Changing Toyota Prius 2006 Headlight Bulbs!

If Only One Headlight is out while the other works this eliminates any possible fuse issues correct? I would hate to replace the bulb just to find out the fuse was gone but since my other headlight Works makes me think it's the bulb.

 

Yes you are correct. Done it twice. The black plastic dust cover comes off lefty loosey about a quarter of a turn. First time is very hard as the cover from the lamp heat is really stuck on there.

Then the bulb is held in like o5 says with a metal clip that rotates across the back of the bulb and then hooks to the other side. Don't bother touching the bulb as you can't get it out without swinging that locking flip out of the way. Bulb does not screw in it's just in the hole. The clip locks it.
After getting the black plastic/rubber cover off get a small mirror and flashlight and look at the clip. You'll see what I mean.
The whole thing sucks. Mine the lens are fogged so bought whole new assays so bumper coming off
This time.

Mine was esecially sucky as I drive with my lights on all the time and it melted the sockets. So I butt slpived new sockets on mine first time I did it.
The Phillips bulbs suck. There bright as hell but don't last long and there short life has nothing to do with
Touching the bulb although everyone knows don't fingerprint halogen bulbs. Google Phillips headlight bulbs life .
Best bet is go online to like Olathe Toyota and buy the oem headlights.
If heads are out best to replace all bulbs. Buy whole set of bulbs online. There's 2 other bulbs in the headlight and the rears are very easy.

I'll see if I can get my new in the box headlights out and take a picture of the whole deal. It would really help.

 

I think we are talking about two different things here.

First is the Black outer cover that twists off.

Second is the bail that holds in the bulb.

 

Yes we are.

Here's some pictures of the black cover on my brand new not installed yet headlight assy. One shows the cover in the locked position where it says the word TOP straight up at the 12 o'clock position and the other shows the position of the word TOP at the 11 o'clock position. The 11 position is how you initially insert the cover. The cover is keyed. Once inserted in the 11 o'clock position turn it to the right to the 12 position...not much really like and inch maybe to lock it. It is very hard to turn the cover especially to remove it.

The other 2 pictures show the little tin wire bail that clamps the headlight bulb into the headlight assy.
This little clip holds the bulb in.
One pic shows the bail open ready to receive the bulb the other shows the clip locked.
The bulb base is keyed also and you can see the slots of the base area where the bulb goes. Swing the tin wire clip bail out of the way to the side and insert the lamp into it's keyed base. The other shows the clip swung over and hooked under the Little holder. Thats how it holds the bulb in.
Install the bulb in its keyed base. Swing the clip over the bulb and hook the clip end under the little holder clamp.

Hope the pics help.

Btw, thanks Augustus for that bumper link. The fender bolt I never saw is behind the inner fender liner. I watched Carolyn at Luscious garage video years ago and it looked like the bolt was external she does it so fast. It confused me. Where's my bolt?

 

Yes. If the fuse blows, both lights won't work. Try turning on your high beams and see if both bulbs illuminate. It's very common for the low beam filament in to fail, but the high beam to work. Bad wiring is also technically possible, but 99.9% of the time it's just a bulb that needs replacing. Pull the bulb out and it should be obvious if the low beam filament is broken or not.

My strategy when I replaced both bulbs was: on the driver's side, remove the fuse cover top. On the passenger's side, remove the part of the air intake in front of the headlight. Doing this gave me enough access to replace both, and is likely easier than taking apart the headlight assembly.

 

Thanks! Are Sylvania bumps decent? I got a single one from autozone. Will replace my dead light.

 

No they have a very short life. Very bright though.

 

As far as I can tell, all the major brands of headlights are good. There's an engineering tradeoff between brightness and more perfect beam focus, and longevity. Some people get upset when they buy brighter bulbs but they burn out more quickly then they expected, and vice versa. Most important is to understand whether you're buying a shorter life, brighter bulb, or a longer life, slightly dimmer bulb.

 

Excellent photos! I haven't needed to replace headlight bulbs on any of my Prius so far...

Regarding removal of a stuck black cover, would it help to put a screwdriver blade end on one of the lugs, and tap the handle end of the screwdriver with a hammer to exert a rotational force on the cover?

 

Yes the screwdriver would work great but both times I went in I did it without taking the bumper loose and you can barely get your hand in there much less a tool. Couldn't get my head around bumper removal but august hooked me up and it looks easy now. If you pop the bumper loose than you can easily take the whole headlight out.
If you never did it before you second guess yourself unscrewing that rubber cover as it's on there pretty good. It just turns about a inch or two. No threads just have to align the key holes.

Pat btw how do you like the Megadora screwdrivers?

 

Thanks for the recommendation Ed, they are really great!

 

So glad you like them. JIS tools really make a difference,

 

On the HIDs, there is a separate fuse for left and right side. There is also a separate fuse for the motor that actuates the high-beam glare shield. Don't know about the halogen setup.

 

I used a long pry bar (looks like a giant flat head screwdriver), braced it against those fins on the cap and slowly applied pressure. They moved, rotated, and slipped off. Getting the bulbs in after that is not hard, just take your time to look e them up right. I did not have to remove any number of other items. There is a you tube e video that showed this technique.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Thanks, great information. I didn't knw they would be brighter than my OEM. I'm only replacing one, so that might not be good.

 

Which ones would be longest lasting? I only want to replace the bulb ones if I'm lucky...

 

Go online buy the oem bulbs they last years. Rebulb the whole car the rears are easy.

 

What Ed said, buy Phillips D4R or D2R depending on the year of your car. Make sure to get genuine, there are counterfeits out there. You don't have to buy them at the dealer.

I personally don't run the Phillips because I want 5000k light and the Phillips are 4300k.

 

What brand do you get the 5000k bulbs? Is there another dependable brand besides Phillips?