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High Beam Failure - Good Fuses

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by qdllc, Sep 16, 2016.

  1. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    This morning my highbeams came on and then immediately went out. Both fuses for the highbeams are intact. I doubt both bulbs would have burned out at the same time. What else should I check?
     
    #1 qdllc, Sep 16, 2016
  2. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Turns out BOTH high beam bulbs failed at the same time. Toyota says it's fairly common, although it's the first time I ever had it happen to me.
     
    #2 qdllc, Sep 16, 2016
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Sounds very strange, for both bulbs to go out simultaneously.

    The following is likely not applicable, but you don't disclose location:

    This isn't a Canadian car? They run high beams at reduced brightness as Daytime Running Light, and they're on whenever the headlights are off, not switchable. I noticed a while back our high beam bulbs have kind of a "tan".

    image.jpeg
    (A little hard to see.)
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Sep 16, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2016
  4. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Bulbs should be replaced in pairs anyway. Now you don't have to feel like you're losing any value replacing both bulbs when only one failed. ;)

    What probably happened is that both bulbs had filaments that were close to failing. When one filament failed, it caused a momentary surge on the circuit to the remaining bulb, which caused it to fail as well.
     
    #4 xliderider, Sep 16, 2016
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  5. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Had the same thing happen to a 76 Malibu Classic. Went out to drive one morning, both headlights were out. Checked a few things, bought some more headlights and problem was solved. Do you use your high beams a lot?
     
    #5 dorunron, Sep 16, 2016
  6. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    That was my theory as well. I don't think the "surge" would be much as each bulb has it's own circuit (fuse), but you never know.

    Pretty much every morning on the drive into town. Rural area, so I use them to see wildlife that might dart onto the road. Low beams just don't cut it.

    I think the low beams stay on when the high beams are on, and I'm surprised those haven't failed, BUT I know some types of bulbs provide more output at the cost of shorter lifespan, so the low beams might be good for a while longer before they fail.
     
    #6 qdllc, Sep 19, 2016
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I believe the low beams go off when high beams are on. I suppose we could solve this great mystery if some hardy soul went out and took a look, lol, but hey.

    Then again, with the 2016's there's only one (LED) head light, and low/high beam is accomplished by some paddle within the headlight that moves to change beam direction.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Sep 19, 2016
  8. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    The lowbeam lights stay on when the highbeams are on. If you have factory foglights on, they will go off when the highbeams are turned on.
     
    #8 xliderider, Sep 19, 2016
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just checked, you're absolutely... right. :oops:
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Sep 19, 2016
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