Headlight problem

[georgekessel]

I've got my 2006 going into the shop tomorrow for the bulb issue (for the 3rd time). I'm just off warranty for time not miles. I'll be calling that # in the morning but I'm in Canada now not the USA. It's an ex-US car so I wonder if they'll fix it for free or not?

[J_w73]

Been reading through this thread and have yet to conclude whether this is a bulb/capsule issue or a headlamp computer/ecu component. I see one or both being replaced and sometimes fixing the issue and sometimes not

Can someone let me know which is the culprit? My certified preowned prius passenger headlight went out with 3 miles left on my 3000 mile comprehensive warranty.. I immediately called the dealer (service department closed) to report the problem. I took a picture of the odometer as some additional proof my headlight was out before the warranty was up... unfortuneatly I didn't get a picture of the headlight being out as I turned the lights off and back on and it came back on..
Already getting ready for a battle with the dealer.. but hopefully they will fix under warranty.. even though I have seen that the warranty doesn't cover bulbs..
if it is only a bulb that they won't cover then I will spend the $70 on the ebay bulb and switch it out myself.

But if it is a bigger issue then I hope they make good and fix it.

[isp2952]

It began with one light going out. Not so unusual right? But before I could get it fixed I noticed that when I turned the lights on the burned out light would come on then dim slowly and go out. I also had my good bulb go out, leaving me with no headlights. When I turned the light switch off and then back on the good bulb came back on. Took it to dealer. They replaced the burned out bulb and told me they were interconnected and that is why the good one went out. I bought the story until this morning when the good one went out again and came back on after turning the lights off and on again. Got on this forum and noticed I wasn't the only one with the problem. All seem to be having the problem with 40K miles or more. Mine is at 47K. I called Toyota this a.m. and got a number. Will be contacted when they decide what they are going to do. I have already decided what I'm going to do. I'm contacted the NHTSB and going to the media. This is bull crap! It is a real safety issue. They had better jump on this faster than the accelerator pedal problem.

[qbee42]

In general, the problem has been a compatibility issue between the capsules and the ballast. It appears that the ballast is barely supplying enough voltage to maintain the capsule, so as the capsule ages, it stops working reliably. In this situation it usually doesn't help to replace the ballast, since you will most likely get another one built to the same specs. It gets complicated because a replacement ballast might work at the upper end of the voltage range, and that would fix the problem. A replacement capsule might be more tolerant of lower voltages, and that would also fix the problem. In rare cases the ballast might actually have failed, which means a replacement would work. On the other hand, a replacement capsule might be less tolerant and will not fix the problem. All of these permutations make the problem confusing.

Tom

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by qbee42

In general, the problem has been a compatibility issue between the capsules and the ballast. It appears that the ballast is barely supplying enough voltage to maintain the capsule, so as the capsule ages, it stops working reliably.

I think thats about it Tom.... that may be the reason the Chinese bulbs do better since they require less voltage as discussed here.

The quote below describes a push for genuine Phillips bulbs because the ballasts voltage it too high to support the "knock off" chinese bulbs without causing short life... but if the ballast is slightly "under powered" this would explain why the "knock offs" actually work better than the originals, and why it takes a second restrike to get the bulb going again, once it degrades a little from being underpowered.

Unlike other sellers' cheap Chinese knock-off retrofit D4S/D4R bulbs converted from regular D2S/D2R bulbs, our JDM D4C HID bulbs are genuine Mercury-Free D4 bulbs using genuine Philips Burners.

Those Chinese knock-off retrofit D4S/D4R from D2S/D2R bulbs will burn out quick because genuine D4S/D4R HID bulbs are working under a higher 43V ballast comparing with regular D2S/D2R's 36V ballast.

[jaw444]

Originally Posted by isp2952

...Got on this forum and noticed I wasn't the only one with the problem. All seem to be having the problem with 40K miles or more. Mine is at 47K. I called Toyota this a.m. and got a number. Will be contacted when they decide what they are going to do. I have already decided what I'm going to do. I'm contacted the NHTSB and going to the media. This is bull crap! It is a real safety issue. They had better jump on this faster than the accelerator pedal problem.

When i was told by Toyota that they were going to reimburse the cost of replacing the bulb (that's what the invoice says was done), i thought they were openly recognizing that there is a problem, that progress is being made toward something being done about this. I called a few days later to follow up and make sure my fax of the invoice was received (having learned not to leave such things to chance). When i spoke to the same representative, there was something different in her manner, and this time she said "We have decided to pay for the repair on a one time only basis as a good will gesture" or something like that. The first time, there was no mention of "one time only" or "good will" and she had been warmer and friendlier. I was just calling to ask if she got my fax. She was making a whole new speech about why they were reimbursing me. I am left with a different impression from my initial one. I don't think the problem is being acknowledged at all, based on the second contact. I was pretty much told that if the problem recurs, i'm on my own, they are doing me a favor to reimburse me, because when it comes down to it, headlights repeatedly going out is just normal wear and tear. I hope you are able to get media attention to this. Reading this thread is not reassuring, about the future of my headlights.

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by jaw444

W The first time, there was no mention of "one time only" or "good will" and she had been warmer and friendlier. I was just calling to ask if she got my fax. She was making a whole new speech about why they were reimbursing me. I am left with a different impression from my initial one. I don't think the problem is being acknowledged at all, based on the second contact. I was pretty much told that if the problem recurs, i'm on my own, they are doing me a favor to reimburse me, because when it comes down to it, headlights repeatedly going out is just normal wear and tear. I hope you are able to get media attention to this. Reading this thread is not reassuring, about the future of my headlights.

The problem is now being acknowledged... just not officially for fear it would gender an onslaught of recalls.
They are oiling the greasy wheel hoping the problem with go away.

Don't worry, the Chinese ebay bulbs seem to do fine.... I hear they like the lesser voltage anyway.

I still have two GenII's and they both have the ebay bulbs for close to 40K miles now with no problems.

If defense of Toyota... they are a big target for lawsuits so they are trying to do good to the customer without attracting attention.

I reality, you would think they would "love" for the media to get ahold of honest good will gestures but reality is.. its not a good will gesture, but rather.... here's your cookie, now go away and be quiet and don't tell anybody!

[FJRGerry]

Hi all,

I haven't read this entire thread since it's 62 pages, but that tells me this has been an issue for quite some time. My 2007 Prius has the same issue and is 2.5 years old at 41K. I just got a voicemail from the dealer that the cost to repair is $566!!! I called back and left a VM to not repair and that Toyota should repair at their expense. We'll see...

[Longdriver]

Originally Posted by FJRGerry

Hi all,

I haven't read this entire thread since it's 62 pages, but that tells me this has been an issue for quite some time. My 2007 Prius has the same issue and is 2.5 years old at 41K. I just got a voicemail from the dealer that the cost to repair is $566!!! I called back and left a VM to not repair and that Toyota should repair at their expense. We'll see...

I just had my 2008 Prius in for this problem except i didn't think it was anything but some headlights that just needed to be replaced.

I didn't really think anything of it until they told me the cost of each bulb would be $150.00. To top it off they also wanted to charge me $45.00 to replace each one. So $390.00 just to put in 2 headlamps.

After talking with one of the service people they called Toyota and said they would pay for one of the bulbs even though the HID bulbs were not covered by any warranty. I am glad i declined the service after reading some of the posts on this page.

Lets hope Toyota will recognize there is a problem soon and do the right thing.

[Wheelin1]

Thanks guys got my lights fixed 1-800-331-4331 and got a case # 2006 red 54000 miles