2007 Prius (US import to Canada) - The old HID issue

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Megscanada, Nov 16, 2020.

  1. Megscanada

    Megscanada Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2015
    4
    1
    0
    Location:
    Toronto
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hi all,

    So we moved up to Canada with our 2007 equipped with HID bulbs. I was told when we moved here with ours back in 2013 that they never sold them with HID bulbs up here.

    Now, we are on our third set of bulbs (one replaced by us, one by a mechanic in NYC, and the third by a Toyota service Center in Canada). Before we replace them (again!) I am wondering if anyone can clarify how long are they supposed to last? Back in 2008 or 2009 the whole HID headlight fiasco was ultimately IDed a recall issue for Toyota. But I had thought they’d resolved it by now - meaning that headlights replaced by a Toyota service center would last longer than 25,000 miles. Now I see on one post here they only last about 2000 hours. Whereas the guy at the Toyota service here in Canada said they last ‘forever’. Can anyone clarify who is right?

    I am wondering if they are selling us defective parts, old recalled lights, or if that Toyota guy was just misinformed - not having much experience with them himself being up here where they don’t sell them - and they do really only last 2000 hours. The issue up here is that when you import a car to Canada they have to turn your lights on as daytime lights. So that might be why these ones are running down just as quickly as our first set.

    Thanks for any clarity you can shed in this! This may just ultimately be the issue that pushes us to finally sell our old guy.
     
    #1 Megscanada, Nov 16, 2020
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,302
    4,244
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Aftermarket HID bulbs are cheap on fleabay, the last set cost 12usd and didn't take much effort to install.

    Maybe those LED conversion bulbs would last longer?
     
    #2 SFO, Nov 16, 2020
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    45,176
    16,401
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    That's correct. We never had factory HIDs in our Canadian Gen 2s; all of them were halogens.

    The short life span might be the reason why because our gen 2s run the low beams at reduced intensity (the Gen 2 halogen lights are a dual filament 50W/60W bulb and they're actually run on the low beam filament at reduced intensity).

    One option is to use the indicators as DRLs - the front ones are large enough and are mounted high, above the headlights. I've seen one or two Gen 2 taxis use this method. This way, it saves your HIDs.

    Also, HIDs don't like being flicked on and off constantly. Canadian cars with HIDs usually have a separate halogen bulb used for DRLs (take a look next time you see an older 2000s or 2010s car with HIDs. The DRLs are a halogen bulb.. either the high beam if it's not bi-xenon or literally a bulb whose sole purpose is to be the DRL).
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Nov 17, 2020
  4. 8AA

    8AA Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2004
    550
    62
    0
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I have a 04 Prius with HIDs and a little over 190K miles (~300K km) and I've only replaced the HIDs twice. I also leave them on all the time, for better visibility by other drivers. Not sure why you're having to replace them so often. It's not because you're turning them on and off constantly when you change between high and low beams, the HID is a single bulb that is constantly on whenever the headlights are on. When you switch between high and low beams, an electrically actuated shutter shields the light when it needs to be low, and opens up when it can be high. However, if you flash your lights with the signal indicator stalk when they are off, that will be turning the HIDs on and off repeatedly.
     
    #4 8AA, Nov 23, 2020
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)