's have fogs though, but that is a good indication.
     
    #7 fgoodyear, Jun 15, 2010
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