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Low Beam Headlight Replacement

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by gibbywmu, Apr 4, 2024.

  1. gibbywmu

    gibbywmu New Member

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    Hi All,

    New here, my sons 2011 Prius low beams seem really weak. Looking to replace, but a bit confused. Do I need a special style with this pigtail connector on it? Or it simply unplugs near the red base in the attached picture? I didn't try to remove...........son had to leave so put the light back in until I can order new ones.
     

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    #1 gibbywmu, Apr 4, 2024
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That looks like a regular 2011 Prius not a Prius c?

    Also, that looks like an aftermarket LED headlight.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Apr 4, 2024
    Khezekiah likes this.
  3. whitrzac

    whitrzac Junior Member

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    Those are cheap aftermarket LEDs
     
    #3 whitrzac, Apr 4, 2024
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  4. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Active Member

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    The low beams on a Gen 3 Prius are H11, so you need to purchase a replacement H11 bulb.
     
    #4 Brian1954, Apr 4, 2024
  5. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Be careful of cheap led retrofits. Their aim can blind other drivers making you dangerous to yourself and innocents. They can overheat and go out or melt connectors. They can cause radio frequency interference that can corrupt other vehicle networks. So cheap is bad.

    Try these for your h11 low beams
    IMG_4656.jpeg
     
    #5 rjparker, Apr 4, 2024
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2024
  6. gibbywmu

    gibbywmu New Member

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    If you zoom in on that picture I posted, the current LED bulb has a pigtail on it........which runs about 6" to the connector type that's on the LED bulb you are showing. Is this one going to work? Can I just get a replacement that pulls out where that red base is? This is my first experience with LED's. Already bought the wrong ones the 1st time.

    Guess I'm not sure if I were to buy these, if I have enough slack on that other end to reach the back of the light. Would have to look again.
     

    Attached Files:

    #6 gibbywmu, Apr 4, 2024
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2024
  7. gibbywmu

    gibbywmu New Member

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    Looks like it would be this style here w/ the pigtail on it @rjparker Not sure if the non-pigtail are going to work.........did not check if there is slack on that other end.
     

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    #7 gibbywmu, Apr 4, 2024
  8. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    A standard h11 halogen bulb has no pigtail. So the factory harness will work. H11 is the low beam. A pigtail is ok as well.

    Rather than focusing on the connector, understand the performance issues of a good led replacement. Buying and installing it twice in a short time is learning the hard way.
     
    #8 rjparker, Apr 5, 2024
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  9. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    FWIW, LED bulbs are polarity driven - standard bulbs are NOT. Plug the LED bulb back in, check it. If it doesn't work, rotate the connector 180 degrees, plug it back in and see if it works now. LED bulbs has a very low failure rate. When I switched over my halogen lamps - they were in there for more than 5 years. I work nights, so they were always on. Car got totaled and went to the junk yard with those bulbs in her.
     
    #9 BiomedO1, Apr 5, 2024
  10. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Aux Beam S series is all ya need in the correct h number . I have them in my low and high beams on both of the generation 3s that are broke down here in the driveway and they've been in for near 5 years they have not gone dull or dim and all the lights on the front match on my 2013 persona the LED running lights that came on the car match the s1 bulbs perfectly in the high and low beams. I have used this aux brand. For a few years now and they do very well mine are fanless so there's no whinimg and no noise
     
    #10 Tombukt2, Apr 5, 2024
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