Headlights - Hi/low Beams - Are they different bulbs?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Sunfire4jc, Sep 17, 2007.

  1. Sunfire4jc

    Sunfire4jc New Member

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    Hello All,

    I just recently had to switch out my headlights because my lowbeams went out on me. I bought a pair of silverstars, and after my mechanic installed em for me, this is the results

    Right side - Both high/low beam on my right side is SUPER white - Same Brightness for both high/low beam
    Left side - really dim and completely cuts out when i high beam.

    I have one of few hypothesis:

    1. If high beam/lowbeam bulbs are different, he probably installed the silverstars both on one side
    2. If they are the same bulb, i may have a defective bulb on the left side (or he didnt change it correctly?)
    3. If they are the same bulb, there may be a wiring problem somewhere on my left (driver) side.

    Let me know what you think. Thanks!
     
    #1 Sunfire4jc, Sep 17, 2007
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The low/high beams are the same bulb.

    If you take the bulb out, you can see that there are two filaments. The second filament lights up when high beam is called. A shield also retracts to allow the light to point up and further down the road.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Sep 17, 2007
  3. Sunfire4jc

    Sunfire4jc New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 16 2007, 10:37 PM) [snapback]513559[/snapback]</div>

    What would you suggest that I do next?

    Should I

    1. Bring it back to mechanic to see if he can correct the problem?
    2. Complain to Orsam and see if i can get another replacement silverstar bulb
    3. Bring it to toyota and see if there's a wiring problem?

    Let me know. Thanks!
     
    #3 Sunfire4jc, Sep 17, 2007
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Bring it to the mechanic?? I mean he was the one who installed it so see what he says.

    Silverstars are pretty bright and white. It's possible that the left side has a loose connection.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Sep 17, 2007
  5. narf

    narf Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 17 2007, 12:13 AM) [snapback]513568[/snapback]</div>
    It's also quite possible that the bulb is defective, and the two filaments are internally shorted.
     
    #5 narf, Sep 19, 2007
  6. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    Just to be clear, we're talking about halogen headlamps, not HID lamps. The HID headlamps are one bulb with no filament with a shutter that switches beam spread between high- and low-beam. The halogen has one bulb with two filaments and each filament provides the high- or low-beam light. I don't think there is a shutter on the halogen system. A quick way to tell if you have HID or halogen headlamps is to see if you have High-Voltage warning stickers on the black plastic shroud at the front of the engine compartment: HID are high-voltage, halogen are not.
     
    #6 Bill Merchant, Sep 19, 2007
    gary sciascia likes this.
  7. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Sep 19 2007, 01:44 PM) [snapback]514951[/snapback]</div>
    You can do it even quicker without having to open the hood. If the car has fog lights, it has HID, at least in the North American market.
     
    #7 IsrAmeriPrius, Sep 19, 2007
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Sep 19 2007, 02:02 PM) [snapback]514961[/snapback]</div>
    Correction. "at least in the US market"... In Canada, we get foglights but no HIDs
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Sep 19, 2007
  9. gary sciascia

    gary sciascia New Member

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    I have fog lights and halogens H11 bulbs
     
    #9 gary sciascia, May 6, 2014
  10. DGH

    DGH Thread Terminator

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    Welcome Gary,

    Your 2010 is a GenIII Prius and this is the GenII forum. I have never made that mistake.;)

    Dan
     
    #10 DGH, May 7, 2014
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