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2012 Prius v High Beam Bulb Replacement

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Air_Boss, Sep 5, 2016.

  1. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Has anyone replaced the 9005/HB3 high beams on their 2012 v?

    The Owners Manual literature shows a bulb and pigtail configuration that differs from what I actually find installed in the vehicle (both sides).

    This is the Owners Manual,which shows a dogleg bulb holder with bulb in line with the vehicle fore-aft axis and pigtail trailing downward at right angle (dogleg) to the car fore-aft axis that one is advised to torque counterclockwise then pull backward to remove. Like this (2013 is same as 2012, owners manula excerpt shown below):

    Toyota 2013 Prius Owner's Manual (Page 534 of 704)

    Upon inspection, however, what is actually installed on both sides is a straight-in bulb holder with pigtail trailing directly back, in line with the car fore-aft axis. So this is either not a 9005/HB3 or the bulb axis is vertical, not in line with the car axis.

    Bulb holder doesn't want to torque counterclockwise about the fore-aft axis. Don't want to treat it like a dogleg for fear of breaking the connector.

    Anyone else have a similar experience? What's the removal procedure? Thanks.
     
    #1 Air_Boss, Sep 5, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2016
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Post a close up picture of both the bulb from the front, reflector side, and from the back, of the bulb base.

    Are you the original owner, or did you get it used?

    The highbeam bulbs in both of my Toyotas are 9005 as in your owners manual.
     
    #2 xliderider, Sep 5, 2016
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    If it's the halogen bulbs like mine, it does rotate 1/4 turn to remove. However the outer bulbs [low beams] have a very short and tight harness which makes it hard to rotate with the cable on. Unclip the harness first then rotate. Try the easier to access bulb (which will rotate with the harness on) to see how it works. I ended up buying a harness extension on ebay to make it easier in the future.
     
    #3 rjparker, Sep 5, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2016
  4. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Page from the 2012 manual attached (same). Will try to get some photos.
     

    Attached Files:

    #4 Air_Boss, Sep 5, 2016
  5. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    It's the OEM 55W LED low beam / 60W halogen high beam headlight setup.

    Photos of (black) driver side high beam lamp connector from above (white molded part is back of LED low beam lamp module), fore-aft axis is left-right, and from the side, looking from center to outboard.

    Driver's side headlight bezel from front (high beam outboard/right).

    The puzzlement is it is not the 9005/HB3 dogleg orientation connector I expected.
     

    Attached Files:

    #5 Air_Boss, Sep 5, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2016
  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    The highbeam connector has 4 wires going into it?
     
    #6 xliderider, Sep 5, 2016
  7. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Yes, four wires in the pigtail to the high beam connector. The lamp itself likely only has two.
     
    #7 Air_Boss, Sep 5, 2016
  8. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Then that's definitely not a standard 9005 halogen connector and bulb. But you already knew that. ;)

    No mention of any other bulb types based on trim level 5, since you've got LED headlights? Have you looked on Sylvania.com?
     
    #8 xliderider, Sep 5, 2016
  9. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Per every OEM and aftermarket source, trim Five is the LED low beam headlamps, which should have HB3/9005 high beams....
     
    #9 Air_Boss, Sep 5, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2016
  10. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    This may be dumb to ask, but are you sure that's the highbeam connector?

    Your picture from the front of the car shows the highbeams are way inboard on the headlight assembly.
     
    #10 xliderider, Sep 5, 2016
  11. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    This is my driver's side high beam 9005 assembly viewed from back under the diagonal body brace. The second pic is the lamp assembly new.

    low beam 9005.jpg 9005 halogen.jpg
     
    #11 rjparker, Sep 5, 2016
  12. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    You raise an interesting question,which appears to be the right one. Illuminating the lamps in the dark,the pictured connector is for the outboard low beam LED projector. Will try this again in the daytime!

    Thanks!
     
    #12 Air_Boss, Sep 5, 2016
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  13. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    The images don't display but may confirm the above diagnosis. Thanks!
     
    #13 Air_Boss, Sep 5, 2016
  14. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    The images show a typical 9005 bulb with the 90 degree angled base and connector.
     
    #14 xliderider, Sep 5, 2016
  15. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Well, that was embarrassing!

    Of course it's an HB3/9005 and removed with a quick torque of the dog bone -- if you are at the right connector!

    Thanks to those tolerant folks on PriusChat...
     
    #15 Air_Boss, Sep 6, 2016
  16. michael myers

    michael myers Junior Member

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    I think I have the same issue op does. It looks as though most Prius have the usual setup where you just turn the bulb counter clock wise and it just slides out. Meanwhile there are the oddballs, like this :Toyota Prius V 2015-17 + Bulb Headlight Light Bulb Holder Cover Cap | eBay
    If you look at this assembly the bulb appears to go in the same way but is fed through a housing door. The door locks into place the same way the bulb does. I haven't tackled mine yet (I'm going to do an led upgrade on the high beams) The picture in the above links explains it better.
     
    #16 michael myers, May 13, 2022
  17. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    The Op had a 2012 v which is different from your 2015v. On his trim 5 he had one factory non removable low beam LED and one factory removable halogen high beam. He solved his problem by moving his hand to the correct bulb.
     
    #17 rjparker, May 13, 2022
    Air_Boss and michael myers like this.
  18. michael myers

    michael myers Junior Member

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    Thank you for pointing that out. I'll do a new post in case anyone else has the same issue I do.
     
    #18 michael myers, May 13, 2022
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