High Beams not working - 2006 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by dmax5705, Mar 7, 2008.

  1. dmax5705

    dmax5705 New Member

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    recently purchased a used 2006 Prius and now realize the high beams do no work. This is a single bulb headlight and it looks like there is some cover that perhaps is suppose to turn for high beam(?). It does not but I do hear a click when I flick the high beam switch from inside the car cabin. I looked at the backside of the headlamp wiring and I see three terminals coming out of the headlamp but only 2 are wired up. I did not notice any other connections but it is difficult to see.

    this is a salvaged title car and am looking to fix it myself or at least understand whats wrong before I take it to a shop.

    Appreciate any help. thanks.
     
    #1 dmax5705, Mar 7, 2008
  2. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Do you have HID headlamps? The HIDs are attached to a ballast unit. From your description I suspect you do. With HIDs, there is only one bulb for high and low; a little shutter moves into place for the low position. If the shutter has failed on both sides, I suspect a wiring or controller issue, as it would be unlikely to have two fail at the same time.

    Tom
     
    #2 qbee42, Mar 7, 2008
  3. dmax5705

    dmax5705 New Member

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    These don't appear to be HID. Based on what I can find on the internet the terminals coming out the back correspond to non-HID bulbs for the Prius.
    2004 - 2007 Toyota Prius Headlight Bulb

    top picture looks like what I have.
     
    #3 dmax5705, Mar 7, 2008
  4. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    Do you have fog lamps on the car? If you do, then your headlights are HID. If not, then they are halogen bulbs.
     
    #4 firepa63, Mar 7, 2008
  5. dmax5705

    dmax5705 New Member

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    yes I do have fog lights. The wiring I see by whoever did it appears to go from the fuse box area directly to the lightbulb itself.
    Does this sound right for a prius with hid lights? I looked under the hood of a friends prius but am unable to
    see anything as he has a cap that covers up the back of the fixture.
     
    #5 dmax5705, Mar 8, 2008
  6. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    if you have HIDs, there is a little yellow warning sticker above each light housing under the hood.
     
    #6 galaxee, Mar 8, 2008
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