Headlamp Bulb Life

karld · December 28, 2009

Has anyone else with a gmt-900 had their headlamp bulb fail ? I kind of attribute it to the drl's being on all the time. Thank goodness it was the drivers side that went,the passenger side looks like it really sucks. When it stops snowing and blowing I'll tackle that one.The new one is much brighter than the other side.I think I can just lift up the air cleaner lid to get at the pass side,anyone done this??

250motorsportz · December 28, 2009

Yes, I've actually put HIDs in without removing the headlights. Driver side is easy, and passenger side is a little tighter with the airbox. I say just put some HIDs in there for $100 max and you'll never change your bulbs again. DDMtuning.com, order a H11 6000K kit and a relay and your set!

elcompalaline · December 29, 2009

I think the DRLs do play a roll on the life of the bulbs. I disabled them in my Silvy and Malibu for that exact reason, dreading the day I would have to change em if they were to fail on me. The Silvy isn't at all too hard replace but my Malibu, the whole front bumper needs to come off that thing to remove the headlights.

T Loz · December 29, 2009

Headlamp bulbs don't fail because your "DRL'S" are on. They fail because the bulbs are bad from the start, or there may be a voltage surge etc.. My 97 GMC never had a failed bulb and "DRL's"

were always on..They were still working fine when I sold it last June.

electricchiken7 · December 29, 2009

Has anyone else with a gmt-900 had their headlamp bulb fail ? I kind of attribute it to the drl's being on all the time. Thank goodness it was the drivers side that went,the passenger side looks like it really sucks. When it stops snowing and blowing I'll tackle that one.The new one is much brighter than the other side.I think I can just lift up the air cleaner lid to get at the pass side,anyone done this??

My driver side failed too.Also changed out the passenger side. You have to remove the air box to get to it. I sure like the headlight set up on my 02 Yukon better. No tools required!! I love the look of the front of the Sierra but I think they could have made this set up a lot better. Still love my truck though!

georgecdisc · December 29, 2009

Headlamp bulbs don't fail because your "DRL'S" are on. They fail because the bulbs are bad from the start, or there may be a voltage surge etc.. My 97 GMC never had a failed bulb and "DRL's"
were always on..They were still working fine when I sold it last June.

Then all bulbs must be bad because they inevitably all fail. The biggest contributor to bulb life being shorter is heat. Having a bulb last for 10+ years is amazing, and unique.

Spurshot · December 29, 2009

Disabling the DRL may help the bulb last longer, maybe not. It sure won't help you or anyone in your path last longer. DRL's are a safety system on your truck. They didn't put the DRL system on your truck to sell light bulbs. Why not just paint your brake lights black while your at it?

Bulbs are cheap. Buy spares, learn how to change them. Keep the tools (a simple screwdriver to remove the aircleaner, as I recall) and bulbs in the truck.

2005LT · December 29, 2009

I've seen a couple of GMT 900 trucks around here with a headlight out. I think it was the driver's side too. Keeping a spare in the truck is a good idea, good tip Chuck.

Spurshot · December 29, 2009

I always keep a little baggie of fuses as well. Having a spare bulb for a tail light or headlight onboard and changing it quickly if you get pulled over could keep you from getting a fix-it ticket, if the officer is reasonable. The county sheriff around here has made fix-it tickets into a revenue. You have to pay $15 or $20 to have an officer sign off the ticket as fixed.

dannynoonan · December 29, 2009

I'm a fairly handy guy and had a hell of a time changing my drivers side last weekend. I ended up having to move the windshield washer neck out of the way which meant removing the nine bolts that hold the spare battery tray in place. Pretty handy spot for the neck. I'm glad they didn't position it to one side or the other.

Spurshot · December 29, 2009

Danny,

On my Chevy, the driver's side is a cinch. The passenger side is the one that's a bit of a pain. I have to remove the airbox and it's accessable.

denali503 · December 29, 2009

Just don't get silverstars... i have had nothing but bad luck witht hem. seem to only last about 9-15 months at best for some reason... Piaas or some decent HIDs

Spurshot · December 29, 2009

I've had H-9 bulbs in my low beams in for about 10,000 miles now and they're still working. I do a fair amount of night driving and I still have the DRLs working. I do realize that they may not last long, but they're cheap at $14 ea. and don't require any mods to the truck and 50% more lumens than the stock bulb. If I get a couple yrs out of these bulbs, I'll be satisfied and put in the same.

BTW,

That comment about 10 yrs out of a bulb, well I got 10 yrs and 215,000 miles out of a set on my 99. It may be a few thousand miles less on the low beams, since I put in Sylvannia's shortly after buying the truck. That's 2 low beam bulbs, and 2 high beam bulbs along with the DRLs.

elcompalaline · December 30, 2009

Disabling the DRL may help the bulb last longer, maybe not. It sure won't help you or anyone in your path last longer. DRL's are a safety system on your truck. They didn't put the DRL system on your truck to sell light bulbs. Why not just paint your brake lights black while your at it?

Bulbs are cheap. Buy spares, learn how to change them. Keep the tools (a simple screwdriver to remove the aircleaner, as I recall) and bulbs in the truck.

I believe disabling them will prolong my bulbs in my car and had to disable my truck's for the HIDs. Personally I don't worry about it because I drive in the city, and yes my taillights are blacked out too.

zozmanGMC · December 30, 2009

Has anyone else with a gmt-900 had their headlamp bulb fail ? I kind of attribute it to the drl's being on all the time. Thank goodness it was the drivers side that went,the passenger side looks like it really sucks. When it stops snowing and blowing I'll tackle that one.The new one is much brighter than the other side.I think I can just lift up the air cleaner lid to get at the pass side,anyone done this??

Hello

I had a 1991 GMC truck that I never had to replace the front headlight bulbs. On a couple of occasions, I had to change the rear taillight bulbs. My unscientific survey reveals that, on trucks equipped with DRL's, the passenger DRL is out more frequently than the driver side DRL. The end.

zoz