HID Lamp keeps going out...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by georgekessel, Feb 23, 2008.

  1. georgekessel

    georgekessel Member

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    I've had this ongoing issue with my 2006 Prius for the past year. The driver's side headlamp doesn't turn on about 15% of the time.

    You don't realize it's out for a while usually. If you simply turn the lights on and off it almost always comes right back on.

    The dealership is totally bewildered. They replaced the lamp and control module and have no clue what's wrong. It's been in the shop 4 times for this problem and still it persists.

    Part of the problem is that this is an American Car with HID's. In Canada we don't have HID's on the Prius so they are perhaps not used to the system. The service manger has been involved for the past 2 services but still - the problem persists.

    Anyone know of a 'known issue' regarding intermittent headlamp outage?
     
    #1 georgekessel, Feb 23, 2008
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Check the wiring?

    I remember our old Camry's A/C went out and the dealer couldn't figure out why. They checked the OBD-II, all the electronics, they replaced some module and so forth. In the end, it was a simple wiring issue lol. Maybe it's the same in your case?
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Feb 24, 2008
  3. georgekessel

    georgekessel Member

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    I'll mention that....

    btw I saw you on Southwest Marine a few weeks back. I wasn't in the Prius and you were 2 cars ahead so I didn't say hi. I was driving "Booger", a bright green Smart.

    So if you see a guy in a green smart waving to you, it's probably me.....
     
    #3 georgekessel, Feb 24, 2008
  4. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Perhaps it's from using your HIDs as daytime running lamps. :croc:

    Tom
     
    #4 qbee42, Feb 24, 2008
  5. georgekessel

    georgekessel Member

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    I knew that was going to be said. It's been happening for too long though and the dealer tried disabling my DRL's to test that theory.

    Sadly it still happened with the DRL's disabled (back to factory config).

    That stumped them....

    It's not a bulb life issue, car has about 11k on it total. Besides they replaced the bulbs anyway. They have experienced this 'bewildering problem' before on some Sienna's with HID's they said. But they were able to fix it with replacing the bulbs and control unit - which didn't work on mine :(
     
    #5 georgekessel, Feb 24, 2008
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    ohh? Alrighty! stream green 450 pulse?
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Feb 24, 2008
  7. georgekessel

    georgekessel Member

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    Yeah, 2005 Pulse with Biodiesel license plate frames and some Vegan stickers and - if it's summertime - custom rims ;)

    Someday I hope to have a pure electric or at least a hybrid diesel-electric instead of my 'gas guzzling' Prius.

    My smart gets 80mpg average whereas the Prius only gets 42...
     
    #7 georgekessel, Feb 24, 2008
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yesyes.. you guys and your 2.8s and 3.3L/100km lifetime averages :rolleyes::p.

    42 only? My lifetime (as you can see below) is 48mpg. Best was 60mpg this past summer. Keep working at it! :p


    Are you running B100? or B25?
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Feb 24, 2008
  9. georgekessel

    georgekessel Member

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    Running B100 only for a long time now.

    We get poor mileage with the Prius b/c it's only used for short trips up and down the hills etc.. It's never been outside of Vancouver since we brought it here.

    Hmm, maybe it's been to Burnaby a couple times but that would really be about it.
     
    #9 georgekessel, Feb 24, 2008
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    ohhh ok. that explains it haha.

    NW/SW Marine Dr. is a really fuel efficient route. From UBC to... say Boundary or even into New West, it's really fuel efficient and if the traffic flow is right, you can P&G (or partially P&G lol) and get into the low 4s easily.
     
    #10 Tideland Prius, Feb 24, 2008
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