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My $8000 Stolen HID Headlight Headache

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jtaft, Apr 28, 2006.

  1. jtaft

    jtaft New Member

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    Hi Everyone,
    I recently posted that my 2006 Prius HID headlights were stolen.

    That was 3 weeks ago and my Prius is STILL in the garage. The price tag is now at $8000 (YES $8000) between the parts and labor (I pay the $300 deductible). I have accumulated a $580 rental car bill (so far) and I still need to get an extended alarm ($450) installed so that this will not happen again.

    The parts were backordered (including a new hood and lights) so that increased the wait.
    Get this, they (the Toyota dealership) had to rip my whole dash to put a new wiring harness (goes through the entire car and cost $2500 alone) in since the wire was cut by the headlight thiefs. This in a car that only has 700 miles on it!

    This has turned into a nightmare between the auto body not knowing how to work with the hybrid technology and the delayed parts that the dealer ordered.
    I will give the auto body credit for fighting for the original factory parts (insurance company estimated way to low) instead of splicing the cut wire and they have done a perfect job at restoring the body but a 3 week wait while gas prices are skyrocketing?!?

    The point of this story is protect your Prius headlights expecially if you own a 2006 w/ package 6, 7, or 8!
     
    #1 jtaft, Apr 28, 2006
  2. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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    #2 Danny, Apr 28, 2006
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    ouch! Sorry to hear that. Yeah, Toyota parts tend to take a while. Heck, my new globebox release button took over a month!
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Apr 29, 2006
  4. Bill Lumbergh

    Bill Lumbergh USAF Aircraft Maintainer

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    Whatever dealership and body shop you're working with, I hope they are using this time wisely. It's fantastic they're only using OEM parts, though it is a bummer about the wire harness. Perhaps Toyota could redesign it slightly so it's not so expensive if it happens in later models? The inclusion of a pair of $2 connectors could save owners thousands.

    Best of luck restoring your Prius to like-new condition, and don't settle for any paint job that's less than OEM quality and color match!
     
    #4 Bill Lumbergh, Apr 29, 2006
  5. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Ouch! To restate, the OP got his HID lights stolen in Quincy, MA. People in certain parts of the US need to be really careful about having HID lights at all. I made a post about it at http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&showtopi...ndpost&p=236254 (also see the link there). The 02-03 Nissan Maximas were VERY popular HID theft targets since HIDs were standard on all trims of all those model years of Maximas [and easy to steal, could be done w/o even opening the hood]. The stock "alarm" that came w/Maximas was useless.
     
    #5 cwerdna, Apr 29, 2006
  6. wakeman84

    wakeman84 New Member

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    i have been worried bout this also. does anyone have any suggestions as to what type of alarm upgrade to get to preven this from a happening because i know little about alarms. thanks

    Mike
     
    #6 wakeman84, Apr 29, 2006
  7. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Why? Why are these lights being stolen? Aside from putting them in another Prius....what are they good for?
     
    #7 Godiva, Apr 29, 2006
  8. Enclenta

    Enclenta New Member

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    Hope you get things solved out... :angry:
     
    #8 Enclenta, Apr 29, 2006
  9. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Apr 29 2006, 12:33 PM) [snapback]247254[/snapback]</div>
    I'm not sure how usable Prius lights are in other cars, but I'm assuming that the ballast and bulbs (at least from non-Priuses) are usable by other other cars even those of a totally different make. I think there's demand amongst the ricer crowd to put on their Civics and Integras amongst others.

    As I mentioned before, 02-03 Maxima headlights new cost >$1300/pair (http://www.courtesyparts.com/Mercha...=PROD&Store_Code=CP&Product_Code=2002HID-PAIR). I don't think some ricers want to pay that kind of price...
     
    #9 cwerdna, Apr 29, 2006
  10. priusenvy

    priusenvy Senior Member

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    What really sucks is that the thieves caused $8000 in damage so they could steal about $200 of bulbs and ballasts. I doubt any of these parts are going back into another Prius, meaning only the bulbs and ballasts are being reused - they're likely going into some POS riced-out Acura Integra or similar.
     
    #10 priusenvy, Apr 29, 2006
  11. Brian K

    Brian K New Member

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    Rumor has it that a part of the HID light can be used to make a cattle prod sort of thingy.

    I seem to remember that the HID light, on the initial lighting gets an 8000 volt zap to get it up to full brilliance immediately.
     
    #11 Brian K, Apr 29, 2006
  12. Subversive

    Subversive New Member

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    Is it possible to etch the VIN onto the HIDs in such a way that it may deter thieves?

    Would "PIAA Light Locks" be helpful? They appear to be locking 10mm X 1.5mm mounting bolts. What size bolts do the Prius HIDs use?
     
    #12 Subversive, Apr 29, 2006
  13. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusenvy @ Apr 29 2006, 07:01 PM) [snapback]247309[/snapback]</div>
    the bulbs are around $300 a pop new, don't know the price of the ballasts.

    but yeah, nowhere near the $8k in damage they caused to get it. bastards. :angry:
     
    #13 galaxee, Apr 29, 2006
  14. jbarnhart

    jbarnhart New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Enclenta @ Apr 29 2006, 01:08 PM) [snapback]247263[/snapback]</div>
    I have to say, I think your sig is obnoxious:

    --------------------
    For the Newest Auto Reviews with Pictures and More, Visit www.Enclenta.co.nr

    It's bad enough to advertise your web site, but do you have to do it with such a large font size?
     
    #14 jbarnhart, Apr 29, 2006
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