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2012 Prius Five LED headlight beam shakes?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by exbauer, Jul 12, 2012.

  1. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    Those of you with 2012 Prius Five with LED headlights does your beam pattern shake, vibrate, or dance when you drive over rough pavement? Like when you drive over cracks, potholes, rough pavement? I don't remember this in my 2010. I just find it annoying and wanted to make sure it just wasn't mine.
     
    #1 exbauer, Jul 12, 2012
  2. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Can't say I ever noticed this. I also had a 2010 and never noticed it before as well. I'll look again during some night driving and see if it is that visible.
     
    #2 Paradox, Jul 12, 2012
  3. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    I haven't noticed this behavior on my Five. I haven't specifically looked for it- but I'm usually good at noticing rattles/vibrations, etc... and I'm sure I would have noticed an annoying trait like that.
     
    #3 ny_rob, Jul 12, 2012
  4. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

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    We have two 2010 V's and have not noticed headlight shaking.
     
    #4 mad-dog-one, Jul 12, 2012
  5. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    I notice it and it's rather annoying to watch the beam bounce. This is only when I am driving close to the car in front where I can really see the cutoff. Otherwise if I'm just driving on the road and nothing in front of me nothing since I can't see the cutoff.
     
    #5 exbauer, Jul 12, 2012
  6. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    Nope. I drive through 6 miles of unlid, pot hole filled, two lane country road to get home everynight and have not noticed it. I usually do not use the high beam either.

    I wonder if there is something wrong with your auto level mechanism. Do you have a warning light on your dashboard that looks like a lowbeam symbol + up down arrows?
     
    #6 Jonny Zero, Jul 12, 2012
  7. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    I have seen the auto level work. It moves up or down depending on the load when I turn on the headlights. I only see it when I can get a good view of the cutoff on the car in front of me and I happen to drive over a crack or rough pavement.
     
    #7 exbauer, Jul 12, 2012
  8. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    The auto leveling works when you first turn on the car to adjust for the weight in the car -- it should then lock. If yours is bouncing then something is wrong.
     
    #8 yeldogt, Jul 12, 2012
  9. exbauer

    exbauer Active Member

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    I went to the Toyota dealer tonight to test drive another Five. It did the same thing. Its slight and you have to really look for it. Eh, I won't worry about it too much now since the one I drove did the same thing.
     
    #9 exbauer, Jul 13, 2012
  10. BearInStPete

    BearInStPete Junior Member

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    I'll throw in a couple of pennies worth, on our new (as of 7/11) model 5 I seemed to notice a slight vibration in the beam, but I think it is more noticeable due to the sharp demarcation of the top edge of the beam pattern with these headlights. Similar vibration and shake may be present with the halogen system, but I suspect it is more difficult to notice?
     
    #10 BearInStPete, Jul 16, 2012
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