Replacing headlight bulb on Prius
Created August 29, 2006, at 1:12 pm by Anonymous
Crazy about my '04 Prius . . . until this week.
A month ago, the passenger side headlight blew out. The parts guy at the dealer just stuck a new one in, in 5 minutes.
This week, the driver's side headlight went out, and I was told that the bumper needs to be removed so they can then remove the fusebox, and then to the bulb. Cost? (Take a breath.) $196. (You read that right!)
Is this actually the case or am I being taken for a pidgeon here? Do you think I could get my "regular" mechanic to do this? Any thoughts out there?
-Larry G
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I want to change out my 2001 Prius headlights for a more powerful bulb.
Will I have to take off the bumper as above or can I do this at home.?
What brand/make of bulb can I use to get mor elight on the road. I know
that lumens/candlepower is the better measure of the amount light that
get put out.
I have googled for bright bulbs and think that I want a PIAA HID for a replacement bulb.
Suggestions or answers ?
thanks
:confused:
I can only speak to the 2008 Prius.
I have the factory shop manuals. The proceedure for changing a headlight
is:
Remove fender well trim ( a few screws)
Remove front bumper COVER (not the bumper- the plastic cover)
About 14 screws. Mostly on the underside, get a creeper, and a few
on the top.
Remove the (left or right side) Headlight assembly ( a couple more screws).
One assembly contains the headlight, turn signal and running light. Unplug
the electrical connector from the assembly. All bulbs remove from the back
of the headlight assembly. Headlight is held in place by bail wire, smaller
bulbs are 1/4 turn.
I don't see anything here you can't do yourself in under 1/2 hour with just a #2 phillips screwdriver.
I have a 2006 Prius. The driver side head light goes out now and then as I am driving. It is unpredictable. If I turn the lights off and then back on, the light works again.
The dealer said that it will cost about $450 to replace it. Does anyone have any idea what is wrong with it. It doesn't seem to be getting worse over time, and it does not go off too often.
I have a 2006 Prius. Last September (at 46k miles) one head light went out but when I turned my lights off and on it would come back on. In replacing this bulb the cost at the dealership would have been $300. The Service Dept. thought it equally ridiculous that the bulb would go out so soon (no longer under headlamp warranty, of course). They paid for the replacement, minus the $50. deductible. A week later, the other headlight went out. The dealership paid for that bulb completely.
I am now at 70k miles and have a headlight again winking at oncoming traffic. I bet the dealership doesn't replace it this time. I'm starting to sense a pattern here that could prove to be very expensive.
I just replaced one at the dealership for $347, now the other is going. Yes, there is a pattern and someone is losing. Prius owners like you and I.
All bulbs remove from the back
of the headlight assembly.
http://usautolighting.com
Please refer to http://www.wikihow.com/Replace-Headlight-Bulb-on-2005-Prius Those directions are for replacing the drivers side. My passenger side just blew out this week, I guess I'll be listing step by step directions for that.
The wikihow article posted by Chris worked perfectly. The only frustating part is the lack of visibility, most of the procedure has to be done by feel. Thanks for the link Chris!
We got all the way down to the spring clip and can't seem to get it off. Is it open at the top? what was the trick to getting it loose?
Oh yea 350 is ridiculous. Cost of any dealership work with Toyota and their refusal to certify or teach mechanics that aren't at dealerships is my biggest gripe with the Prius. since I drive my vehicals 2 - 3 hundred thousand miles being able to get my local mechanic to work on them is pretty important.
I just experienced EXACTLY what everyone is posting about: a Great Car with crappy headlights. This is called a PRODUCT DEFECT. The dealership blew smoke up my "tail-pipe", and quoted me $367 for a LIGHT BULB!!! ?????
What are they smoking????
This calls for a class action suit, or a cumulated message to Toyota to own up to 1) their headlight production problem, or 2) their crappy quality control; or 3) their deceptive trade practices.
This is the sort of lame answer that Cheverolet gave when 25% of all corvairs sold rolled over and killed someone.
This is Corporate Gobbldy Gook.
This is "Sugar Honey Iced Tea"!
As for me, I love my Prius, but I want new headlights that work.
Please reply to me at shelllvis@yahoo.com
.
I will cumulate the responses and send them to every major US newspaper and to Congress and to DOT and we WILL Force a recall.
You anbd I will get our defective headlights replaced. FREE! Again, I LOVE my Prius, but I don't like getting smoke blown up my tail pipe.
If we unite and fight back, we will have justice.
shelllvis@yahoo.com
I, too, have a 2006 Prius. My version was package 7 (bluetooth, GPS, Leather the works) So, my head lamps are the most expensive - HID (high intensity discharge) I was quoted about $1000 for mine to be replaced. Obviously I will live with flipping my headlights off and on. However, I will add, I have been stopped over 7 times by the police and have gotten warings all but once. The last one was by the Mass State Police which I will fight as the only reason I was stopped was for "defective equipment" since my right light (passenger side) was out. The head lamp is not defective though as I can easily resolve by simply turning off then on the lights and they appear to work fine for a few minutes, at best. then they it will go out again. This problem is very consistent.
I just had to replace driver side light and dealer wanted $459! I have 42,000 on my prius so wasn't covered under extended warranty. I complained to dealer and they are going to replace for $100. I couldn't believe it! But I will have to suck it up and pay the 100. Pep boys has a regular bulb that would work for $10. Next time I will have to go with that even though it isn't the high intensity.
I too went to have my right side headlight bulb replaced today with one that I had purchased from an auto parts store. They looked up the make and model to get the part #. The cost of the bulb was $8.55. I then followed the diretions in the owners manual to replace the bulb but still couldn't reach it. I made an appointment to go to the dealer and was informed that it was not the correct bulb and I too needed an HID bulb which would cost me $300.00, which did not include labor and was told it is not covered under my extended warranty. They would not put the other bulb in the car for me and told me it is still working just at a different intensity and that the bulb may be on it way to burning out. It works intermiitently.
You guys should have bought an American Car.
Look at the weird problems you have. These issues and expenses will cost more than the gas you save.
Same problem. You may add my name to your list. THanks
2008 Prius with 15K and the driver's side HID light goes out after about 3-5 minutes. It is yellower than the passenger side. Turn lights off and on, it reappears for a few minutes, then goes out. On a mountain road this defect can be fatal.
These cars should be recalled.
File a complaint at [https://www.FTCComplaintAssistant.gov/] and get the ball rolling. $400 to replace one lamp!
I have a 2006 Prius and am dealing with the second headlight right now. Drivers side went out this spring and was replaced under warranty. Passenger side is now intermittent. Same story with replacement from dealer, about $400. I am on the phone with Toyota USA right now registering my complaint, then its off to FTC website to log one there. I will post Toyota USA's response to the complaint here. As far as a recall, I don't think the car needs to be recalled just the headlights. Perhaps Toyota needs to extend the warranty for these HID headlamps to the life of the car. I will say that the service manager at my dealer was very sympathetic and relayed his own experience with his Prius and BMW needing these bulbs quite frequently. Of course this does not make up for Toyota's disregard of, in my opinion, defective parts.
About 45K miles and the same story of headlight on and off. I agree that Toyota should be held responsible. However in the meantime isn't there a replacement bulb that will work and not go out so quickly? Kent
Al, did you put in the cheaper bulb, and does it work? Kent
I changed my right headlight. Got it at NAPA for $88 and paid a mechanic to put it in taking 3/4 hour. Lots cheaper than Toyota!
2006 Prius. Same issue. driver's side light works fine for awhile, flickers, then goes out. next morning seems OK.
I would be for some type of class-action...
Please add my name to the list as well.
Message to Barbara:
Which dealership did you go to that replaced your headlight bulb for you minus the $50 deductible? I am in the same position: 2006 prius, HID goes in and out at 46,000 miles. Dealership in San Francisco wants to charge $150 for diagnostic check, $250 for new bulb, and $45 labor. Ouch! I need to go to your dealer.
Thanks!
2006 Prius with the HID lights - both sides go out at different times. Both lights have gone out at the same time - this is really scary. I drive early and on a lightly trafficed interstate, i need lights!
Dealer is aware, and has filed a case with Toyota in my behalf. I am hoping they pay for the headlights. Quoted at $900 to replace both.
I will keep you all posted.
Add me to the list for formal comlaint.
wait...
is this the same bulb, but on the opposite side?
these mechanics cannot be trusted.
do you really think toyota would build a car where you have to remove the bumper just to replace a light bulb?
I highly doubt it
change your mechanic
Exact same issue. We'd turn the lights on and randomly would either get 1 light, 2 lights, or no lights. Flicking the switch again would usually give us more (or less). Just took it to the dealership and I just about had a baby (I'm a guy) when they told me it would be $800 to fix it. It's partly because we have the HID lights which are a price of (~$350 a piece). To tell you the truth, I didn't really know what the HID lights were for when we got the car. My wife and I both agree that these lights were actually harder to see the full field of vision with. Man, if I could build a car out of parts from the dealership, it would probably cost at least ($100,000). After I heard the $800 thing, I told them to just leave them in. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. By the way, does anybody think this is actually extremely dangerous. In fact, so dangerious that someone is going to get hurt or killed especially when unknowingly driving with one light or even none (as I have a few times on accident).
Add me to the list,
Mike M
http://www.SaleSpotter.net
are you sure it was the bulb?
it sounds to me like it was more of an electrical connection problem or maybe a wiring problem.
then it would make sense to remove some of the body parts in order to fix it.
I too have had same problem with my 2007 Prius. Both lights have been replaced for free after warranty by the dealership. The second at 49,000 miles. I have ordered a pair of bulbs from plasmagarage.com for $229.00 for the pair. My right light went out last night and I don't think the dealership will replace it at 71,000 miles so I will either replace myself or get a mechanic to do so. Add my name to the list of disgruntled Prius owners but I still am really happy with the car itself.
Prius headlights are HID lamps. Kind of like a florescent lamp on steriods.
HID lamps have both ballasts and starter circuts, like florescent lights. And when they go bad, they start to flicker and continiously restart.
"You guys should have bought an American Car."
I LOVE America, but when it comes to production it comes to lousy work, over paid laborers, lazy workers, all supported by unions who do nothing but protect jobs by creating more, it sickens me, I will not pay extra for that when I can get a better product at a more reasonable price from people who know how to work, and not rest on the unions' idea's of "work".
DITTO! I have a 2006 Prius with 47000 miles, left light was replaced at no charge at 34000 miles by a dealer that I did not buy the car at in Pittsburgh, now the right light has been going out for the last 7 months. Of course everytime I take it to the Toyota dealership, it works. This headlamp issue began after owning the "new Prius" for 7 months. Finally today it was not working and i took it to the dealership. They want $492 to replace the bulb. I do have an extended warranty, but it does not cove "wear" items. I do not understand their explanation for the light going out and back on. They claim that the filament can refuse itself?????? I really like the car, but this headlamp issue is making me crazy. I am in Newnan, GA and the dealership is going to contact Toyota Monday morning to see if they will do anything about it. I do not have much confidence is a positive outcome. Add me to the list of unhappy Prius owners because of the headlamps.
I took my 2007 Prius (I have an extended 100,000 mile warranty) into the local dealership in Monroe, LA. My passenger side headlamp would go on and off randomely. It seems to be most prevalent after washing (by hand or machine) or during a rain event. The dealer said $375 just for the lamp and plus it is not a warranty item. Plus, they had never heard of thios happening. I'll keep flickingh mine until a recall. I was told I could go to the NTSB with my vin number and register a complaint. If enough register Toyota will have to recall.
Go to www.NHTSA.gov and go to "File a complaint about your vehicle or Child Seat". You will need your VIN number to file.
I have 3- 2006 Priuses and ALL have the same headlight problem. Toyota refused to fix them. After seeing the overwhelming case histories above it is amazing that Toyota is not fixing the problem on thier nickel, OH! not a nickel- for me it is going to cost $2478.00
Not so sure the gas mileage is making up that cost.
Very disappointed!
My Passanger side headlight went out off and on and would "re-set" when turning the light on and off. Both went off two weeks ago at night and reset with one on off cycle. Lukily I saw that it was out when my wife headed for work one morning so we swapped cars and I took it to tyhe dealership. They replaced the passngaer side and assured me that they would replace the driver side if I observed it going out again. Tonight first the driver side then then both went out as she was driving. The first trip they replaced the right front Headlight ECU 81107-47150 Computer sub assembly. One of the papers from the dealership has $278 handwritten on it. The one I signed and returned said $335.
I am going back in the morning and let them have another try.
This has got to be tough because the problem is only apparant when the dealership is closed - so figuring out what is really wrong will be tough.
I am convinced that Toyota wants this fixed - we just have to make sure we help them figure out what is going on...
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