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Headlights, I can't see

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cpick66, Jun 7, 2016.

  1. cpick66

    cpick66 New Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Okay I am a new owner to a used 2005 Prius. I love it, runs great. I drove it at night for the first time and felt like I was driving with a flashlight, even on bright. They are on. Is this something to get use to or should I have it checked. My last vehicle was a suv, so I did set up higher. Thought that might be part of it.
    Any advice out there for a newbie.
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    II
    You can try cleaning the headlights. It's probably all cloudy and the light can't penetrate through.
     
  3. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Three
    As above, clean them if they look cloudy or yellowed.

    SUV vs. car doesn't matter much, it is all about the type of light and where it is thrown. A higher riding vehicle's lights are pointed more downwards than a lower riding vehicle illuminating about the same amount. If you point them too far down, you make a huge bright spot and blind yourself. If you point them too far out, no light hits the road and you will be blind.

    Go find a level piece of ground with a nice flat wall. I like going to the nearest big box store like a WalMart or a mall or whatever. Usually they are large monolithic type buildings with square level walls and level graded lots especially by the loading bays.

    Drive right up to the wall and measure where the headlight bulb is. You can estimate, but usually the super bright point (you are almost touching the wall with your bumper...) is the bulb height. I like to mark it with blue painter's tape. Do both lights. Now back up 25ft, straight back. Where on the wall is the light in relation to the tape? It should be 2 inches lower than the tape. If it is higher than the tape, then big big problem, no light is hitting the road. If it is way too low or not even hitting the wall, then most of the light is making a hot spot.

    [​IMG]

    In the diagram, the height Z is the bulb level itself at the vehicle and bulb level minus 2 inches at the wall 25ft away. While in there you should check the horizontal alignment. That shouldn't change. So if the hotspot has moved over to the left or right even with the correct height, you should adjust it back into alignment with the screws.
     
    WilDavis likes this.
  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Vehicle:
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    Your Prius II will have halogen bulbs, 9003 by the look of it.

    Go for a brand you know, GE, Phillips, PIAA, etc.
     
  5. Cozynest

    Cozynest Junior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I don't know how similar they are, but I had a problem with my 2010 headlights a while back. I replaced one bulb (with great difficulty as it was very hard to reach). Some months later the other bulb went and it was only then that I realized that I had managed to wedge the first bulb in crooked. Just a very slight angle off made a huge difference. I couldn't see anything directly in front of me and I'm sure countless people in the oncoming lane had been cursing me for it!
    Maybe check that your bulbs are actually installed correctly?