Are HID Headlamps Okay on a Prius?

Mine is basic 2010 prius with HID headlights & foglights both turn on same time when the car is started. Nothing happen. But I usually let the headlights on first, wait few seconds, then turn on the hid foglights.
My prius doesn't have auto on/off mode

 

As there is no alternator on Prius, 12v is charged by inverter that makes 12 v from 280 v of large traction battery. So you don't need to wait for engine to start, as long you are in "ready" mode.
- Alex

 

HIDs come with a ballast for each light with regulates the currents in the electric circuit. Mine works as intended and is completely fine.

 

My Gen II (you have a gen II) had factory HIDs. They worked fine.

The cars will manage the 12 volt. If you go down into the battery compartment you will see that there is a small wire that connects to, I think it is the (+) terminal. That is a dedicated signal line so the car can watch *exactly* what the battery is doing in real time. The car will do its job with anything you can possibly hook up to the battery. (There are people who power their house off these cars) If the battery needs more voltage it will go out and get some from the traction battery or the ICE. Don't worry about it.

Regarding starting, the 12 volt doesn't crank the engine, so it doesn't work all that hard when you start the car anyhow.

If you want to switch over to HID you HAVE to get the HID headlight housing. You will get a nasty messed up beam pattern if you just put HID bulbs into an incan. housing. The stock HID setup also has a car level sensor so it can try to never point the beams up too high. If you go with an aftermarket mod you won't have that, so you NEED to be vigilant about keeping the new super beams properly aimed.

There may be delicate work required to adapt the high beam/low beam mechanism to work in your car, but it is possible.

 

Good info, thanks!
Where does one get the HID housing?
I hate my stock headlights.

Thanks again.

 

OEM HID housing does not exist for Gen 3 Prius. Only LED and Incandescent were installed on the car. There are 2 ways to get a HID in Gen 3 Prius :

1) Install H11 HID system (HID bulbs made to fit the H11 bulb spot in regular incandescent projector headlight) - this is illegal modification of headlight and you can get a ticket for it, but not very likely. This will provide a lot of light but less than ideal beam pattern that can blind the oncoming traffic

2) Take the headlight apart, remove incandescent projector and install a Projector HID light assembly in it (Like HELLA or MORIMOTO). This will still technically be illegal, but will provide the standard beam shape and lots of light. Lots of skilful labor required though.

There is one more solution to poor lighting problem with stock headlights. H11 to H9 conversion (you replace H11 bulb with modified H9 bulb, Google it). This is what I did in my wife's 2010. Its easy and provides about 30% more light with better color (more white than yellow) and nice pattern. Its cheap too.

- Alex