Headlight problem

What do you mean by this?

 

I posted in the wrong thread the other day. Add me to the list. I've got both headlamps going out at times. Filed a report with the NHTSA.

Replacement bulbs from Stan are on my doorstep waiting for me to get home. I'll let you know if they fix the issue.

 

I had 2008 prius. My passenger side headlight HID lamp flicker for a while and then went out. Dealer inform me that this HID bulb is for a life time. However, they are controlled by a circuit board which can malfunction. Dealer switch the buld to check the problem with circuit board. It was a buld. The replacement bulb cost $300+ and $200 additional for labor.

As car is still under factory warranty, the replacement was covered.

 

Stan is the man. I put the bulbs in and they fired right up. They were the correct D4R bulbs with the odd painting on them. I tried some D4C's from another vendor just because they could get them to me quicker. The Prius wasn't able to get them to stay lit. They would flicker for about 5sec then die. Don't know if they were defective or incompatible.

I love that the washer fluid box can hold a whole gallon, but I really wish it were a little smaller so I could swap the headlight bulb without removing it. I have somewhat large hands and I just couldn't do it without removing it. It didn't help that the stupid wire clip came all the way out. That's a really poor design, IMO.

 

If you were willing to buy the bulb, its really none of their business since they are not covering it under warranty.

Whats this half and half stuff?.. either its covered or its not.... since when do we "share" the price of warranty work.. be it labor or supplies?

I bet they turn the whole job in to toyota and get paid by you and them... too bad you can't catch them at it.

Since they aren't playing ball with you... don't buy the bulb from them.. buy your own online.... 69.00 for both... if you want to install yourself.

 

I emailed Toyota Customer Experience, was assigned a case number, and was called today to tell me they will cover the headlight repair/replacement 100%. All I have to do is take it to the dealership and fax them the receipt.

I had good luck with Customer Experience on my $3000 brake repair this spring as well, they covered 2/3 of it when I explained how happy I was with my Prius and Toyota except for this very expensive brake repair.

 

Mike - My 2006 Prius has been giving me fits with the headlights going on and off and I have had little success in my dealings with either the local dealer or Toyota. They have now given me the Presidential number to call - I suspect that is not Obama nor the president of Toyota but rather just a different number to call (on my dime, not theirs) as the regular 800 number I have been using to call Toyota customer service shows on my cell phone when they returned my call.

Anyway since you seem to have had some success in this matter, could you provide any further information as to whom you dealt with?

Having experienced both headlights go out at the same time as I drove into work in the dark last winter, I view this as a very serious saftety issue and am appalled that Toyota has yet to resolve what appears to be an on-going problem by the number of postings here. Seems there should have been a recall at the very least - does that mean they don't know how to fix it or that the expense is such that they don't want to be held accountable?

I will be talking to someone from the "Presidential Line" tomorrow afternoon so any further info you can provide would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Cindy

 

Has anyone been contacted by the NHTSA over this as a followup? Have they done any additional investigations beyond this summary? Any chance they will be issuing a "Recall Notice" in the near future?

Just curious as I have my replacement bulbs already in hand but with the days getting longer and less night driving I am still using the "cycle the headlights" procedure to get them to come back on at night, LOL.

Happy driving,
Chris

 

that works till you get pulled over and you try to explain all you have to do is turn it back on and when you do and they are on, they still see it as a liability since you "didn't know" when it was off to turn it back on.

These HID's are so bright that its very easy to not know one is out until you pull up to something close.

I still got a ticket!

 

I've been pulled over twice before I had the repalcement bulbs in my car. Both times I cycled the headlights real quick as the cop was coming up to the car and the cop was nice in both cases so I got off with a warning.

The second time I actually got out of the car and he and I stood in front of it and I asked him which light? He scratched his head and said "That is really strange I could have swore you had a headlight out." I responded with "Its probably a loose connection I'll have them check it out the next time I am in the shop."

Now that I have the actual replacement bulbs in my car (glove box) I plan on telling them I have it scheduled to be replaced but because it is high voltage don't feel safe doing it myself and Toyota is doing it "this weekend" for me. Hopefully that will get me another warning only.

I'm just lazy I know

Happy driving,
Chris

 

You should have told him "yea, I bet your really exhausted pulling people over.. better get back to the shop and have another coffee and donut!"

 

The problem (knock wood) is resolved in my case. Took my 08 to the dealer and they replaced the EVC -- whatever that is. Did not solve the problem; headlights BOTH went out that evening.

Talked to my caseworker at Toyota again, who seemed dismayed they replaced the EVC and said dealer should have just replaced both bulbs. Indicated that the bulbs were at fault, especially on cars built in that time frame.

So, back to the dealer, which said it had received a service bulletin about the EVC but now realized it should have just popped in new bulbs.

It's been a week since this was fixed (again) and so far, lights have been great. Better, actually, than before because I believe they might have been pointing a little too downward before.

Fingers crossed (but not while driving)....

 

That sounds just about right.....

 

I just started experiencing the problem on my '06. Two weeks past 36 months (and at about 44K), my driver's side light went out. So far, it's just the one light, and of course it's intermittent and unpredictable. I just filed my NHTSA complaint. I am due for an oil change this week and was going to ask my dealer (Miller Toyota, Manassas, VA) to look into the headlight problem while I'm there.

Should I call the Toyota Customer Experience people first? Or should I just see how the dealer handles it before I open a case?

 

so it _is_ a bulb issue? and that's what I should have them replace?

I've got a 5k servicing coming up and over the past month discovered this problem with my '08. I'd like to get all the info I can before bringing it in.

 

My dealer wanted to do Diagnostics to see if in fact it was the headlight or the power supply. After reading many posts here I determined it was more than lieky the bulb. It seems the HID bulbs are failing at an alarming rate especially on the 2006 models. which mine is. Anyway It cost me $243. to have th e bulb replaced as my extended warranty does not cover bulbs....The other side is now starting to develop the same issue which is going out intermittently. Turning the lights off and back on will almost always relight the bulb for a awhile.

 

my problem is intermittent, which makes it seem weird to me that it'd be a bulb issue.
and at this point is just the drivers-side headlight.

very frustrating, esp. if dealers are making correcting the problem difficult.

 

It seems that HID bulbs just die this way. Not like the old incandescent bulbs that generally just stop working. At least this way, you get some notice that you need to get them replaced. My 2006 had the driver side start going out intermittently. Turning them off then on would re-light both of them fine. Replacing the bulbs corrected it and I haven't had a single problem since.

With the insane costs from the dealer, the only way to go is EBay, IMO. And you can change the color a bit if you're into that.

 

I agree. With HIDs at least you get some "advanced warning", and a little time to buy new bulbs. Better than having the bulb go out entirely.

The downside is that Toyota doesn't make the information available on for owners how to change the HID bulbs. That's what PC Forums are here for! :cheer2:

Unfortunately, some Toyota dealership shops seem to be:

1) ignorant that it usually is just the HID bulb (or, lying about not knowing about it)
2) exhorbitantly overpricing for both the bulbs and labor involved ("guess we'll have to remove the bumper cover to get at that one").

Fortunately, after the several years that this has been going on, Toyota Customer Care seems to now be aware of the problem, and offers help in some cases.

 

Everyone be sure to replace your bulbs if you think they are getting dimmer. If you are in traffic and your HID lights look dimmer than others next to you, consider it. I had to switch mine at about 50,000 miles BUT I always left the lights on when driving. I saved the old bulbs which still worked just incase one of my new ones blow out. [Of course, now my mom has that car.]