Intermittent HID headlight issue

Your problem sounds like the standard Gen II HID issue. Start with new bulbs, which are fairly inexpensive. Buy good ones, not an unknown knockoff. Sources are listed in the other HID threads.

It is possible that you may have a ballast issue with the passenger side, but I wouldn't assume that until you try new bulbs.

Tom

 

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Xenon-Headlight-Bulb-Pack/dp/B00480J4KA should be the right bulbs for your 04 (06-09 went to D4R). There are plenty of threads on doing it yourself. If you've got small hands and are not unlucky like me to have the clip come off, you can do it w/o removing the front bumper cover.

There are TONS of headlight change threads but some of the links and videos at http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...d-tank-trying-replace-passenger-side-hid.html might help, as a starting point.

I agree you should start by changing the suspect bulb out first before replacing anything else.

 

The bulbs tend to go out at nearly the same time. Your passenger side is definitely bad and will soon fail completely. If you replace 1 following the long form instructions, i.e. removing the bumper, or if you pay someone to do it, then it is a bummer to have to go through it again a month or two later. But if you only replace 1, that in and of itself will not cause the other old one or the new+old to burn out.

 

Agreed w/seilerts' advice. If you only replace one and are able to do it w/o removing the front bumper cover, there isn't that much of a reason to replace the other at the same time.

Sometimes people do it because there might be a color difference. I didn't notice any when I did only one wouldn't have really cared.

In retrospect, when I had the bumper cover partly off, perhaps I should've done both at the same time. I had 2 replacement bulbs on hand. My passenger side HID on my 06 started winking out in March 2011 and replaced it in early April. Oddly (?) my driver's side one is stil ok, for now.

Out of curiosity, how many miles are on your 04? Do you know if the previous owner cycled them on/off a lot or used them as daytime running lights?

 

You can find such a video at http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...nce-replacing-hid-headlights.html#post1140981.

You're lucky that you your change went trouble free. The black cover on my passenger side light was REALLY tight. For awhile, I didn't realize that I could move the whole assembly over towards the middle of the car, fearing I'd break something like the wires. I think that's how the darn metal clip came off and there was no way to get that on there blindly, nor with the aid of a mirror on a stick.

So, what I thought might be an hour job for me turned into multiple hours and a lot of swearing...

 

Same problem with my passenger side HID on my 2004. OP, did replacing the bulb fix the problem?

Thanks!

 

Starting about a year ago, the driver's side headlight of my 2006 Prius sometimes failed to go on when I first turned on the car's lights. Toggling the headlights off and back on usually reset the lights. More recently, the headlight has failed while driving, so I took the plunge to replace the light as a DIY job (bought the bulb on Amazon).

From the forum posts and youtube, I was able to figure out most things for the short way (remove the fuse cover, loosen the cap, remove the headlight connecter, the two sides of the spring pin). But it was really hard to budge the headlight cap in the limited space on the driver's side.

When I watched the 3-minute lusciousgarage video, I noticed that the mechanic grabbed a long screwdriver at one point. I couldn't easily figure out what she used it at first.

There's a hole in the car frame that is almost directly below the headlamp cover, about 3-4 inches lower. By sticking a long screwdriver (I used one about 8-10 inches long) into that opening, I was able then to leverage against the lower part of the headlight cap -- specifically against the part of the cap where the cable enters. Like opening a jar, I carefully applied firm pressure and voila! it moved.

Be careful to not snag any wires with the screwdriver and also I started gently to ensure that I didn't break off parts of the cap. Using this method once was enough so that I could finger loosen and tighten the cap.

Attached are some pictures for reference. I had used the blue masking tape to make it easier for me to see if the cap was budging and to figure out the position. There are markings on the plastic cap and housing, but you have to look close to see them.

All told the job took about 30 minutes -- it took me 20 minutes to figure out how to budge the cover the first time and the rest was pretty simple. I didn't remove any screws or other parts than the fuse panel cover.

 

Folks,
The intermittent headlight problem.
the lowest hanging fruit is the headlight relay located in the engine compartment (cheap)
Bulbs are next and most likely... hard to get too... no matter which way you go.. and I suggest you change them in pairs.
Ballast is third and last on the most probable list
Wikipedia has an excellent article on HID discharge lamps...... which clearly describes many of the symptoms we all are having.
Obviously the bulbs are first and foremost... but also note the Wikipedia talks about NOT the fact that the bulbs age while turned ON.
Apparently running the lamps ages them, Sure... BUT
But.... but the fact that turning them on, off, then on again while hot, really deteriorates and degrades lamp life.
I agree, manually turn them on and off... and attempt not to simply turn them on for a 'short time, then off, then back on.

 

Pretty sure everyone on this thread resolved their problems...6 years ago