1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

H11 HID morimoto headlights help

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by yaridong, Jul 30, 2015.

  1. yaridong

    yaridong Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2012
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    OC cali
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Hello forum,

    purchased the H11 HID morimoto kit a little bit over 2 years ago. I have a 2012 prius plug in. Currently having some issues with both lights coming and on and going off.

    DIY suggestions on what I should look at first or do to get this remediated?

    thank you in advance.
     
    #1 yaridong, Jul 30, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2015
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Do you turn on your HIDs after the car is in Ready Mode, or do you leave the headlight switch in the ON position all the time?

    In Ready Mode, the voltage is 14.4 volts (supplied by the DC to DC inverter and the high voltage traction battery), but if you leave the headlight switch in the on position, the HIDs will try to start on 12 volt auxiliary battery power. Your auxiliary battery voltage may be getting a bit low, therefore the HID ballasts aren't getting enough voltage to start up reliably.
     
    #2 xliderider, Jul 30, 2015
  3. yaridong

    yaridong Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2012
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    OC cali
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I start the hids after i am in ready mode. The lights will come on and go off and come on agaim during my drive. It was originally just one of the lights (right one) that was doing it but now the left one is doing it.

    SCH-I545 ?
     
    #3 yaridong, Jul 30, 2015
  4. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Have you contacted TRS? Sounds like you might need to replace your bulbs.
     
    #4 xliderider, Jul 30, 2015
  5. yaridong

    yaridong Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2012
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    OC cali
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    sorry for the ignorance, but who is TRS? do the morimoto HID bulbs generally only last 2 to 2.5 years?
     
    #5 yaridong, Jul 30, 2015
  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    TRS = The Retrofit Source, most people purchase Morimoto products from them.

    Bulbs and ballasts can fail at any time, unfortunately.

    Are you using the dual relay harness?
     
    #6 xliderider, Jul 30, 2015
  7. yaridong

    yaridong Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2012
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    OC cali
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    oh yeah. I bought mine from them. sorry.

    I do not believe I am using a dual relay harness. i remember choosing not to do that. was that a bad move?
     
    #7 yaridong, Jul 30, 2015
  8. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Not necessarily, because it's been working fine till now.

    Have you checked all your connections? Especially the grounds for the ballasts, and the connectors between the oem lights and the ballasts. Take them apart and check for corrosion, etc.
     
    #8 xliderider, Jul 30, 2015
  9. yaridong

    yaridong Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2012
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    OC cali
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    for sure. gonna check that.
     
    #9 yaridong, Jul 30, 2015
  10. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2005
    3,686
    699
    2
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    if you are not using the aux harness, chances are that the supplied electrical current to the ballast is not enough, hence the ballast works under stress and will fail as it may be your case.
    I have the same "complete setup" from the TRS since 3 years and never had a glitch.
     
    #10 mrbigh, Aug 1, 2015
  11. shaotai

    shaotai Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2014
    34
    38
    0
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I would also agree that you need the relay.
    Oddly enough, I was using Morimoto ballasts when I had the OEM headlights without the relay.
    Switching to the G's HID headlights, the OEM Denso's wouldn't stay on with the prius original wiring. Added a relay and it fixed the problem!
     
    #11 shaotai, Aug 1, 2015
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)