A few weeks ago my wife heard strange noises near my car. I opened the hood and saw evidence of nest building on top of the engine. I cleaned it out, sprinkled a combination of strong scents (cayenne & peppermint). A few weeks later I noticed a headlight out - with long Summer days I can't remember the last time I drove at night I thought I had a blown headlight (which is so common I keep extras around). I replaced that first, and it was only after putting everything back together that I noticed the frayed and chewed wires. I have an '06 with HID lights. 4 wires were damaged, right where the wires meet the connector. The connectors involved are the 2 wires that power the Ballast, and the 2 wires that control High/Low beam. There wasn't enough wire at the connector to splice and repair so I went to the junkyard yesterday and luckily of the 5 Prii to choose from, 1 had HID headlights (and the correct connectors). (It was interesting to see which parts were "popular") When I rewired everything, the headlight still doesn't work. I have a voltmeter, but I'm not sure I'm using it properly. When I tested the power at the connector for the one that goes to the ballast, it shows around 4.5V when the headlights are turned on. The other connector only shows a voltage when the High/Low signal is received from the switch. I think I read elsewhere this is a mechanical switch in the lens? I hear something happen when I actuate the high/low switch. Any help appreciated. Is there another important wire that could be cut/chewed? Another electrical issue - unrelated: Both power sockets failed on the same car trip, I replaced both fuses, but they still do not work, could that be the socket? I'm new to voltmeters, so would I check the power just before the socket?
Can you compare the voltage readings you get with the other side that has a working headlight? The headlight ballast should have 12-14V power with the lights turned on (measured red lead touching the connector terminal, black lead to clean metal on the body or engine- aka "ground"), it's fed from a dedicated fuse. The other wire (white-black) should be ground (0V). Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.