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Headlight issues

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by ScottyJNC, Feb 22, 2012.

  1. ScottyJNC

    ScottyJNC New Prius Owner

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    2016 Prius
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    Three Touring
    I've just purchased a 2008 Prius (Package 5 Touring, I think.) I'm having strange issues with the headlights which may or may not be related to the time of day when I turn them on.

    When I turn the headlights on at twilight, it seems as if they fire up at full brightness for a fraction of a second, then "dim" down to a lower level. If I turn them off, then back on, I get another burst of bright white, then another quick "dimming" to a lower level and a more "orange" color.

    The other night, I left work in total darkness, and that time they fired up bright white and stayed bright white.

    Is it possible that there's some sort of photosensor that's dimming them down to a "daytime running light" level, and that's what's happening with my lights at twilight?

    I'm a little paranoid after reading all the articles about how expensive the HID headlight bulbs are, and I'm definitely not excited about spending $350 on new headlights at the moment!

    Scott
     
    #1 ScottyJNC, Feb 22, 2012
  2. kohnen

    kohnen Grumpy, Cranky Senior Member

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    You have the HID bulbs. My experience ('07 Touring - same bulbs) is they fire up more brightly then settle in.

    As for expense, you can get the D4R bulbs on Amazon.com (buy the bulbs FROM Amazon, DON'T buy bulbs on Amazon that are sold by someone else! [I did that and they were counterfeit.]). They're about $50 each with free shipping.

    Replace them in pairs. It's about a 1/2 hour job, you do NOT need to remove the bumper. Others on Priuschat have posted how to replace the bulbs.
     
    #2 kohnen, Feb 22, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  3. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    What you are seeing is normal for HIDs...
     
    #3 firepa63, Feb 22, 2012
  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Agreed.

    They all do that. Be thankful we don't use metal halides (street lights and high end aquaria) for automotive lighting. They burn bright but take 2-5min to reach full brightness. lol
     
    #4 F8L, Feb 22, 2012
  5. ScottyJNC

    ScottyJNC New Prius Owner

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    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
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    Three Touring
    Thanks, everyone. I'll quit worrying. From what I've read elsewhere, it seems that if the bulbs were starting to go, they'd "cycle" (turn off, cool down, come back on) rather than dim. So as long as both my lamps are burning steadily, and it seems they are, I should be in good shape.

    I must say they're agreeably bright! Part of my drive home is along a country road where I worry about deer, and these headlights far outshine those of my old car (a Mercury Grand Marquis -- how's that for a change of pace?)

    Scott
     
    #5 ScottyJNC, Feb 23, 2012
  6. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    HID bulbs do dim as the wear out, so you have two failure modes: 1) Lights are no longer bright enough, or 2) Lights fail to stay lit.

    Either is grounds for replacing your bulbs.

    Tom
     
    #6 qbee42, Feb 23, 2012
  7. ScottyJNC

    ScottyJNC New Prius Owner

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
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    Three Touring
    The car must have been listening. Last night, my right headlamp went out while I was driving. Turning the headlights off and back on brought it back. Time for bulbs, I guess.
     
    #7 ScottyJNC, Feb 24, 2012
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