# 2001 Toyota RAV4 - Right headlight problem

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-toyota-rav4-right-headlight-problem/43433>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** rav4, toyota\
**Created:** [January 29, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-toyota-rav4-right-headlight-problem/43433 "2010-01-29T23:19:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chigirl1964](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Chigirl1964](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Chigirl1964)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-toyota-rav4-right-headlight-problem/43433/1 "2010-01-29T23:19:00Z")

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I have a 20001 Toyota RAV4 and any time I use the highbeams (or click on it by mistake) - the passenger side headlight shorts out.  
  
  
  
 My mechanic told me Hyundai had a similar problem and fixed it (something about a “power surge” blowing the bulb) but he hasn’t heard anything about Toyota.  
  
  
  
 Has anyone here had a similar problem and/or know of any fixes. My mechanic is so sympathetic he has stopped charging me to replace the bulb…which has been 3 times in the past year.

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**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-toyota-rav4-right-headlight-problem/43433/2 "2010-01-30T01:44:45Z")

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I assume the bulb is blowing out and not shorting out. They are two different issues. If the bulb is blowing out I suggest you try a different brand of bulb if the replacements aren’t from the dealer. I also assume the headlights aren’t the HID style that use a ballast transformer. If they HID then perhaps changing the transformer will help.

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**Author:** ![Chigirl1964](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Chigirl1964](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Chigirl1964)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-toyota-rav4-right-headlight-problem/43433/3 "2010-02-03T22:53:23Z")

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You are correct - the bulb is blowing out. Not quite sure what HID means though…

The bulbls are not from the dealer, I go to an independent mechanic. I’ll ask him to switch brands to see if that helps.

Thanks for the info