Headlight problem

High voltage discharge lamps function by exciting gas with a high voltage. It takes a very high voltage to make the lamp "strike" and begin to discharge, after which the voltage is dropped to control the current flow through the lamp. The ballast circuit does the controlling, or stabilizing of the current flow. Most ballast devices also contain the starting circuitry. It is this starting process that makes rapid cycling bad for discharge lamps, so it's not good to cycle them on and off.

Examples of high voltage discharge lamps are fluorescent lamps, neon, mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, and so forth.

Tom

 

Thanks qbee42 (aka Tom).
Got it

Ian P

 

And welcome to the forum.... Pri(ap)us

 

FWIW, I have had the headlight problem in a 2006 Prius #8 for about the last 6 months or so, but didn't address it until the last week where it really got bad -- lights would dim almost immediately, and after 2 minutes they would both shut off. My car is at 42K miles.

I called SF Toyota where I bought the car and they gave me the runaround, "no we don't know about this problem", etc. but I could come in and "have it evaluated".

I called Walnut Creek Toyota and not only was the guy on the phone nice and knew about the problem, but said they would likely take care of it if I brought it. So I did, and they said it was a common occurrence, was the bulbs, and that Toyota would cover them and I just pay for labor (est. $130).

I live in an area with 8 trillion Priuses, partially because that's how it is here, and partially because in 2006 there was a limited-time HOV lane sticker offer for hybrids including Priuses. So they sold a lot of 2006's.


Moral: Yes this is a known issue, at least to dealers who will admit it. And, so far, Walnut Creek Toyota's service center kicks nice person.

 

Not that a dealer would do this.. but it almost makes you think some dealers would llke to get double paid... once by Toyota and once by the customer!

Just kinda makes you think!... thats all!

 

Most do... thay is why they take the 'dumb' approach.

 

And Toyota probably knows their games and that's why they prefer to reimburse the customer.

Pretty sad if Toyota really can't trust their own dealers... I guess its the way of America.. from Wall street "and the White House" down!

 

This issue happened first with ONE of my lights (in warranty) and the dealer replaced the bulb at no charge. I thought that was either veryyyyy interesting or I had found the dealer of dealers! The same problem (specifically and totally as described with the first post of this thread) happened about 3 months ago with the OTHER headlight (out of warranty). I was originally told that they would have to replace the bulb and I would be charged. I was ready. I cannot believe this is a "bulb problem" since it is not consistently staying off, but rather resets and comes back on when you turn the car off and restart it. I had print outs from PriusChat in hand and told the mechanic that clearly this was not MY issue, but rather, TOYOTA's. He checked in with the service manager (when I said I wanted it replaced and was not going to pay for it), and lo and behold, the service manager yet again, didn't blink, and didn't charge me.

While I do think I have found the dealer of dealers and am VERY happy with my maintenance experience with my dealer (North Hills Toyota in Pittsburgh), I also think it very likely that this was not the first or the last headlight issue these folks had seen. I remain surprised that Toyota has not issued some form of redress.

Cindy
2006 Prius Package 8 Driftwood Pearl, with stabilizer

 

I hate to keep being the devils advocate, but it was also interesting they were going to charge you... yet didn't blink when you wouldn't pay... that tells me they were likely still making a buck whether you paid or not.

 

I am experiencing this same problem with the driver side headlight in my 07. I live in Minnesota and it has been in the last few weeks of bitter cold weather that this problem has occurred.

I have two specific questions I am hoping someone can answer.

1. is there a Toyota corporate service hotline, that I can call and get some real answers on this?

2. If my local shop gives me the runaround, can I just have halogens installed and be done with the HID issue?

 

Call Toyota at 1-800-331-4331, and state the problem.
They should step up to the plate on this issue.
Please let us all know what they say.

Also please file a complaint with the NHTSA:IVOQ - File a Complaint

I posted this a while ago, since then it seems some people have had to pay the full cost, some half the cost, and some paid nothing.

If I were you, I would read this thread so you fully understand the issues.
I would then call Toyota at the above number. Tell them politely but firmly, that you are aware and educated on the problem, and you must be fully compensated for the repairs.

It worked for me, I paid nothing.

Good Luck...Dan.

 

I have this same exact problem with my 2006 Prius. I had a Toyota guy put iit in his database he he cam back with "intermittent HID failure--replace bulb." For that diagnosis he wanted $100, which I refused. Toyota then wanted to remove the whole bumper in order replace the bulb no. And of course they want to charge $300 for the bulb (on of the HID assemblies, if you wanted that would be $1,100!)

I researched the correct bulb type, and picked one up on ebay for less then $100. Then I paid my local (non-Toyota) mechanic maybe $20 to reach his hand in there and swap the bulb out. Problem fixed.

Of course, 40,000 miles later and the now same problem is happening again.

 

Mid 2006 I started having intermittent problem with my left HID on my 06 Prius– because it would never happen at the dealership I took a picture of the front of the car when it happened – initially the dealer said it was the controller and changed it under warranty – long story short, both HID bulbs and controllers were changed under warranty because the intermittent behavior constituted a safety hazard.

Apparently the issue was a batch of bad bulbs from one of the Toyota suppliers !

 

Thats been my suspicions all along, but Toyota doesn't make it so simple and won't agree so as to simply release a recall and replace them all.

 

Actually there are two voltages associated with the HID, a low voltage/high current and the igniting high voltage. The high voltage starts the arc across the electrodes which then is maintained with the low voltage/high current supply. Apparently the wire in question was the high voltage one and caused erratic ignition of the lamp.

We can go on and on but until the car companies and their esteemed dealers realize that the customers are not an "annoying interruption of their business" but the reason for the same, nothing is going to change.

 

sounds like the initial high voltage burst is not quite getting to the bulb to turn "all" the material inside to a plasma state.

based on that theory, I wonder if a "turn on, then off and back turn on" sequence when first turning on the lights would help offset the small wire thats not allowing enough current to reach the inside of the bulb.... a "double blast" of high voltage instead of single to help ensure all the material is excited?

Normally, that in itself would shorten the life of a bulb, but in this case it may not matter since it may be under powered on startup anyway.

Of course, I wouldn't recommend this experiment except with bulbs that are already showing symptoms of going bad.

 

I am having the same issues with my headlight. I have had it replaced 2 times, and they say they can find the problem. I have heard of others with the same issue. The computer is faulty. Something needs to be done with this.

 

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't...
Why does a simply bulb replacement fix the problem in almost every case if its the computer?

This has already be rehashed several times in this thread.

At any rate, yes, it should be fixed.