HID Headlights go on and off

Its time for new bulbs!! This is the first sign they are near the end of their life.

Its recommended you change them both at the same time. They are over $200 at the dealership but get this - for a limited time - to the first 100 callers - You can get them for ~$50 on amazon.com!

hehe.

Just go to amazon.com and search "d4r bulb". Phillips (the same exact one Toyota uses) is around $50. ALOT CHEAPER than the dealership.

Go to youtube now and search "Prius head light replacement" and theres several great how-to's.

You can continue to do the "on-off" dance but its not good for the ballasts from what Ive read. It will reset them and turn them back on but you will eventually stop working all together when the bulb finally gives up the ghost.

 

We have a 2007 base Prius. I have replaced the HID lamps 3 times and the right lamp has started dropping out while driving again. Our small town cop loves pulling people over for the slightest of infractions, like turning a corner without using your signal, so a dark headlight at night is utter joy for him. I have been getting new HIDs for around $50 / pair on Amazon. I am considering replacing the entire headlamp assemblies with ones that take halogen and possibly integrated LEDs just because I am getting tired of spending so much on those HID bulbs and have them last only a couple of years (or less). The STUPID part is the way Toyota designed the light controls, you can't just use the fog lights for daytime running lights (DRLs)without the HIDs. If the fogs are on, the HIDs are on too. I am also considering a pair of bright LED lights to serve as DRLs. Anyone with a better suggestion?

 

This is relevant to my interest

Is such a thing available?? I'd go for that in a heartbeat over the HID's personally. Replacing a 9006 bulb ($8) vs replacing an HID pair ($100) seems like a definite more intelligent decision.

 

I don't know anything about these, but here is an example of a replacement housing that is not HID:
http://www.carid.com/2007-toyota-prius-headlights/replace-euro-headlights-1440291.html
Description:
Toyota Prius 2007-2009, Headlight Lens and Housings, Non-HID Type by Replace®. You need all your lights to be functional for safe driving, to see the road and be seen by other drivers. Don't drive with broken or missing lights and endanger yourself and your passengers because of the high cost of a replacement. A Replace Exterior Light Assembly is a direct replacement for the original equipment (OE) part but costs much less. You get OE quality without the OE price.

$87.38 - $95.05
List: $109.22 - $118.82
Save: $21.84 - $23.77 (20%)

 

If the OP's Prius is within the warranty extension mentioned at Toyota Prius Class Action Lawsuit | Toyota Headlight Lawsuit | Girard Gibbs LLP, he can get them replaced for free.

 

I just finished this one a few days ago: Toyota Prius: How to Replace the HID Ballast/Computer/ECU - PriusDIY.com. If you've replaced the bulb and the same thing happens then replace the ballast.

 

I have well functioning D4R bulbs at present but know that they will eventually fail. I have an "almost new" set of D4S bulbs, ones without the blacked-out portions of glass, said to be electrically identical. What would be the ramifications of using them in place of the correct D4R's? Blinding oncoming motorists? Damage to the reflector assembly? I assume that the difference is going to be in the light pattern on the road and am just wondering if anyone can predict what I'll see, when or if I install them. Thanks.

I fully intend to modify my fog lights so that they can be switched on or off when the parking/tail lights are on, instead of when the main low beams are on. Then they can be used for daytime situations, such as rain, saving the HID's.

 

I would like to do this mod too. Post how its done when you get a chance.

 

This is a little late but I found a solution that doesn't involve buying new headlights. 2008 Prius

Had the same problem with the lights flicking off but coming back on when I rolled the control lever off/on. Same problems with Police. OVER and OVER!

Check it out:
If you remove the bumper cover (I know) and the driver side headlight you will see the front of the relay and fuse box with a host of wires bundled together and coming out to all the sensors and lights. Turn your lights on and jiggle that bundle of wires a bit and you might see one of the lights go off. I got this idea from a post on another page about a guy finding a connection loose on another year model prius. He had the same issue with the headlights.

I assume the connection is being lost for a fraction of a second and the computer is set not to continue current if the circuit is broken. So now, why is it jiggling? Look further below the relay box to see the top of your coolant tank/pump.

There is a foam cover black hose running into the top of the pump that cools your generator. The bracket holding the hose to the pump is connect by three screws. Check to see if all of them are tight because if it isn't, your bundle of wires is being bounced by that bracket.

I found that Toyota didn't punch the drill all the way through one of the hole and that prevented the bracket from being tightened adequately. I found this out, only, after I snapped the bolt. I ended up using a sponge shoved underneath the bracket and a zip tie to hold it in place. It isn't right but it go the job done.

Good luck everybody.

 

I have used D4S bulbs before I realized the difference. What oncoming cars get is a lot of extra light, as if your high beams are already on. What you get isn't that great especially in fog or rain because of the glare. The thing to know here is that the HID Prius headlight, in this 04 - 09 generation, uses a moving shield to enable high beams. There is only one lamp. When you switch on the high beams a shield raises up, exposing more of the lamp.

 

i have a 04. if that is how hi beams work, never had a car this new. sucks how foglites dont work w/o lites on. i noticed my drivers side marker lite doesnt work anymore. is that part of the lite or a different bulb? p/o had replaced lites in front several xs at dealer. so far i havent had to. seems like a pita

 

I believe the marker light is a small bulb like a 194/168 or similar. Yes, it's a pita to get to, so when one of mine went out, I bought two and did them both. If I were to replace them now, I would consider an LED substitute. Walmart now carries some that are clustered LEDs in various packages. They are probably bright as they look like the newer design where the LEDs are square and the part that lights up looks yellowish.

 

I've gone through 3 sets of HID bulbs. Buy ONLY Philips factory bulbs, as they last ~120k miles. The other brands go weak after 40k miles or just fall apart. Yes, I thought the cooler blue color would help, but they will fade RAPIDLY compared to the warmer, stock Philips bulbs. Read up on how spot fakes. eBay has originals for $90/pair.