2005 Halogen headlight low beam out

yea.. just replace the lowbeam. a standard halogen would cost what.. 30 dollars?

 

I believe that the halogen bulb will contain both the low and high beam filaments within. When a halogen bulb fails, it will fail solid.

It is possible that the car has an electrical problem and you might check the headlight fuse to ensure it is not defective. After confirming that the fuse is good, it would be reasonable to replace the bulb.

 

You should definitely NOT pay a several hundred $$ bill!

My husband and I replaced one HID headlight bulb on our 2006 Prius two days ago, all by ourselves. We are not any kind of experts, had never done it before, don't usually do a lot of work on our own cars. We patched together instructions from the owner's manual (not very useful), PriusChat threads (much more useful), and found some YouTube instructional videos (if you have a laptop, netbook, or tablet, bring it out to the car with you so you can watch the videos as you're doing it). Use the videos so you can get an idea of what's going on where you can't see.

Here's one PriusChat thread with video.

I also followed the verbal instructions from this PriusChat post.

It took us about 2 hours -- and a lot of swearing; you're working at an awkward angle and it's a tricky process to figure out how some of the pieces go, since you can't see very well. But we were able to figure it out between us, and I think most people can.

It only cost $20 for the bulb (bought them on eBay at $40 for the pair) and required only a Phillips head and flat head screwdriver (to remove the plastic clips holding the engine guard), and a flashlight to illuminate the area. We did not have to remove the bumper.

I don't know whether the halogen bulb setup is significantly different, but Google implies that if anything it is easier.

I would definitely try checking fuses and then replacing the bulb yourself first. Set aside an afternoon so you don't feel rushed, and grab a partner to hold a flashlight for you and help figure out the tricky bits.

If your headlight still doesn't work after replacing the bulb, and the fuses are okay, then you probably want to get it checked out for other electrical problems. But I would bet it's probably just a burnt-out bulb.

 

Dietz,
EDIT: It turns out that there are four separate fuses for the headlamps, one of mine was burned out. You may want to try double checking the fuses.
I am curious what you found as I have the same problem, just one (passenger side) low beam is not working. I changed the lamp and it did not solve the problem. I assume there is an electrical problem and I do not see how all other lamps could work and there be a fuse problem, but I am looking at the fuse block trying to figure out which fuse(s) operate the headlights so I can confirm that is not the issue. I have tried to check voltage at the headlight socket that plugs into the lamp at the back of the headlight, but I am not able to measure any voltage, much less 12-volts, at any of the three wires, to a body ground.
This is very disturbing, especially since I got pulled over and given a written warning. I hope somebody has figured out what is causing one low beam to quit working, when the lamp is in good shape, no sign of burn-out and a new lamp does not fix the problem either.

 

*for future reference
This information is not true. I have a 2005 Prius with halogen headlights. My passenger low beam went out on the passenger side but my high beams on both sides still worked. i replaced my passenger headlight and highs and lows are now working.

It is possible for only the low filaments within a halogen headlight to go out.

 

I agree with the statement that either the low or the high filament within a halogen bulb can fail. Further, when either filament fails, that normally is a solid failure with respect to that particular filament.

Compare to the HID bulb which, when it is failing, sometimes can be made to temporarily work by turning the lights off then back on. This is an ill-advised practice because it stresses the high voltage ballast.

 

Ok, I'm confused. I thought all bulbs in Prii had to be HID. Didn't realize you can put plain halogens in these cars... I had a bulb burn out a few weeks ago and ordered some new Philips hid bulbs from Amazon, they were only about 45 bucks each...

The dead bulb went and never came back on again even after switching the headlights on and off. Does that mean that the bulbs in the car now are halogen? What is the difference in quality/visibility between hid and halogens?

 

Ok, I'm confused. I thought all bulbs in Prii had to be HID. Didn't realize you can put plain halogens in these cars... I had a bulb burn out a few weeks ago and ordered some new Philips hid bulbs from Amazon, they were only about 45 bucks each...

The dead bulb went and never came back on again even after switching the headlights on and off. Does that mean that the bulbs in the car now are halogen? What is the difference in quality/visibility between hid and halogens?

 

The 2G Prius is equipped either with halogen or HID headlights. If your car has factory fog lights, then it is also equipped with HID headlights. You cannot switch from one type to the other type without replacing the headlight assembly, socket, etc.

The HID lights are brighter than the halogen lights. There is only one HID light within the bulb. The HID headlight assembly has a shutter assembly within, powered by a motor, which creates the high or low beam.

The halogen bulb contains two filaments, one for low beam and the other for high beam.

 

I have a 2010 Prius both low beam lights went out at the same time while driving last night. Fortunately the high beams light worked. After replacing both bulbs the low beams still would not come on. Fuses are ok. I discovered the old bulbs are ok, by connecting jumper wires from bulb to a battery. Has anyone heard of this problem?

 

Sounds like either the headlight relay (which provides voltage to the high and low beams) or the dimmer switch has failed.

 

Our 2005 Prius (original owners) lost only the LOW beam on Left side (headlight). I do not know the status of the bulb itself. HIGH beam works on both sides. This is recent. By end of March, we will have owned the Prius for ten years. Mileage is lower than 106,000

 

Anyone on this thread resolve their issue since 2014? Lol

My issue is the same as many others on here.

I have a 2009 with halogen bulbs, high beams on both sides work, low beam works on passenger side only. I replaced bulb with new and low beam still does not work. In the mean time I will check fuses and relay mentioned here.