Headlight problem

They generally do but there is a problem with the D4R bulbs in the 2006-2009 Prius. The 2004-2005 models don't have any issues because they use a D2R bulb and possibly a different ballast.

 

I've sent an email to a custom HID projector retrofit company. I am going to see if they can put together a package with retrofitted HIDs which would solve the failure problem in the 2006-2009 Prius AND provide a MUCH better light source. I'll create a new thread if something like that can be done affordably and doesn't require too much work for some of you non-mechanically inclined folks.

 

What I have also found which makes me think that the problem I am experiencing is not the bulb is the fact that at times when the headlights flicker, I see the day/night brightness on the mfd flicker too. In my mind, that points to a light controller not recognizing if the lights should be on or off. (My two cents).

Also, I've pondered if the problem may be the ballast..

 

I was so happy to find this thread. I have a 2005 Prius with the same problem. Lights go out intermittently, turn it off & back on & the light is back on. When the light comes back on, it's slightly yellow. The dealership wants $800 to change my headlights & I don't know what is going on. Has anyone else with a Gen 2 had this problem?

 

Even though D2R bulbs in 04-05 are more robust, they still wear out, and show this symptom. If you visit a dealer, they should charge you $175 per bulb and 1 hour of labor. I can see $500 with tax, but not $800, unless there is a problem with the ballast, which is very rare.

If you are handy, you can change them yourself, but it takes a lot of strength to turn the back cover.

 

Aye and you can get aftermarket bulbs for as little as $15-$30 a pair or $60 for oem units.

 

Yes. One of my lights starts winking out, but I have an 06 w/different bulbs (D4R were used on the 06-09 HID Priuses). I'd imagine your dealer wants $150+ for each bulb alone, not including labor.

These should be the right bulbs for your 05 (and the 04):

gave me hints on the amount I needed to remove.

I'd start by replacing the bad bulb (but still keep it, in case it isn't bad). If replaced w/quality lights and there's still a problem, then the ECU/ballast might need replacement instead/too.

 

If I remember correctly, the D2R MSRP is $175, while D4R is $150. But yes, please do buy them anywhere other than a dealer for DIY.

 

I was experiencing the on/off issue with my 2007 and the dealership would not include me in the class action repair due to mileage despite my complaint of this issue starting almost 2 years ago (it got progressively worse.) I finally bit the bullet after reading info here and watching helpful videos on youtube about doing it myself. Found D4R bulbs on amazon for $49 each and did the replacement in less than 30 minutes. I spent most of that time going over the available info to make sure I was doing it right. I did the "no need to remove bumper" version and was relieved to find that it was very straight forward. My biggest issue is that I have big hands and the passenger side was a tight fit. The driver side was very simple. Save the $ and try to replace them yourselves. If you are not "handy" bug a friend that is. You will be happy to have saved the money.

 

Congrats Tojo..... yes its easy.... getting the wire retainer on and off was the biggest hassle for me, but only because I couldn't see what I was doing.. now that I've done it.. its a piece of cake.

I highly encourage people to not be at the mercy of the stealership and just do it yourself.

Flickering is no big deal unless it gets worse.... sometimes its the percursor to problems.

If your into gambling.... almost "every" time its the bulb and not the ballast....
Take the attitude that "even if it was the ballast, my bulb needs changed anyway" and you'll find that most likely that will be the fix and the ballast is fine.

I have two 2006 prius's, but are over 140K now and I"ve changed bulbs maybe 3 times between the two cars.
I ordered several of them when I catch them on sale on ebay and they are sitting my garage for when I need them.
I don't replace both at once anymore as color differences between the old bulb and the new are extremely subtle after they are warmed up.

Besides, the new LED cars running around these days often look different colors based on which angle you are getting hit by them.. so who cares?

Unless your the type who won't change your wiper blades but let the auto guy do them, I encourage you to go for it........ no need to remove bumpers... the tech that wrote that was trying to figure out the most expensive way to do it for times sake for the stealerships to make a buck.... That is absolutely absurd to drop a bumper to change a bulb unless you just like showing off as to how slick of a mechanic you are and how cool your tools are.

 

Update:

My used car dealer wanted to replace the bulbs, so he bought them and had his mechanic do it. I gave him $120 since he said he paid $240 for 2 bulbs from a real Toyota dealer. His mechanic touched the bulbs and they did the exact same thing the first bulbs did flickering and shutting off.

I told the used car dealer and he said he wanted the car for 1 day (which turned into 2). What ended up happening is the dealer bought 2 new bulbs but had Toyota mechanic install them (without touching them) and they seem to work fine now! I gave the mechanic no money the second time around.

 

you can't touch any bulbs... even Halogen and especially HID that burn so hot.
The oil off your skin becomes a point for light to be converted into heat and toast the bulb.

Similar to how light from the Sun is not spent until it hits an object and is converted to heat.

I see no reason to spend the extra money for a bulb from Toyota.... if the first ones from Toyota wasn't that grand, why expect them to be any better now?

the Ebay bulb work just fine and are a fraction of the price.

 

To further back up what Alan has stated, the bulbs I bought off of Amazon were the exact same manufacturer and part number as the original bulbs I replaced. I compared them as I switched them out.

- Philips D4R Xenon HID Headlight Bulb

 

You've got 4 posts and they are all solicitations. Not cool

 

I have an 06 prius I believe it has a pack 7 on it. I to have a left headlight problem the funny thing is about three weeks ago the light started working with no problems then monday the light leveling sensor went bad fixed the sensor. Now the light is blinking and going out again. I wonder if the sensor is pulling on wires or moving the bulb?

 

I have a 2009 Prius without HID. I'm on my 4th set of bulbs due to the right bulb always going out. I've tried Sylvania, PIAA, you name it. So I decided to purchase an HID conversion kit to solve the problem. As of a month ago...the bulb goes out! Turn it off for a few minutes and it turns back on. WTH!!!! I've contacted the manufacturer of the HID kit (DDM Tuning in San Diego, CA) to see if they can resolve the issue. I've heard it may be a reverse polarity issue or needing to up the fuse 5 amps. I really hope this does the trick. If not, the NHTSA will be hearing from me. I've spent more money on bulbs with this car, than all of my other cars combined.

It's gotta be a problem with Toyota.

 

Dirtpimp, did you use a relay harness with your HID kit? I have a problem with my DDM 35w kit I use for my foglights where one light does not always turn on so I have to turn them off an on again for it to work. I am not using a relay harness on them but I am using the harness on my DDM 55w kit for my headlights and they never fail.

 

OK...I have a 2006 Prius with 100K mi so I guess its not surprising a headlight is out. WHere do I look to see what bulb to find.....I see above D2R and D4R. I'm not even sure if they are HID. I want to buy bulbs and then probably find someone handier than I am to install. I guess 1st check out the fuses and the connections. Dealer was messing around under the hood clearing out some debris and fixing the connections to the MFD after the tornado here.

 

Does your car have factory foglights? If so then you have HIDs and the bulb is a D4R. The install is simple but sometimes requires good hand strength to remove the cover.

 

I recently replaced my headlight (would go off quickly after coming on) and now have a different problem, the light will come on, then go off, if I turn the lights on and off 10-15 times, the light will stay on.. (discovered this by accident)

Any insight on this? Was the headlight not the problem? I never tried turning them on and off as I did with the replacement light.