Headlight problem

[icarus]

Originally Posted by dannyo

I have a problem with intermittent operation of my driver's side headlamp. I want to chack the bulb, butI can't figue out how to get to it. Any idea?

Read the thread,,

Don't mess with it as it will put you SOL with the dealer. Take it to the dealer have them look at it and give you an estimate,,, and then don't let them fix it unless they going to pay 100% AND file with the NTSB!

The bulbs cannot be easily checked as they are not conventional bulbs,, and they cannot be easily taken out and swapped!

Icarus

[talonts]

Originally Posted by icarus

The dealer should be able to diagnose without you committing to pay for anything.

No, you're just very, very lucky to have a dealer that doesn't. Charging an analysis fee is very much the norm, not the exception. The fact that you got in the door without a minimum fee being mentioned (without an ExtWarr to cover things) is amazing.

[talonts]

Originally Posted by icarus

The bulbs cannot be easily checked as they are not conventional bulbs,, and they cannot be easily taken out and swapped!

Define "easily".

I consider the driver's side to be quite easy to take out, and the only reason the passenger side is "hard" is because my gorilla hands are too huge to fit in there once the intake tube is out of the way. I almost had the bulbs swapped a couple days ago in 5-10 minutes, until the spring bail popped loose on the passenger side, and I had to pull the WW tank and set it out of the way to get the bail back in place. Even then, the whole job was less than 30min with a "long" list of tools consisting of a 10mm openend wrench and a screwdriver.

BTW, removed my 2nd blown Ebay bulb, replaced with Philips original bulb, sending the Ebay one back for replacement soon. This time, it was rather obvious that the bulb was at fault, as once I had it out, I could see metal sputtered onto the bulb's insides that didn't belong there.

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by talonts

Define "easily".

The passenger is pretty much the same as the drivers, except if you want to have a chance to see what your doing, you need to lift out the windshield washer reservoir.. which is easy too.

Now that you know how the spring works "from doing the drivers side", you may can go by feel.

[talonts]

Originally Posted by windstrings

The passenger is pretty much the same as the drivers, except if you want to have a chance to see what your doing, you need to lift out the windshield washer reservoir.. which is easy too.

Now that you know how the spring works "from doing the drivers side", you may can go by feel.

Having replaced one factory and 2 Ebay bulbs, I know all about it ;-)

The problem this last time is that the spring popped completely out of the housing, and didn't want to go back in, even after forcing it back into its' hooked slot. I was hoping to not have to remove the WW tank this time, and almost didn't have to, but once the spring became an issue, the tank had to come out.

If I ever have to remove the headlights entirely (like if Toyota doesn't own up and do something, and I find D2R ballasts for my spare 04 housings), I will probably put some hotglue on the seat for the spring to make sure it doesn't come out again (can't just smack it to shrink the metal around the spring, as the spring seat is potmetal, it'd break).

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by talonts

The problem this last time is that the spring popped completely out of the housing, and didn't want to go back in, even after forcing it back into its' hooked slot. I will probably put some hotglue on the seat for the spring to make sure it doesn't come out again (can't just smack it to shrink the metal around the spring, as the spring seat is potmetal, it'd break).

Wow!.... I discovered forcing doesnt work... I bent one of my springs so bad when I first did the job, I finally had to take the other one out to compare to get my first one bent back to the proper shape so it would work right.
It is a flimsy way of mounting..seems these rocket scientists should be able to do better.

Opps.. I forgot..... they dont do O rings either!

[togreben]

After reading all of these posts, and other web articles, I was ready for a fight when I called Toyota to complain about the same issue in my 2006 Prius. The inverse was true. The folks over there were a bit hard to get in touch with, they seem to insist on calling after 6pm. But after I finally spoke with a case manager, they set me up for a diagnostic at no charge with my dealer. After a bit more phone tag they agreed to reimburse me for full replacement of the bulbs and control modules despite the 90k miles I have on the car.

[bruceha_2000]

Originally Posted by dannyo

I have a problem with intermittent operation of my driver's side headlamp. I want to chack the bulb, butI can't figue out how to get to it. Any idea?

Check my photo album. It isn't terribly difficult to get to them. However, I don't know if there is any way to tell if the bulb is good or not by sight. They aren't like filament bulbs where you can SEE the wire is broken.

[cairo94507]

My driver's side HID bulb just went out again on my 2005 Prius. 1 year and 8 days ago the same bulb was replaced by Toyota for $565.00. That was an insane price to replace a bulb, which is supposed to be a lifetime bulb. Dublin Toyota, who replaced the original bulb has offered to Good Will the price of the bulb, but I still am being billed $165 for labor to switch the bulbs. OK, appreciate that, but they should be replacing it for free. I called Toyota Customer Relations and filed a formal complaint with them. Then of course I tried to file an on-line complaint with the NHTSA but their complaint form does not work! Figures.

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by ATX

I have an '04 Prius w/ the same headlight problem.

I registered a complaint at: Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), File A Safety Complaint

It seems that the more people that log complaints on this government site, the more likely we're all to see some sort of action from Toyota.

There's a slew or recent(ish) articles on the problem:

Prius HID Headlights: Toyota Tagged by Tall Poppy Syndrome? | The Truth About Cars

Is Toyota HIDing from Prius Headlight Problem? | The Truth About Cars

http://www.examiner.com/x-10697-SF-Autos-Examiner~y2009m6d30-Faulty-Prius-headlights-Hell-hath-no-fury-like-a-Prius-owner-scorned

http://www.autonews.com/article/2009...1186/FRONTPAGE

Toyota stung by possible Prius HID headlight defect

Toyota facing lawsuit, potential recall over Prius HID headlights

and a class action suit:
TOYOTA PRIUS HEADLIGHT FAILURE


Report: Toyota Faces Possible Prius Headlamp Recall; Will it Hurt Sales? | Motortrend News & Auto Blog - Wide Open Throttle

Toyota Facing Lawsuit, Potential Recall Over Prius HID Headlights - AutoSpies Auto News

I think we should keep these links current and add as new ones arrive.
The media is the only power that will get their attention as it finally comes down to affecting their pocketbook as wary consumers buy elsewhere.

Call it blackmail?.... whatever.. but this is ridiculous for two basic reasons among others.
1. The bulb itself is very cheap "at toyotas cost", and the labor should be as you really don't need to take the bumper off or take over 20 minutes to change a bulb if your a Toyota mechanic with half a brain and have all the cool tools and toys to get the job done quickly..... yet they stick it to us and take advantage when they should be making it good themselves.
2. They are not redeeming their good name by making this right with the customers...at the very least, they should do a recall.. take their lumps and be done with it.