Mismatched HID contacts?

Driver side HID connection by tmorrowus posted Nov 3, 2018 at 3:08 PM

Passenger HID connection by tmorrowus posted Nov 3, 2018 at 3:08 PM

ETA:
Forget what I wrote below. The Toyota dealer explained that the pins on the connector contact the collar which goes all around the perimeter of the bulb.


Original post:
I have been plagued by intermittent problems in the passenger side HID on my 2004 Prius.

After dealers couldn't find any issue, I finally got around to dissasembling them myself. I noticed something curious: The contact on the press-on HID connector doesn't seem to be aligned with that on the bulb itself; it is 180 degrees off. I'm guessing perhaps that direct connection to the bulb was replaced by a parasitic connection through chassis/ground, allowing the bulb to work but not well. There are two wires going to the connector so I presume the double pins are supposed to connect to something.

I'm curious if anyone has any perspectives on whether I'm missing something.

Attached are pictures.

The first shows the drivers side HID which has been reliable. Notice that the metal pins below the white connector align with the metal contacts on the HID when the connector is flipped.

The second shows the passenger HID which has been unreliable. Notice how the pins will be on the opposite side of the HID when the connector is flipped to connect.

 

Edited my post above with explanation for why it is ok.