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Why does the Prius seem to blow tail light bulbs so often

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Ichiro, May 3, 2010.

  1. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    You mean there isn't a spare set clipped to the inside of the taillight access covers? Or is that just a Honda thing?

    With a pair of Hondas staying in the household 20+ years each, every taillight was replaced at least once.

    I'm seeing plenty of vehicles with a taillight out, and no particular pattern of Priuses being any worse than the rest. Last week saw an uncomfortable number of vehicles (no Priuses) with both standard brake lights out, only the center lamp lighting up. I'm particularly sensitive to this, especially since an unfortunate encounter long ago with an SUV with both brake lamps dead, when those vehicles were mostly exempt from passenger car safety standards.
     
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Might be just the newer cars. I've only replaced one taillight bulb so far (can't remember the kms but it was a while ago... maybe when it was 3 years old?).


    Our Camry had blown the left, 3rd and right brake light... and then the left again before it got totalled.
     
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Since you operate your vehicle with lights on at all times, the next question is what is your average speed.

    I'll guess that your average speed is 25 mph, considering periods when the car is stopped in traffic or at stoplights, periods driving on the highway, etc. Given that guess, your lights have been on for > 5,000 hours.

    The rated lifetime of typical auto incandescent lightbulbs can be ~1,500 hours. See for example:
    http://genet.gelighting.com/LightPr...onsumer&APPLICATION=Automotive&CATEGORY=Lamps

    and look up the wedge-socketed bulb GE T3.25, model 168.

    Therefore it would not surprise me if you needed to change your tail and license bulbs 2x or 3x so far, given the miles logged on your car.
     
    xpcman likes this.
  4. rfelley

    rfelley Junior Member

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    I've replaced both of mine since I bought the car used 6 months ago. Also have noticed others on the road with tail lights out. Can't explain, just agreeing that the incident rate on this item seems higher than normal.
     
  5. chrysotile

    chrysotile New Member

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    We have a 2007 Prius and in the almost three years we have owned it we have had to take it back to the local Toyota dealer at least four times to have the same right rear tail light bulb replaced. It is no sooner "fixed" then it burns out again. My wife (who drives the Prius) has been pulled over twice by local police to tell her her tail light was out. Very embarrassing.

    The Toyota dealer has been terrific to work with, they have never charged us a dime for all the work. Bu they seem to be at a loss to explain why this keeps happening.

    Still - this is becoming a real annoyance, not to mention a potential safety issue. My wife does not know the tail light is out (again) until someone tells her.
     
  6. nerfer

    nerfer A young senior member

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    I've got 35K on my '06, and no bulbs burned out anywhere.

    I even cracked the cover to the right rear lights when loading 8 foot 2x10's in the back, but I put some clear tape over it to keep the water out and it's been fine since then (that was probably in '07).
     
  7. vertex

    vertex Active Member

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    Two things come to mind. What brand replacement bulb are you using? I have noticed that some bulbs last much longer then others. If you keep on using the same brand, try another.
    There is a design "flaw" in the LED brake lights. I assume this in not your problem. The LEDs are in 2 series strings with one current limiting resistor. If one led in one string opens, the series resistance is too low for one string (1/2 the current) so the current in the good string goes up, and the second string fails quicker.
     
  8. s3nfo

    s3nfo Member

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    Never had a problem in our '05 until last night, she still has all the original light bulbs and just burned out one of the brake LED's. I see how to get to the tail lights, but can't figure out how to get to the brake lights? Anybody know?
     
  9. jporalla

    jporalla New Member

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    I just purchased a 2007 Prius and not only did I have to have the headlights relaced the back light over the plate as well as the driving rear light bulb is out and the vanity light??? What gives Did you ever find an answer?? Ughhh!!:confused:
     
  10. krg03

    krg03 Not expert, just experienced

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    Same answer in your thread you started. Bulbs burn out. Car is an investment and a constant drain on money. Any car.
     
  11. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I am just amazed you folks SEE other Priuses.
     
  12. xpcman

    xpcman Senior Member

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    I see Toyota did a upgrade with the 2010 on the rear marker lights. After finding both sides out on my 2008 at 30k miles. I replaced them with LEDs. The 5 LED SMD version is a bit dim and I am now ordering the 9 LED version. I was going to replace the bulbs in the 2010 only to find that they now use a much bigger conventional bulb. They must have found those bayonet sockets/bulbs just don't last.
     
  13. krg03

    krg03 Not expert, just experienced

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    Make sure they are 5050 led. Much brighter than other led no matter how many there are.
    I agree the led pattern isn't as bright as the bulb. Some of the upgrades I did were more dim because of the reflective (or non) of the plastic insides. For the front markers I had to make a spread of led to get the same intensitity as the small 168 bulb. Also I used white where the amber or red was already on the housing rather than a red or amber led. White more intense.
     
  14. fgoodyear

    fgoodyear New Member

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    Had my 2007 for 3 1/2 years and almost 83k..... Only bulbs I have had any trouble with are the HID headlights
     
  15. Zacher

    Zacher New Member

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    I concur. I used to have frequently loose taillight connections on my '06. I could even rap sharply on the hatch and get the light to illuminate on occasion. I finally tightly zip-tied the two halves of the harness together and haven't had any issues since.
     
  16. Zacher

    Zacher New Member

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    In Portland? Please. :) I ordered special license plates just so I could recognize MY car more easily in parking lots!
     
  17. avseals

    avseals Junior Member

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    I've replaced 3 rear lamps (always the same left rear light location) and the front running light. Uses the same bulb front and rear. This morning it's out again but giving it a little jiggle causes it to burn again. I keep extras in the boot as well. I'll put a meter on it and see how much juice it's putting out.

    - Julian
     
  18. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Never lost a bulb on my 07 either.

    I have not seen any Prius with bulbs out either.

    Are you saying you have just lost one bulb?

    Repeat blown bulbs are usually corroded sockets. Spray some of this in the socket before you install the bulb:

    http://www.levineautoparts.com/bl1.html

    Available at Home D exclusively.
     
  19. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Actually the white LED in a red housing should be less bright than a red LED. You are filtering all but the red spectrum through that red lens and since LEDs are based on a very narrow spectrum, you should experience much less lumens passing through the housing.

    That being said, I have replaced my right brake light bulb (non-LED) twice and the left side once since I have owned the car (124k miles). I recently purchased LEDs (SMT Tower III 25 LEDs/per light). I'm crossing my fingers they fit!
     
  20. wmcbrine

    wmcbrine Junior Member

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    Plenty, every day. One parks right across the street from my new house, and another a block or two down the street.

    I could even limit it to blue Gen IIs like my own, and see them maybe weekly, crossing my path. Once, I parked at the grocery store, and came out to find the identical car parked in the space facing mine. (I wish I had a picture!)

    Yeah, if all I had to go on was the cars around here, I'd never believe that hybrids were only 2% of U.S. sales, or whatever the number is.

    But don't get me wrong -- there are still more SUVs than anything.