My Prius C HID and LED installation adventure thread!! (lots of Pics!)

I did this too... there is a little sticker on the back of the light assembly that warns to disconnect the housing before changing the bulb. Such a stupid design. I'm going to play stupid and let the dealer figure it out when I take it in this next Wednesday for its 30 day first check-up. "Hrm, that cargo light has never worked..can you check it out?" They'll have to replace the Body Control Module in order to remedy the problem. I don't feel bad in the least for sticking Toyota with that bill...such a poor design to have an un-fused lamp socket.

 

When it gets fixed, please let us know the final fix. Very curious.

 

thanks for the great write up and pics! hids and leds make a car look great! with the projectors its even better!

 

Nice. I replaced all of the internal lights with the ones you suggested, they look a lot nicer. Next are the low beams and high beams!

 

Thanks for the info sph101. Is the high beam mode any brighter than the DRL mode, or is it the same? Can you tell if people notice when you flash them your LED-modified "brights"?

 

The LED DRLs are a little brighter when the high beams are on but I have never been flashed for them being to bright.

 

Thanks again for the info, sph101. You answered another question I had about your LED DRLs...people really don't seem to think your LED DRLs (in DRL mode or high-beam mode) are too bright.

I was actually wondering if your LEDs can still be effectively used to intentionally flash people, whether it be for passing or as a warning. Are they bright enough to get people's attention in these situations?

Thanks!

 

I would have to say no on the flashing. Plus since I have HIDs on the low beams, in the C all the lights flash and it is not good for the HIDs . You can get LED DRLs that are brighter than the ones I have, I have been looking to maybe get a brighter set.

 

anybody know if i can fit a led bar/board like this into the front dome lights? the area looks kinda small.

 

i just install two of these led panels into the dome light.
they are the biggest that will fit in the front dome light. one of those panels in each side. so 2 panels. i forgot to take pics. ill do it sooner or later.

 

question aout switching the parking lamps to LED - i read that there were issues w/ it getting to hot and melting the plastic?? i'd like to do this but I'm concerned with that happening!

 

never heard of this issue? I haven't had an issue with mine.

 

I installed my XenonSupply HID kit this weekend.

Here's what I ordered:

Toyota Prius HID Xenon Headlight Package Deal​

Vehicle Year Model​

2009+ (H11)​

HID Color Options​

4300K - OEM White (Brightest)​

Accessories​

Accessory Relay Wiring Harness​

Input Vehicle Year (i.e. 2011)​

2012​

First impressions on opening the package:

• Missing instruction manual -- but it's available online.
• Missing 3M adhesive pads -- got some adhesive tape at HomeDepot.

I started with connecting the accessory relay wiring harness.

This required tapping into the positive battery terminal in the fuse box. This was particularly difficult because of the need to remove the 10mm bolt in an extremely confined space. After quite a bit of fiddling around, I decided to abandon the idea that I was going to bring the accessory harness lead in from underneath. Instead I found that the inline fuse case fit perfectly snug within the fuse box. But I was going to need to do something mickey mouse to pass the wire out of the box.​

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Next I installed the new HID bulbs. This was pretty simple.

Then I connected the ballasts and tested the lights. I did need to reverse the polarity on one of them. Then I bound the loose wiring with some zip ties and electrical tape.

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Next I found a good place to mount the first ballast and route the wires. On the passenger side, I chose to affix the ballast with the double sided mounting tape to the interior of the body panel. (I'm concerned that the mounting tape will not hold up in the long term due to the extreme temperature changes it will be subjected to on the exterior body panel.)

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At this point I took notice of the ballast mounting brackets that were included with the kit. I decided to forgo the mounting tape and use the mounting bracket for the second ballast. I am much more comfortable with this mounting technique.

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And now for the Before & After:

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To answer the questions:
Nothing illuminates when I put the switch in the DRL position.
The above pictures are with high beams on.

An unexpected side effect:
With my HIDs on my FM radio reception range is reduced. It's not like electrical noise in the audio signal. The FM reception is crystal clear, but the signal strength is weakened. Not sure if it's relevant, but I'm also using the aftermarket shark fin radio antenna.

 

looks nice. is your drl on with your low beams?

 

Or did you take pics with the high beams on as well?

 

Kinda late for this post, but yes, it does happen. I ran some CREE bulbs that were extremely bright (not blinding, but passable as a DRL). Just a day or two later, the chrome around the parking light showed signs of heating. I'm back to the original halogens now, but I'm sure a low wattage LED would be fine. Lot's of members here switched that to an LED, but just be sure not to run something too strong.

 

I wanted to upgrade my lights to HID's etc like you guys are, (but have a auto elect place here do the install) They thought I was nuts and said it was way too much electric and there was a risk of fire, electrocution from water, blah blah. Something about the high wattage of the bulbs. They said keep to LED's or just pia bulbs

 

If your shop refuses to do something that's generally recognized as safe and simple, learn to do it yourself and save some money while you're at it

Galaxy Nexus ? 2

 

Agreed. It's simple and will only take about 20 mins.

 

I was following my Prius C home last night lol, strange to see your own car on the road and following it and looking at your mods and decals from another perspective. It prompted me to wonder, has anyone tried or thought about adding LED to the tail lights, not the brake lights as those are already LED, but the other lights in the tail lamp assembly?

I was thinking about doing something like that on my C; my Gen III has LED throughout the tail assembly other than the reverse and turn signals.

Thank you fellow C owners....