Driver side front headlight not working

HID lamp replace?

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

If they work, then the fuse is fine. It sounds like you have HIDs, does the bulb light when you turn the switch on/off a few times? (known trick)

 

If its a halogen bulb, just change it. If its HID, I might swap the module from left to right before buying it. If an LED aftermarket lamp has been used, its possible the socket or wiring is burned.

 

Is it hid or halogen? Very unlikely to be a fuse. There is one fuse unique to each headlight as shown below but as you can see the fundamental circuit is simple and most of it runs other lights as well.

 

There were two types of lights back then, HID, high intensity discharge (more expensive arc lights with ballasts) and Halogen (low cost filament lights that run directly off 12v). The HID arc lights are more than the bulb itself, they have a high voltage power supply. If you have HID it was a factory option. Note the items that came with it below. HIDs came with fog lights and VSC.

The halogens are probably what you have and they are pretty easy to change. Most likely the clerk at an autosupply would help. The two letter option codes below may show up on the drivers side door plate or you can go to a Toyota dealer with the vin number and the Parts dept can tell you exactly what you have. It is essential you know which type of headlight you have.

 

If your 2004 Gen 2 car has fog lights, then you have D2R HID headlights. If the car doesn't have fog lights, you have standard halogen bulbs.

Your symptoms sound like the standard, everyday symptoms that occur when an HID bulb is at the end of life. If so, don't waste a lot of time trying to find another solution. You've apparently never had to install bulbs previously, so they're certainly due. There are plenty of places you can get replacements on line. We put a $35 set in my son's 2005 over 2 years ago and they're still going strong. You don't need to spend $500 at a dealer having new ones installed.

 

The fuse box below is in the engine compartment, drivers side. The highlighted red box are the possible fuses. The top is the left high beam, the second is the right high beam, the third is the left low beam and the fourth is the right low beam.

It is likely that all will be 10 amp to handle Halogen lights. If the bottom two are 15 amp then you probably have the expensive HID lights. If its HID, I would swap left to right as a test or just buy new ones. HIDs have a separate ballast to generate high voltage which can go bad.

 

If you need additional ways to check, look at the back of the headlight. The halogen style has a rubber boot you have to remove to swap the bulb. The HID has a hard plastic cover.

 

It probably does indicate it if it says it has package BC (see post 9 for packages). Packages are options and if listed for your vin, then they override the standard equipment you are reading. Plus you can check the fuse (post 11), believe it if you have fog lights that you have HID (posts 9 or 10), or check with the dealer (post 9).

This is a vin lookup of a gen2 Prius with the HID option. It could also say AM and still have HID.

 

Buy two new bulbs and replace them both as you will have the front bumper cover lossened to replace the one side and its just a handful of additional screws to do the other side. 30 minute job at most and IMO easiest if you pull the headlights themselves as the black plastic covers to access the bulbs are difficult to open and close with the headlights still on the vehicle, at least they were for me and my ham hands. There are good How-To's on Youtube. FYIW, I bought my replacement bulbs from Rock Auto because Amazon's delivery during COVID is been wildly unreliable.