EXCESSIVE HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENTS!!! - Toyota Yaris Forums

jemmah · 01-06-2011, 12:25 PM

I have a 2007 hatch with 145,000miles. Other than tires and oil/air filters absolutely no problems except an average of 3 to 4 headlight bulb replacements each year. There a pain to replace so this is not fun!!
I never touch the glass, always use electric contact stuff on the contacts.
Can't find any tech bulletins or anything else regarding this problem. But I must admit, I'm now the best Yaris headlight changer in North America!!
Is this commom among my fellow Yaris owners or does my Yaris have a personnel issue? Thanks for any info................
JEM

CTScott · 01-06-2011, 12:35 PM

Do you do a lot of switching between high and low beams? The thing that causes filaments in bulbs to fail the quickest is switching them on.

severous01 · 01-06-2011, 05:23 PM

do you use long life bulbs? they're more expensive but last much longer

winfong · 01-06-2011, 08:47 PM

Get used to it.....Headlight Bulbs replacements are like an everyday thing....
normal life of bulbs are about 6mths....

philips diamond vision and Osram night breakers are just way way EX

For Longer life, try getting the Low heat bulbs, 55-60 Watts...

Also check if you headlight chassis has water in them... .

slow.yaris · 01-06-2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winfong

Get used to it.....Headlight Bulbs replacements are like an everyday thing....
normal life of bulbs are about 6mths....

philips diamond vision and Osram night breakers are just way way EX

For Longer life, try getting the Low heat bulbs, 55-60 Watts...

Also check if you headlight chassis has water in them... .

almost 4 years, 90,000 miles - every bulb in the car is still working

landrym28 · 01-07-2011, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slow.yaris

almost 4 years, 90,000 miles - every bulb in the car is still working

+1. Had my other Yaris for 4 years, about 75,000 miles, stock headlights and they were still working when I traded it in.

jemmah · 01-07-2011, 07:00 AM

****I'll respond to some of your comments****: I did go back to using the low heat 55-60W lamps. I've lost two since then. The Headlight modules are completely dry. Hardly ever use the high beams.
I guess I can assume a some kind of electrical spike in the headlight circuit probably when starting the car or a questionable ground in the wiring. I've tried all kinds of bulbs and anything else I could think of, guess I'll just live with it. Like I said before, I've become a quick bulb changer in the Yaris which as most of you know isn't easy!!

Vinceb · 01-07-2011, 07:32 AM

Oh how I feel your pain, my Yaris eats headlights for an afternoon snack!
I've got an 08, had the stock bulbs until about 4 months in, drivers side died, but only the low beam. So I decided to replace with Silverstar Ultra 9003 55w (same as the stock) and since then i've been replacing them about every 3-4 months. If you purchase them at Canadian Tire they will warranty them for 1 year, if you pay them the 20 bucks and have they're mechanic install them, they will warranty them for 3 years. - been getting free replacements for a while now.

I've never touched the glass, the dome is sealed, no water inside, and I make sure the rubber seal is replaced on the back. Toyota says they've had no complaints and can't find anything wrong with the car, they suggest going back to stock bulbs. I always replace both at the same time when one blows since they're sold in a pack of 2, but it's random, sometimes drivers side, sometimes passengers side. Just recently switched to GE Nighthawk Platinum, 2 months into this pair. - never had a car go through this many headlights before.
only thought would be maybe the daytime running lights powering them at a constantly lower than normal wattage. I might try disabling this.

bankrobber · 01-07-2011, 07:16 PM

Never had a headlight blow on mine. Parking light went out 2 years ago and never replaced it. I have 104,000 on my 2007

Scubaru Steve · 01-08-2011, 12:33 AM

get a good set of projector lights and install a good set of hid's!
lots of kits have a lifetime warranty.

please do not install hid's without using a projector lens.
http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...BIXENON/Detail

jstantherprsn · 01-10-2011, 12:21 PM

The reason you're replacing so much is because, you are probably touching the bulbs and your replacing them with sylvania.

Stop using anything with a star in the name, use regular stock or go with philips bulbs. They have a vision plus which work great and last a while.

Vinceb · 01-11-2011, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstantherprsn

The reason you're replacing so much is because, you are probably touching the bulbs and your replacing them with sylvania.

Stop using anything with a star in the name, use regular stock or go with philips bulbs. They have a vision plus which work great and last a while.

I only switched to these after the stock bulbs burnt, I've tried silverstar and the silverstar ultra and now the nighthawk's. I've always used them in other cars, with no problems.

daf62757 · 01-12-2011, 08:23 PM

I have often looked under the hood and wondered how in hell do you change the light bulbs?

Can anyone describe the process?

Viperoni · 01-12-2011, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinceb

Oh how I feel your pain, my Yaris eats headlights for an afternoon snack!
I've got an 08, had the stock bulbs until about 4 months in, drivers side died, but only the low beam. So I decided to replace with Silverstar Ultra 9003 55w (same as the stock) and since then i've been replacing them about every 3-4 months. If you purchase them at Canadian Tire they will warranty them for 1 year, if you pay them the 20 bucks and have they're mechanic install them, they will warranty them for 3 years. - been getting free replacements for a while now.

I've never touched the glass, the dome is sealed, no water inside, and I make sure the rubber seal is replaced on the back. Toyota says they've had no complaints and can't find anything wrong with the car, they suggest going back to stock bulbs. I always replace both at the same time when one blows since they're sold in a pack of 2, but it's random, sometimes drivers side, sometimes passengers side. Just recently switched to GE Nighthawk Platinum, 2 months into this pair. - never had a car go through this many headlights before.
only thought would be maybe the daytime running lights powering them at a constantly lower than normal wattage. I might try disabling this.

Te (North American) Silverstar's have crappy life due to the filament being overdriven to compensate for the tinted lens.

severous01 · 01-12-2011, 11:19 PM

check your ground. you should have very close to 0 ohms. very close as in decimals of ohms...mine is .08 ohms and i've gone 3 years on the same bulbs.

also, if you had good luck with factory bulbs...spend the extra money and get factory bulbs. they're long life and designed for the car by toyota. you may also have an underlying problem. sticking relays, low voltage, bad grounds. do you have the DRL module in? it's been proven that when bulbs are constantly turned on and off they die quicker....and the module pulses them on/off several times a second.

jstantherprsn · 01-13-2011, 05:59 PM

Its easy to change, pull the plug. Then pull back the rubber boot and take it off. You'll see a wire similiar to a coat hanger that is hinged and apart of the housing. Push down and it unclicks and swings back like a door. Pull out the bulb.
Insert the new bulb and line the tabs. The tabs are a way of keying the light so its inserted properly. When you put it in and the tabs are pointed the right way it will be flush and you can close the wire hinge door. It will click in place and push the boot onto the base of the bulb than onto the housing. Reattach the plug, done.

When inserting the bulb hold it by the back pins or the metal disc.

Any tint on glass traps heat in a lamp, the heat contributes to the filament oxidizing/corroding and failing.

*tk-421* · 01-13-2011, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTScott

Do you do a lot of switching between high and low beams? The thing that causes filaments in bulbs to fail the quickest is switching them on.

+1

jemmah · 02-03-2011, 01:35 PM

I started this post; just went thru another headlight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two since the start of 2011. Half dozen last year. I think I'll try some lamps directly from Toyota, maybe that will make a difference. All the information provided by everyone is appreciated BUT none of the problems mentioned is the issue with my Yaris. I noticed many of you have the same problem. As to the person who was interested in how to replce the bulb, it's a major issue, you can't get your hands in there for replacement. Basically have to pull the fender away from the auto in order to replace. I don't have the time at the moment to explain. All I can say as I said early in on of my posts; "I've become an expert on bulb changing. but it's quite a process. May try to disable the daytime running lights.....Thanks everyone for your input

01-06-2011, 12:25 PM	#1
jemmah Drives: Toyota Yaris Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cape Cod MA. USA Posts: 14	EXCESSIVE HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENTS!!! I have a 2007 hatch with 145,000miles. Other than tires and oil/air filters absolutely no problems except an average of 3 to 4 headlight bulb replacements each year. There a pain to replace so this is not fun!! I never touch the glass, always use electric contact stuff on the contacts. Can't find any tech bulletins or anything else regarding this problem. But I must admit, I'm now the best Yaris headlight changer in North America!! Is this commom among my fellow Yaris owners or does my Yaris have a personnel issue? Thanks for any info................ JEM

01-06-2011, 12:35 PM	#2
CTScott ULTIMATE View User's Garage Drives: 09 5dr LB, 2x 08 3dr LB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: USA, CT Posts: 13,460	Do you do a lot of switching between high and low beams? The thing that causes filaments in bulbs to fail the quickest is switching them on. __________________

01-12-2011, 08:23 PM	#13
daf62757 Nothing beats a Toyota! View User's Garage Drives: 2013 Yaris 5 dr liftback Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 564	I have often looked under the hood and wondered how in hell do you change the light bulbs? Can anyone describe the process? __________________ Big Dave Indianapolis, IN Synthetic Oil....its in my car.....for at least 10,000 miles!

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01-06-2011, 05:23 PM	#3
severous01 Drives: 2008 yaris, stripped, red Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Texas Posts: 977	do you use long life bulbs? they're more expensive but last much longer

01-06-2011, 08:47 PM	#4
winfong Drives: VIOS Belta Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Singapore Posts: 20	Get used to it.....Headlight Bulbs replacements are like an everyday thing.... normal life of bulbs are about 6mths.... philips diamond vision and Osram night breakers are just way way EX For Longer life, try getting the Low heat bulbs, 55-60 Watts... Also check if you headlight chassis has water in them... .

01-07-2011, 07:00 AM	#7
jemmah Drives: Toyota Yaris Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cape Cod MA. USA Posts: 14	**I'll respond to some of your comments**: I did go back to using the low heat 55-60W lamps. I've lost two since then. The Headlight modules are completely dry. Hardly ever use the high beams. I guess I can assume a some kind of electrical spike in the headlight circuit probably when starting the car or a questionable ground in the wiring. I've tried all kinds of bulbs and anything else I could think of, guess I'll just live with it. Like I said before, I've become a quick bulb changer in the Yaris which as most of you know isn't easy!!

01-07-2011, 07:32 AM	#8
Vinceb Drives: 2008 5 Speed Sedan Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 77	Oh how I feel your pain, my Yaris eats headlights for an afternoon snack! I've got an 08, had the stock bulbs until about 4 months in, drivers side died, but only the low beam. So I decided to replace with Silverstar Ultra 9003 55w (same as the stock) and since then i've been replacing them about every 3-4 months. If you purchase them at Canadian Tire they will warranty them for 1 year, if you pay them the 20 bucks and have they're mechanic install them, they will warranty them for 3 years. - been getting free replacements for a while now. I've never touched the glass, the dome is sealed, no water inside, and I make sure the rubber seal is replaced on the back. Toyota says they've had no complaints and can't find anything wrong with the car, they suggest going back to stock bulbs. I always replace both at the same time when one blows since they're sold in a pack of 2, but it's random, sometimes drivers side, sometimes passengers side. Just recently switched to GE Nighthawk Platinum, 2 months into this pair. - never had a car go through this many headlights before. only thought would be maybe the daytime running lights powering them at a constantly lower than normal wattage. I might try disabling this.

01-07-2011, 07:16 PM	#9
bankrobber Drives: 2007 Yaris Hatchback Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 254	Never had a headlight blow on mine. Parking light went out 2 years ago and never replaced it. I have 104,000 on my 2007

01-08-2011, 12:33 AM	#10
Scubaru Steve Awesome! Drives: 12 Yaris/07 yaris Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: calgary Posts: 323	get a good set of projector lights and install a good set of hid's! lots of kits have a lifetime warranty. please do not install hid's without using a projector lens. http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...BIXENON/Detail

01-10-2011, 12:21 PM	#11
jstantherprsn Drives: 01 Toyota Echo Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Philly Posts: 71	The reason you're replacing so much is because, you are probably touching the bulbs and your replacing them with sylvania. Stop using anything with a star in the name, use regular stock or go with philips bulbs. They have a vision plus which work great and last a while.

01-12-2011, 11:19 PM	#15
severous01 Drives: 2008 yaris, stripped, red Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Texas Posts: 977	check your ground. you should have very close to 0 ohms. very close as in decimals of ohms...mine is .08 ohms and i've gone 3 years on the same bulbs. also, if you had good luck with factory bulbs...spend the extra money and get factory bulbs. they're long life and designed for the car by toyota. you may also have an underlying problem. sticking relays, low voltage, bad grounds. do you have the DRL module in? it's been proven that when bulbs are constantly turned on and off they die quicker....and the module pulses them on/off several times a second.

01-13-2011, 05:59 PM	#16
jstantherprsn Drives: 01 Toyota Echo Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Philly Posts: 71	Its easy to change, pull the plug. Then pull back the rubber boot and take it off. You'll see a wire similiar to a coat hanger that is hinged and apart of the housing. Push down and it unclicks and swings back like a door. Pull out the bulb. Insert the new bulb and line the tabs. The tabs are a way of keying the light so its inserted properly. When you put it in and the tabs are pointed the right way it will be flush and you can close the wire hinge door. It will click in place and push the boot onto the base of the bulb than onto the housing. Reattach the plug, done. When inserting the bulb hold it by the back pins or the metal disc. Any tint on glass traps heat in a lamp, the heat contributes to the filament oxidizing/corroding and failing.

02-03-2011, 01:35 PM	#18
jemmah Drives: Toyota Yaris Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cape Cod MA. USA Posts: 14	I started this post; just went thru another headlight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two since the start of 2011. Half dozen last year. I think I'll try some lamps directly from Toyota, maybe that will make a difference. All the information provided by everyone is appreciated BUT none of the problems mentioned is the issue with my Yaris. I noticed many of you have the same problem. As to the person who was interested in how to replce the bulb, it's a major issue, you can't get your hands in there for replacement. Basically have to pull the fender away from the auto in order to replace. I don't have the time at the moment to explain. All I can say as I said early in on of my posts; "I've become an expert on bulb changing. but it's quite a process. May try to disable the daytime running lights.....Thanks everyone for your input