4 questions re: HID headlights

If they fail during the warranty, I'd expect they would be covered.

 

I have a 2006, have had it since January 06. First light stopped working after about 18 months. Replacement light alone was $359! Now the other has stopped working. Very frustrating. And expensive. I'm planning on buying a 2009, and want to get all the bells and whistles again (Nav, bluetooth, leather, etc.), but I'd love to skip the fancy expensive lights. Not possible, I guess. Other than the stupid lights, I love my car!

 

Would it be more economical to convert a car back to halogens and sell the HID hardware? (Lucky for me I don't have the HID's and have no use for fog lights.)

 

Avoid anything that features a high color temperature in its advertising. HID lamps have a specific color temperature due to its gas fill. To get color beyond that requires a filter on the bulb. This filter decreases available light output.

The Prius takes D4R bulbs. Anything made by a major manufacturer(Osram/Sylvania, Philips, GE, Narva) should be good. You should also replace bulbs as a pair as there will be a noticeable difference between a new HID lamp and one that has been used for a few years.

 

My driver side headlight started going out, just had it in the dealers garage, $325.00 each, they plan on changing BOTH, I purchased the extended warranty for Electrical
Components when I bought the Prius in March 06, it will cover all but $50.00 , for once it seems to be a good investment (the warranty), the Prius is the BEST INVESTMENT OF A LIFETIME.

 

There is a known isue with premature HID failulres on the Prius. Search here and Prius Online for details. In summary...

There are two bulb types depending on year. They are not interchangeable.

Bulbs can fail, and Toyota recommends replacing the ballast/controller at the same time. Normal cost to do this on both sides is over $2000 total.

Bulbs are not covered by warranty or extended warranty. Argue with Toyota customer care and point out the bulbs failed because of a failed controller, which IS covered. They can "goodwill" the money back to you, but you will pay first. Have the dealer replace the ballast/ECU as the main job, and add the DELTA cost to replace bulbs after that. This gets you the most warranty coverage (saves assembly removal labor).

 

Wow. Good to know. Time to put my platinum warranty to a good used. Few weeks ago I had 'em replaced coolant transfer pump that's about $350. Now a pair of HID that potentially worth $600. Almost same as the warranty I bought.


Thanks for the info. I was afraid they gonna deny me using "HID might be under normal wear/tear" excuse.

 

Replace the capsules yourself. The total cost will be around $50.

Tom

 

Can this even be done? I've got halogens on my '05, and they're perfectly adequate for me, and around $10 each to replace. HID does not sound like an option I'd accept voluntarily.

 

I've got halogens as well, and am glad for it in reading about the expense of any problems with the HID system.

 

You can replace the HIDs for about $25 each. Since they last longer than the halogens, cost comes out about even.

Tom

 

took the car to dealership when one of the light was out. Dealer said i HAVE to replace ECU and HID bulb at the SAME TIME or they won't do the repair. Of course, ECU replacement is under extended warranty that I have but light bulb is excluded. Dealer wants $300 something a piece for light bulb replacement and won't charge me labor. They refuse to simply replace ECU w/o replace light bulb. Finally got them to agree to replace ECU only and no bulb replacement. But they wanted me to sign something to release their liability if light bulb fails or something along that line(haven't see the agreement in writing yet). Has any one else replaced ECU only and not light bulb? did ECU replacement works w/o light bulb replacement?

I dont feel like paying extra $600 when i can get a pair for < $100 and using instruction that people provided(sorry, dont remember all you contributors' names).

 

Challenge flag!

You'll have to show me a link to a REAL HID bulb that costs $25 each. You can buy ripoff fake HID bulbs that are really halogen for $25, but they won't work in the system and are not real HID bulbs.

Real HID bulbs will cost you $150 each, minimum.

As for issues, I've had several cars with HID headlights and I would never buy another car without them. Including a 1998 Lexus LS400 that had 170k miles on it and nearly a decade on the same HID bulbs and they were run 24/7 for years. 120k miles on my ES, same HID bulbs. Our Prius has the stock HID bulbs. No issues at all.

 

Clar,

Sound like the shotgun approach to repair. When in doubt, replace everything. It usually is effective in solving the problem. It also is the most costly, usually to the customer.

Keith

 

Depending on your mileage, it is possible or even likely that if you ask Toyota to "goodwill" the bulb cost back to you (after you pay and have the work done), they will do so. Since this is a well-known and documented failure for the Prius (check the NTSB site and here and Prius Online) they know all about it and if you comment on Toyota QUALITY as being on the line here, they usually make you a reasonable offer.

 

Yeah, I did this and knew quite a bit about HIDs. I don't know why I did it... but now that the economy is in bad shape, and I am purchasing new bulbs I am DEFINITELY not going to leave the light switch on to use them as DRLs. This time, just to be sure that I have plenty of light, I am going to install HID fog lights.

I just noticed that my lights were so dim in St. Louis, as I was side by side with lots of HID equipped vehicles compared to my area.

 

My Recent Experience Re: 4 questions re: HID headlights

At 38,400 miles on my 2007 Prius, the HID on the passenger side died. With EXTREME difficulty, I was able to compel Toyota USA to replace the HID and Toyota USA (a talk with the selling Toyota Dealer led to an offer of almost useless discount on the labor – total for one HID replacement was quoted at $450) absorb the cost of the design defect (perhaps may going to law school and practicing law for a short period of time had some value!) At that time, I pleaded with Toyota USA to replace the not-yet-failed driver side HID – they assured me that it was very unlikely that the 2nd HID would fail.

Two weeks later, while in a long planed “Road Trip†and in LA (3,000 miles from my home) the 2nd HID failed within 3 miles of Toyota USA headquarters in Torrance, CA. Following a difficult confrontation with the good folks in the Torrance, CA headquarters, Toyota US was kind enough to replace the second HID and absorb the cost of the design defect.

These “conversations†with Toyota were neither fun nor easy. Good luck with any HID replacement – if you have one die, and do it yourself you, should consider replacing the other HID because it is very likely to fail.

 

You're wrong. I bought my replacement D4R bulbs for $50 + $10 shipping. I'm no rocket scientist, but that sounds pretty close to $25 each to me...

Ebay item no. 120325752205 is another auction for the same item by the same vendor.

Apology accepted.

 

Ebay item?!? Lets see how long they last.

"GP Thunder" brand? Yikes. 12000k bulbs too are actually painted to provide different color which reduces light output and reduces bulb life. No reputable lighting manufacturer sells 12000k bulbs and they are not DOT legal. The OEM bulbs are 4100k-4300k, the only DOT legal color temperature.

These are real, reputable brand HID bulbs:

http://www.eautoworks.com/product-Heliolite-115232.htm

Here are on brand bulbs from eBay even:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-PHILIPS-D4R-XenEco-OEM-HID-XENON-BULBS-LEXUS-TOYOTA_W0QQitemZ250308925192QQcmdZViewItem

Let me rephrase that, you will not be able to find real HID bulbs from a reputable manufacturer and vendor for $25 a peice. These are off-brand ricer kinda stuff, I wouldn't use them.

Its up to you, but you'll be pretty upset if they explode and ruin the $700 lamp housing or fry the ballast and wiring in the system and cost you several hundred more dollars there too.

If its too cheap to be true...it probably is.

 

For $75 bucks, that is a great deal. I may purchase a couple in the near future, since I don't think the price of Heliolite HIDs are coming down in price.