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blown hi beam fuses

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Fixer, Nov 27, 2013.

  1. Fixer

    Fixer New Member

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    A soon as I hit the switch on the column it blows both 10a fuses. Blue hi beam indicator light remans lit on dash. The two fuses are adjacent to the DIM relay in the fuse panel They are labeled H-LP HI RH and LH. More craziness with the most over designed lighting system ever. Any thoughts on what to check next? This is of course the HID system on a 2009.
     
  2. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Though's two fuses operate the shade actuators in the headlamp. It would be most unlikely that they both would go short circuit so I would suggest looking for damaged wiring (possibly mice) under the fuse box. The wires are colored violet and yellow in the circuit bellow. Disconnecting at the headlamp end would be a good starting point to see if the fuses still blow.

    Headlamps & Fog Lamps wo_DRL 2of2.jpg

    John (Britprius)
     
  3. Fixer

    Fixer New Member

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    Thank you. Will check that out.
     
  4. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    I should have added I assume the headlamps stay lit when these fuses blow.

    John (Britprius)
     
  5. Fixer

    Fixer New Member

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    Yes the headlamps stay lit when fuse blows. I inspected wire harness. No visible damage under fuse panel. Ipulled the plug at headlight on drivers side. Hard to pull plug on right without removing some stuff. i put a fresh fuse in the fuse location labeled LH and hit the high beam switch. It blew immediately. Does this point to anything? Is there a different plug that goes to the shade actuators? Thanks, Bob
     
  6. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    As we do not have OEM HID's in the UK so I have not seen how the connections are made, but I would assume the shade actuators are on a separate plug to the HID bulbs.
    If you can find and pull those plugs try refitting the fuse and then operating high beam. If the fuse blows without the actuators connected the fault is in the wiring, if the fuse does not blow connect the actuators one at a time to find out which one is faulty.
    I am afraid I do not know if the actuators can be changed or if it is a case of a new headlamp unit.

    John (Britprius)
     
  7. Fixer

    Fixer New Member

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    You Brits are fortunate Toyota did not plague you with HID. I will never have HID on a vehicle again. This latest problem is one in a long line of a ridiculously over engineered system. I will try to find actuator connection. Thanks, Bob
     
  8. benji

    benji New Member

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    Is this a common problem? I have similar problems with mine as well....
     
  9. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Not that I'm aware of. Your's re the first cases I have heard of on PC but I could be wrong. Of course the number will be limited because it will only affect those with OEM HID lamps.
    I have fitted aftermarket HID's to my own Prius and would not go back to OEM halogen bulbs. Aftermarket HID bulbs are little more in cost than the halogen. The complete kit including two inverters, two bulbs, and wiring harness with relays being only £22- $35.

    John (Britprius)
     
  10. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Having read your post again if both fuses are blowing it is difficult to see what could be blowing both fuses.
    I would have thought it most unlikely that both actuators would be short circuit, and as you can see from the circuit the only wires they feed are the yellow and purple one's at the bottom right of the circuit.
    All the other wires in that part of the circuit do not actually exist, only being there with halogen lamps.

    John (Britprius)