Headlight problem

[DGH]

Originally Posted by StBrianofMinneapolis

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.

[Subversive]

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.

[TheAnnoyingOne]

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 !

[windstrings]

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.

[TheAnnoyingOne]

[quote=windstrings;789468]Thats been my suspicions all along, ......

I believe that there is something on this subject in their "books" - after all they had a second batch of faulty HID's ( 07 or 08 ??) but the fault was identified as a wrong gauge Hi Voltage wire (per my dealer's PRIUS guru)

[windstrings]

[quote=I believe that there is something on this subject in their "books" - after all they had a second batch of faulty HID's ( 07 or 08 ??) but the fault was identified as a wrong gauge Hi Voltage wire (per my dealer's PRIUS guru)[/quote]


Really!.. this is the first I've heard of that... but it makes sense..

You would think if the high voltage wire is truly eating up that much of the current, that it would flat out melt it into causing total failure...

but maybe that comes later and most of us never got that far...or maybe it starts breaking down causing higher and higher resistance in the wire aggravating the problem.

Well if thats the solution... I don't know what all the fuss if about.. how about a bulb recall! and force dealers to pop them in without a big fanfare of labor charges such as dropping bumpers etc?

Maybe Totota needs to order from china instead of Sylvania at one tenth the cost! LOL!

[TheAnnoyingOne]

Originally Posted by windstrings

.......
You would think if the high voltage wire is truly eating up that much of the current, that it would flat out melt it into causing total failure...
.......
Maybe Totota needs to order from china instead of Sylvania at one tenth the cost! LOL!

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.

[windstrings]

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.

[Prius Pasadena]

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.

[windstrings]

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.