My HID bulb replacement on my 06 prius

[Cocooningweb]

Hello everyone,

I had the infamous intermitent problem with my right HID on my '06 Prius, the dealer changed the left one about a year ago under warranty but they don't want to cover the right one now.

I bought two bulbs on eBay (about $70 total) and followed Windstrings' tutorial and everything went fine ... well until I turned them on !

For some strange reasons both headlights come on as soon as turn the switch, but they go out within about 3-5 minutes, both sides! If I just flash the high beams or turn them off then back on, they're back on for another five minutes.

Any ideas what the problem is? What's weird is that the left headlight was working fine before the swap, since the dealer changed it. I decided to change both sides to ensure HID temperature match, I got 6Ks.

Thanks !

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by Cocooningweb

For some strange reasons both headlights come on as soon as turn the switch, but they go out within about 3-5 minutes, both sides! If I just flash the high beams or turn them off then back on, they're back on for another five minutes.

Any ideas what the problem is? What's weird is that the left headlight was working fine before the swap, since the dealer changed it. I decided to change both sides to ensure HID temperature match, I got 6Ks.
Thanks !

Welcome to the Forum....

I don't know what year of prius you are driving but call the dealer and make sure the HID bulbs you ordered are the same ones you bought.

There are D4R and D4S... thats my best guess.... I've never ran into that before.

The one side that was working fine before, now doesn't work "if I understand right", but you have the new bulb in that spot right?

I"m wondering if you have the wrong bulbs.
It almost sounds like you aren't getting adequate maintenance voltage for the bulbs from your ballast... maybe there is a mismatch.

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by jtrosario

BTW, I paid $18.99 USD on EBay with free shipping to alanyes888(sales@esupersaving.com) for 2 HID bulbs 4300K, I asked for D2R 4300K and received D2C 4300K. It looks like the D2C has an additional notch to be plug-compatible with both the D2R and the D2S, otherwise the bulbs appears the same. The light output is much better than the 6 year old D2R bulbs that I removed with the same color (the 4300K part). In my garage the new bulbs' brightness and color look exactly as I remember the original HID lights on my 2004 in this same garage back in November of 2003. I am very happy with my $18.99 D2C bulbs(as in under $10 each) and the 4 hour do-it-yourself job. In the future, this will now take 15 minutes each side for me as well. Hopefully, the above notes will help someone else do this much more quickly than I did.

Are those the bulbs your car calls for?

I don't know what the differences are, but all HID bulbs are not the same as some require different voltage inputs from the ballasts and different maintenence voltages.

Normal Halogen bulbs are simple... if you can get them in the socket, your set... because the only parameter you have to match electronically is that you supply 12V to them...
In other words... Halogen installations are quite simple.

But HID bulbs are different as the ballast much match the bulb requirements of voltages and current.

The Ballast supplies a very high voltage to fire them and then hold a maintenance voltage to keep them going.

HID bulbs have to be matched with a ballast that supplies the needed voltage and current they demand.

[Cocooningweb]

Originally Posted by windstrings

There are D4R and D4S... thats my best guess.... I've never ran into that before.

The one side that was working fine before, now doesn't work "if I understand right", but you have the new bulb in that spot right?

I"m wondering if you have the wrong bulbs.
It almost sounds like you aren't getting adequate maintenance voltage for the bulbs from your ballast... maybe there is a mismatch.

Thanks for the quick reply. I have a 2006, Package #6 with OEM HID. The bulbs I bought on eBay were advertised as "Xenon HID D4C D4R 6K Headlights Bulbs 06-09 07 08 Prius". They shipped me D4C instead of the D4R, which they claim is the same thing.

I just put back my OEM bulbs and it seems to be ok now, both sides. I guess I maybe got faulty bulbs. I emailed the seller, waiting for a reply.

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by Cocooningweb

I just put back my OEM bulbs and it seems to be ok now, both sides. I guess I maybe got faulty bulbs. I emailed the seller, waiting for a reply.

Good luck on getting them to reply.

I tried to do a little research for you.
iJDMTOY JDM 6000K 8000K 10000K 12000K D4S D4R D4C HID Xenon Upgrade Bulbs for Lexus Toyota
Same guys here.
Here is mention of voltage differences...I don't know how credible this is.

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.

CarLightTrends.com MTEC D4R & D4S Xenon 6000K & 8000K Bulbs - Club Lexus Forums

The mention of chinese retrofit being different voltage may either by hype or the fact is our ballast is lower voltage "hey maybe its chinese knock off too!" and may work better with the chinese bulbs.... I have yet to have any problems with my chinese bulbs.

what's the difference between D4C and D4S?

Nothing really. They both look the same but specifically D4S is for projector lens type headlamps. D4C is universal which can be used in both D4R and D4S. Just incase, D4R is for reflector type headlamps

Sorry you had to go through all that hassle and still not have it resolved.

[sambojoho]

YouTube - Replacing HID lamp Prius 2006

YouTube - Replacing HID lamp Prius 2006

I thought this was a decent overview of one way to do this job.

[kevin_rf]

Thanks for the details on how to replace the bulbs.

I cheated and had the school auto shop where my wife teaches replace the bulbs. sadly the new bulb is acting the same as the old bulb on the passenger side. The warmer the day the more likely it is to fail. I am suspecting the ballast. So I have purchased a new ballast. Has anyone posted a how to on how to replace the ballast?

Thanks.

(Oh detail 2005, 141,000 miles, bulb/ballast went at ~135,000 miles)

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by kevin_rf

Thanks for the details on how to replace the bulbs.

I cheated and had the school auto shop where my wife teaches replace the bulbs. sadly the new bulb is acting the same as the old bulb on the passenger side. The warmer the day the more likely it is to fail. I am suspecting the ballast. So I have purchased a new ballast. Has anyone posted a how to on how to replace the ballast?

Thanks.

(Oh detail 2005, 141,000 miles, bulb/ballast went at ~135,000 miles)

which bulb did you use?.. the OEMs?

There is allot of speculation that the ballasts are slightly underpowered and so the chinese ebay bulbs would work better......
Unless you got a better ballast...

But I would second guess buying another OEM ballast because you could end up with the same problem.

[kevin_rf]

Originally Posted by windstrings

which bulb did you use?.. the OEMs?

Philips D2R 85126 HID Xenon off of ebay (genuinexenon).

Time to go figure out how the ballast install works.

[Genoz World]

Motion sickness from the video!!! Ohhhhhh