HID Headlight Issues 2005 "Pink Eye"

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by OakdaleMike, Nov 4, 2011.

  1. OakdaleMike

    OakdaleMike New Member

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    My 2005 Prius recently came down with a case of HID Headlight Pink Eye. My left headlight goes on bright white and in a few seconds turns to a pretty purple color light. Not as bright as the white light and real pink/purple color light. So does anyone know if this is a bulb or ballast or control logic or what?
    Thanks...
     
    #1 OakdaleMike, Nov 4, 2011
  2. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    I'd start w/the bulb first (keeping the potentially bad bulb) since it's the cheapest.

    Out of curiosity, how many miles are on your car? Do you use them as daytime running lights?
     
    #2 cwerdna, Nov 4, 2011
  3. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    How many hours do you have on the bulbs? Or how many miles do you have on the car? When HID bulbs starts to fail they color shift to a bluer or pink color depending on the materials used in their creation. You can eliminate all other variables by simply swapping the offending bulb with the good bulb.
     
    #3 F8L, Nov 4, 2011
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  4. OakdaleMike

    OakdaleMike New Member

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    I have 148,000 on the car now.
     
    #4 OakdaleMike, Nov 5, 2011
  5. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    #5 cwerdna, Nov 5, 2011
  6. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Bulbs. Time to change them both.

    Tom
     
    #6 qbee42, Nov 6, 2011
  7. OakdaleMike

    OakdaleMike New Member

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    Ok - here is an update. After about a week, the light started to flicker and then it would just go out. So I ordered some replacement bulbs. I paid $12.59 with free shipping for two of the bulbs. I replaced the passenger side bulb tonight and the new bulb seems to work fine. It is a slightly different color, but once I replace the other one, they will look fine. It was hard to get the bulb out - took me about an hour and a half because I was trying to be so careful and everything I tried seemed hard. The new bulb went in in about 10 min. So how come anyone would spend $50 or more on a bulb when I found a pair for $13 bucks? I dont get it. Even if these don't last too long, what a savings! The seller was "Auto Armour" with an ebay store of Auto Armour Car Covers.
     
    #7 OakdaleMike, Nov 13, 2011
  8. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    I can't speak to that seller or the quality of their bulbs but http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Xenon-Headlight-Bulb-Pack/dp/B00480J4KA are currently $33.99 (not the right ones for 06-09 Priuses).

    FWIW, at last check, Toyota wants $150 per D4R bulb only (the ones on the 06-09 Priuses), a reduction from $300.
     
    #8 cwerdna, Nov 13, 2011
  9. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Because generic bulbs have lower standards and quailty control compared to oem bulbs. They have a tendency to vary inr color, run hotter, lower output and seating issues that can result in imperfect cutoff lines (when used in a projector style headlight). You get what you pay for. :) In the poor Prius reflector style HID system it probably doesn't matter though.
     
    #9 F8L, Nov 13, 2011
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