Headlight Issue

[Tom F]

Hopefully someone can help me with a problem I am having with the drivers side low beam headlight on a 2008 Avalon Touring. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that the drivers side headlight was intermittently going out. I purchased and installed both the drivers side and passengers side bulbs(D4R). I was disappointed to find out that the bulb change did not solve the problem. After some investigation, it appears that if I turn the headlights On and Off a number of times, the drivers side headlight will eventually stay illuminated (the passenger side works fine). The times that the bulb does not stay lit, it will be more dimly lit before it goes out. This leads me to believe that the problem is with the ballast, but it’s hard to find information about headlight ballast and their installation. I would like to have some confidence that if I buy and install the ballast it will solve the problem. Any advice or help would be appreciated.

[inov8]

This URL links to a factory HID troubleshooting TSB on the Priuschat forum. perhaps some elements of the process could be applied to your problem.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...7NzK_w&cad=rja

[Mike Murrell]

I have an '06 Avalon XL and Factory service manuals(FSM) on CD. There is a write-up on HID replacement in the '06 FSM. Sure am glad mine uses the std 900x bulbs - $10 vs. $150.00 or so for HID.

For $15 U.S. - you can go to:

https://techinfo.toyota.com

and purchase a 2 day subscription. Assuming high-speed internet - you may download all FSMs for your car. Beats paying the approx. $350.00 I'd have to shell out for hard-copy.

Having gazed at the HID section - I would not embark on this w/o some vehicle-specific doc.

I also located FSMs in PDF on the WEB - but at a Russian internet site.

I'd feel safer dropping my drawers in a gay bar on a busy Sat. night than clicking on a .ru WEB site.

[lexsc4]

Tom F,

Did you fix the headlight D4R problem yet? My 08 touring is having the same problem on the driver side as well. I am now thinking of replacing both D4Rs and both Ballasts now.

Any tips are appreciated.

Jack

[Minus (-)]

Read My Post About 2008 Headlight TSB....IT IS NOT THE BULB....You Need A Whole New Headlight Assembly.....Toyota Is Trying To Play Us....This Should Be A Recall....If Ur Still Under Warranty,Go To Service And Let Them Know ...If Not They're Tryna Charge A $2k Fix...My Highbeams Went Out In A Rainstorm....So Dont Take This Lightly

[lexsc4]

Unfortunately my 08 is out of warranty. Nothing I can do about this.
Asking for a recall will take time and it hasn't happen so far, so I won't get my hopes up.

[lexsc4]

Finally I got a chance to flip the flickering driver side bulb to the passenger side. Now the passenger side is flickering, so in my case it is the bulbs problem, not the ballast. Ordered two new Philips D4Rs from Amazon.com at $55.00 each and plan to change both at the same time. Hopefully after changing to the new bulbs I won't have anymore problem for a few more years (knock on wood). Will keep you guys posted.

[lexsc4]

Here is an update.

Changed both D4R bulbs during the weekend and it has been a few days. I turned on the headlights even during sunny day just to make sure things are OK in hot weather.

NO MORE FLICKERING. Hopefully it will last me another 3-4 years and I am going to change car. Maybe I will get the Avalon limtied or 12 Acura TL or Lexus GS.

[grandpapa]

Originally Posted by lexsc4

Here is an update.

Changed both D4R bulbs during the weekend and it has been a few days. I turned on the headlights even during sunny day just to make sure things are OK in hot weather.

NO MORE FLICKERING. Hopefully it will last me another 3-4 years and I am going to change car. Maybe I will get the Avalon limtied or 12 Acura TL or Lexus GS.

Seems like the root cause is the bad bulb, hope that new pair of bulb will take care of it. You got it at Amazon @$55/each, is it OEM? I wonder how much it cost to get it from Toyota.

[pmesfun]

Originally Posted by grandpapa

Seems like the root cause is the bad bulb, hope that new pair of bulb will take care of it. You got it at Amazon @$55/each, is it OEM? I wonder how much it cost to get it from Toyota.

$175 MRSP, $150 from Discount Toyota parts websites. I'm guessing Phillips is what Toyota used.

[5thwheel]

I have a 2008 Avalon with exactly the same issue. The Dealership wanted to charge $175 for the bulb and thier regular hourly rate it was going to cost $245 for a bulb.
I'm glad you posted this and I just wanted you to know I have exactly the same issue.

[lexsc4]

Don't get ripped off by the dealer. The bulbs are the same, down to the detail writing on the base of the bulb "Philips Xeneco D4R) Except the box is Philips instead of Toyota.

You can change the bulb easily. Took me 30 minutes and I was being careful. The passenger side is easy, the driver side is harder as you need to move the battery out of the way. If you have big hand, you may need to move the fuse box out of the way.

[lexsc4]

$245 per side is purely highway robbery, I bet they told you they have to remove the bumper to get to it, which is pure BS.

5thwheel. You should do what I did, flip the flickering bulb to the other side. Then you can isolate whether it is the bulb issue or the ballast/control unit issue. In my case it was the bulb, not the ballast.

[5thwheel]

lexsc4,
You called it. They indeed told me the bumper had to come off. While I didn't believe it they did manage to scare me. I figured for $245 per bulb I would flip the light on and off several times. Hahahahahaha. Anyway, it makes more sense that the bulb is loose than I need an entire headlight assembly.

[grandpapa]

Now I wonder what if the problem is a bad ballast, how much would it cost then?