troubles converting 2009 Prius to LED headlights...ideas?

This article doesn't have anything specific to the Prius- it's more about how to set up a measurement system.

The general idea is that you want to park on level ground 25' from a vertical wall. You mark where your beams fall with some bits of tape on the wall, measure the height and then start rolling the adjuster screws until it is correct.

So you need flat ground with a wall in front of it, a 25' tape measure and a roll of tape- preferably something that contrasts with the wall's color.

I'm not sure what's up with your high beams, but I have a few ideas. Best to start with a meter, check the power actually being delivered to the headlight connectors.

Regarding the actual adjustments- Doublecheck that you are actually turning the adjusters. Sometimes there are other screws on there that look like adjusters but are really mounting screws.

You might also verify that the LEDs are properly seated in the lamp housings. It is possible to engage the lock bails with a bulb slightly out of position. If you've inadvertently locked them in the wrong position then there's no amount of adjusting that will put the beam in the right place. Millimeters count. (This assumes that the LEDs were actually manufactured with the correct focal dimensions- I've seen some that weren't even close.)

 

Does your model have automatic adjustment? (I know my 2004 with HID headlights does.) If so, then there is probably a specific control sequence "chicken dance" to go through to reset the aiming system. Details should be in a service manual.


-Graeme-
2004 Prius with >190,000 miles.
Sent ?.

 

Auto-adjust is a regulatory requirement for HID lighting, so that's why it's on your car. However nearly every car with halogen lighting skips that extra expense.

 

You probably have the bulbs seated crooked. It is very important to have them aligned and seated just right. Line up the three prongs and make sure they are square.

 

I did that once with a headlight on my Civic. Light was shining in the trees.

 

The automotive headlight assembly is an ENGINEERED piece of equipment! The housing takes into account the characteristics of the light from the halogen bulb, the heat characteristics (so the housing doesn't melt), and how to best project the light (distance and width) from the car. All of this has resulted in the halogen headlight assembly on your Prius, that is optimized ONLY for a halogen bulb.

The automotive headlight assembly is not a lamp at home where you can screw in any type of bulb: incandescent, CFL, LED, and achieve good results.

Thus your problems. The halogen assembly was NEVER designed to accommodate an LED bulb and project the light correctly. This would require a new ENGINEERED headlight assembly factoring the characteristics of the LED light source to project the LED light a certain distance and width from the car.

Now you can "upgrade" the halogen bulb to a "brighter" bulb. BUT, such a bulb lives a shorter life b/c it burns HOTTER to achieve the brightness. As you know, its a PITA to change out the Prius headlight bulb. Stick with the stock halogen bulb for longevity, otherwise you are willing accepting more frequent bulb changes with a "brighter" halogen bulb.

Go back to Halogen and all will be well.

 

And this is the exact reason idiots with LED headlights blind you. I wish the police would give out tickets or at least fix it tickets to people with super bright headlights

 

Add to that: one working headlight and tail/brake/turn lights not working.

My pet peeve are people who apply the "black out" covers onto their headlights and tail lights! Instant removal or impound. Sometimes you can't tell the car has applied the brakes. Only surrounding traffic provides this clue as you can see everyone else braking.

 

But it looks fully hectic (super cool) though.