1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

High Beams not working after changing headlight bulbs

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Angelo Olivo, Sep 13, 2024.

  1. Angelo Olivo

    Angelo Olivo New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2024
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I recently noticed that my driver side headlight was starting to periodically go out and figured it was about time to get a new bulb for my 2009 Prius.

    I purchased a set of OEM bulbs and did the change for both headlights myself. (Pain in the nice person to do without taking the bumper off)

    everything seemed to go great, lights are brighter than ever and everything seemed to be going good. That is till last night.

    I’m driving in a wooded area and go to hit the high beams when all of a sudden the lights go out completely. Lights turn back no just fine but no high beam lights and everytime I go to turn the high beams on the lights just go out all together.

    Electrically tested all the fuses and the Relay and everything seems to be working just fine.

    Any ideas what’s going on here?

    Headlights used were
    DMEX (Pair D4R 35W 6000K Xenon Headlight HID Bulbs Replacement 42406 66450 42406WX Car Headlamps
     
    #1 Angelo Olivo, Sep 13, 2024
  2. Angelo Olivo

    Angelo Olivo New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2024
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    so just to answer this so that anyone in the future may know, be sure the bulbs are seated perfectly in their housing otherwise the highbeans will not work.

    the high beams function by utilizing a mirror that is actuated out with the use of a solenoid. This mirror illuminates the beam from the single bulb resulting in a “high beam of light”. If the bulb isn’t situated perfectly, it can impede the mirror from moving which can short the light balis and cause the headlights to turn off all together.

    I repositioned the bulbs so they were seated perfectly and ensured the pins were locked in place. This solved my issues.
     
    #2 Angelo Olivo, Sep 13, 2024
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    10,365
    1,791
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    That's exactly right if you get the bulbs in their cockeyed and they're not seated in their tabs like they're supposed to be the shutter may not work If the shutter can't lift up you have no high beam And if they can't swing back down your low beam could be messed up I'm not sure how it would turn off exactly but if it wasn't straight and it's holder I would guess I would be game for anything happening obviously you have new bulbs so the only other thing in the circuit series is the ballast which is mounted on the bottom of each assembly they do wear out etc so there's always that You can forget about the ballast and all of that and use the ALLA LED conversion for HID they plug right up to your D4R or s cap connector and everything they are plug and play and nothing else happens they just work no ballasts nothing to worry with
     
    #3 Tombukt2, Sep 13, 2024
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)