TOYOTA Prius HID Headlight working intermittently

2004 Toyota Prius with HID headlights, sometimes working, sometimes not

[@LAactor]

Honestly I would just swap them to LEDs and call it a day

[@cityinthesky1341]

Good video. Thanks!

[@KendrasEdge757]

We’ve been installing hid’s for decades until LED’s took over. Nothing that can’t be DIY for sure. Just can’t touch the bulb itself. Otherwise it’s not required for a mechanic unless one has no mechanical abilities.

[@fastwalker21]

I would get an aftermarket bulb set in the same Kelvin color range. I lost a bulb in my Infiniti and paid $30 for a set of two. Replaced one and have an extra. That new bulb did not look like the original bulb, slightly different base design. Infiniti bulbs are way over priced too.

[@jonathanratliff4780]

Not worth the risk to the computer

[@fastwalker21]

The ECU has nothing to do with it, it is a simple on/off switch with a high voltage ballast attached. No risk. @@jonathanratliff4780

[@edsyphan3425]

Peter, do both bulbs share one ballast, or does each one need their own.

[@fastwalker21]

Each bulb has a their own ballast.

[@edsyphan3425]

@@fastwalker21 thank you. I have a 2009 and the lights are totally worthless. Trying to see what options I have.

[@LAactor]

@@edsyphan3425 depends on the application. I have seen some that have a wire from the one ballast to the other bulb and they share it. You will have to look at your unit and see. And why don't you search KZbin to see if anyone's converted theirs to Led since they can be cheaper and clearer as well

[@arnietwo11]

Peter did u not offer to improve those headlights ? U could have spent a quick hour sanding them !

[@LAactor]

Maybe yes maybe no but I don't like to because after I work on someone's things they're always going to blame you when it breaks. And besides that, it's not that bad and you can just use Turtle Wax's headlight cleaner, no sanding necessary, buff on wipe off and the oxidation comes off with it. They also include clear coat wipes for the lenses to help protect them longer.

[@annettesurfer]

Since the problem was intermittent, I kept staring at that green corroded ground wire and wondered why firing the expensive parts cannon was determined to be the "proper" fix.

[@billsimpson604]

Unnecessarily complex when a tungsten filament with some gas surrounding it would work fine.