Daytime running lights

Take it back to the dealer. You wear on the life of your HIDs. They should have wired the fog lights for DRLs instead.

 

Does HID mean the high beams? Maybe different terminology here in Canada. I see when I have the headlights off on mine the high beams come, at reduced intensity I believe.

 

Still in the dark, LOL.

 

I think it is those blue lights that almost blind the on coming traffic. M Benz and BMW started the fad! I believe macmaster05 is on the correct track? H

 

If they did it correct it should be at only 60% power on the high beams . You should see the difference when you put the lights on at night! H

 

Hello, I am a new member and I really don't quite get what you are talking about, HOWEVER when I read about a fuse and lights...I had to ask a question. My front lamps went out poof, and I could use the high beams. Went to Toyota, tI asked if the fuse had blown and hey said oh, when one goes out sometimes the other goes out. Anyway they had already checked out the car, had to make appt for another day, but the bottom line is the girl just said to me well the lights are working right now. I asked her if it was a fuse problem, and she said I had to replace the lamps. $475.00. I am still working at 73 just to pay my bills, don't have that kind of money for that much at one time. Can anyone tell me anything about this as they said they had to take the whole front bumper off to replace the lamps, that's why it's so expensive. (wondering in Maryland if I am getting ripped off) If anyone can respond, I would appreciate some ideas....

 

Watch this.

also take some time to read the Owners Manual!!! You need to figure out what options you car has, and other minimun facts to make your life easier. If necessary, ask the dealer to point out what is what on your car. A little knowledge can save you lots of time and MONEY!!!

 

No you don't have to remove the bumper. But this chick is a super expert and has done the bulb replacement dozens and dozens of times. She proves it can be done but doesn't mean it's easy the first time.

 

After watching the above video, click on the third thumbnail from the left and see Carolyn get the headlight out in less than five minutes! That's the way to go for people like me with fat hands!

 

HID == Xenon lights

Hal W: No, on US spec Priuses w/factory HIDs, switching between low and high beams doesn't alter the intensity. Rather, some mechanism moves backwards and forwards to switch between the two "intensities". Presumably, this changes how far and wide the light goes. Mine came w/factory HIDs.

On my other car w/HIDs (Nissan 350Z), only the low beams are HID. The high beams are halogens that turned on (as well) when you switched to your brights. IIRC, this was also true of my HID equipped 02 Nissan Maxima.

 

Canadian cars must have DRLs. You had to do *something*, and this was acceptable to get it in. However, now that you are in and have the time I think you can find a better way to do this.

Correct. They solved the immediate problem. However HID lights and light parts are pricey, they do eventually wear out, if it was my car I'd rather replace a ten dollar incandescent bulb every few years rather than a two hundred dollar HID bulb.

I agree. It got you in, but is not optimum.

Means the headlights come on with the car, always.

Don't know, but you could call and ask.

Just bypass the headlight switch with a wire that leads to the lights and always has power when the car is on. Nothing fancy required.

Should be doable.

What's that do?

I feel that macmaster05 has the best idea, that you should check if the fogs can legally serve as DRLs, and if so, get them modded to do so while saving the HIDs for actual night driving.

 

No, they don't have HIDs in Canada because they are poorly suited for DRL work. HID means High Intensity Discharge, which means you don't have a filament like incandescent bulbs, you have gas in a tube. It is easy to run half power through a filament and have it glow weakly. If you run half power through a gas nothing happens.

Yes, they come on weakly so it is easy for other people to see you coming. That's what they call DRLs.

 

tomw ...maybe some answers if you check your Prius Chat mail box.
But , as has be already said, using HID's is not really a good idea.

 

This is really bugging me for some reason, and I really feel for the OP. It's not that our HIDs aren't designed to be on all the time, we shouldn't fear using them because they might go out faster -- it's a safety feature for crying out loud! The problem is Toyota denies responsibility when the bulbs crap out. If you could talk to the service manager or get some kind of written agreement that they'll take care of all your HID bulbs in the future, that'd be great.

But I do still think that HIDs in broad daylight are no more effective than yellow colored bulbs, which makes this even more frustrating. The fog lights can definitely be programmed as DRL. That shouldn't even be in question. The ladies at Luscious Garage do all the time, albeit for it for a small fee.

What do other Prius owners in Canada do? I'm sure you're not the only one.

Anyways, I would keep going back to the dealer, or find a different one. There's a big difference between them saying they did not do something cause they didn't want to/felt it wasn't necessary, and them saying it is simply impossible. What you want them to do falls into the former category.

 

The fog lights would pass for DRL's in Canada. H