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Morimoto HID Headlight Low Beam Issues

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Xterra72, Nov 21, 2017.

  1. Xterra72

    Xterra72 Senior Member

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    I've had a Morimoto HID Kit installed in a 2013 Prius for a few years now and have been working perfectly.

    The HIDs used to turn on right away.

    Recently HIDs will take a long time to turn on after I’ve already switch the headlight on the “on” position. I can be driving for
    5-10 minutes before both lights decide to turn on.

    The problem is intermittent and not sure what’s wrong with it. The entire kit is installed.

    Thinking maybe the Morimoto HID Relay Harness is going bad.

    This happens to both left and right headlights (low beam)

    Anyone have any ideas what the problem might be?
     
  2. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    When you say it happens to both left and right headlights, do you mean they are both off and then magically come back on 5-10 minutes later at the same time? Or do they both take their sweet time turning on, but they aren't synchronized?
     
  3. Xterra72

    Xterra72 Senior Member

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    @2k1Toaster , they are both off then magically come on 5-10 minutes later at the same time, synchronized.
     
  4. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Ok well it does seem that you have a single point of failure causing the problem to be in both places. When I wire HID installations, I use a relay side. Are you saying that you use 1 relay to power both ballasts?
     
  5. Xterra72

    Xterra72 Senior Member

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    @2k1Toaster, I believe the Morimoto HID relay harness is one harness that plugs in and powers both ballasts.
     
  6. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Well it is just a relay, you could wire it any way you want to. I've used the Morimoto ballasts in the pasts, and just buy the extra connectors and make my own harness. Each ballast has its own relay.

    In your case if you have just one relay powering both, then I would agree with your original diagnosis. The failure is likely a single point failure between the combination of signals or upstream. It is unlikely that the Prius itself has a headlight fault where it is turning the headlights on and off. And the only thing between that and the split, is the relay and wiring harness.

    Could be a bad relay. Could be rodents have chewed threw part of the wiring, etc. But that's where I would start looking.
     
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  7. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    the morimoto harness has TWO relais/
    both headlights igniting synchronous means that either both relais are screwed & fire up at the same time neway (very very unlikely) or a way more possible explanation would be that either the ground contact or the plus contact don't have a firm contact or the bulb input from the original plug is kinda lose/
    shouldn't take too long to check this three things/

    [​IMG]
     
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  8. Xterra72

    Xterra72 Senior Member

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    @2k1Toaster , @StarCaller , low beam hid headlights are working now.

    Another bad ballast.

    Thanks for all your help.

    Might just have to switch to th Morimoto LED Bulbs.
     
  9. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    leds are not on a par yet with hids/
    give it another year.../
     
  10. Xterra72

    Xterra72 Senior Member

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    @StarCaller, I’ll keep that in mind.

    Even the more reliable ballasts seems to go out all the time. Frustrating.

    I was hoping the Morimoto LEDs have already gotten the LED Tech where it should be considering they waitEd this long to come out with their own.

    Gonna wait till these go out again.
     
  11. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    go check out hidplanet.com
    that'll give you all the information you need & more..../
     
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