Hello again... (also, need help)

Hello PriusChat. Long time, no see, eh? Disappeared for a while due to becoming extremely busy, after I switched from an art degree to computer engineering. Sadly, though, I have more serious matters to discuss first and foremost.

Today, I went out with some friends, after class. I was, of course, their ride. I went back to drop them off at their cars at the end of the day, and I turned the car off, since we had to transfer some things that we had bought for a upcoming holloween party. When I turned my car back on, the master warning and check engine lights came on, along with an MFD error saying "Problem" along with what I believe was the hybrid system error symbol (thinking retrospectively, mind you). I turned the car off and back on a few times, each getting the same result. Finally about the 4th time, it started up just fine. I was able to drive home just fine, with no noticable difference in vibrations, sounds, and handling. After I got home, I checked my coolant and oil levels; all were at their full values.

Oh, also, something potentially noteworthy. My car came with the HID bulb package. One bulb, the driver's side, is slightly dimmer and more yellow than the other. At times the light goes out, and the only way to reignite it is by turning the headlights off and then back on. This lead me to believe that it was just an old bulb, as there was no flickering. It does has done this rarely, with the exception for today; it kept going out, to the point where it became a slight annoyance to reignite.

Any ideas on what it could be, and what I could do? (Other than taking it in, since I plan on doing so. =P)

Ooops... forgot to mention, it's a 2005 Prius.

 

Ah yes, the voltage reported was 13.9V in "ready" mode.

 

Okee, sorry about that. 12.5V

 

After sitting for the night, the voltage was 12.3V in ACC mode. I turned it to READY and had it sit, observing its operation. I noticed that there is a slight flicker to both headlights. The yellowed drivers side would go out, as usual, and then some time later, the slightly blue passenger side one would go out. The only way to reignite was to turn the lights off and then back on. I've only had problem with the driver's side until this point. Could both HIDs be bad, or could all of this be indicative of some sort of deeper electrical problem?

 

Ok, thanks. It's just that I read that if there's any flickering at all, that there was a problem with the ballast or something, thus the source of my confusion. I'd rather it be a bulb, though, than an electrical problem.
Thanks for the link. It makes sense now, seeing the manufacture and operation of the bulbs.

 

Oh, I see. I'll keep this in mind, and be on the watch. The bulb problem I've had for quite some time, and Toyota didn't help at all. They just turned the lights on, saw that they were on, and told me that didn't appear to be a problem. So, unfortunately, I've sat on the problem for a while. I'll try to avoid flicking them like that again, until I get new ones.