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Headlight Issue

RyanStrong

By RyanStrong
in Troubleshooting & Recalls

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SierraRover Enthusiast

SierraRover

Posted
Posted

Well, I came to this forum with the same question in mind. There are several threads about this issue, and lots of solutions: replacing the bulb with a different bulb reported to be slightly better; replacing the bulb with the HID bulbs/ballasts/wiring, which involves more expense and time; adding LED driving or fog lights, etc. I cannot find just one answer... but lots of them.

 

The major thread is here: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/152762-hid-headlight-bulbs-hid-projector-retrofit/

 

What I want to see is for someone to sell a replacement headlight that does not use the projector set-up and provides better lighting at a reasonable cost, without the unreliability issues and installation complications I read are associated with the various HID lights. I don't expect GM to replace for free all of the headlights on the 200,000 or so 2014/2015 Sierras they have sold.

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f8l vnm Senior Enthusiast

f8l vnm

Posted
Posted

For about 200 bucks labor included , you can do some hid which will help a decent amount. Kinda sux LEDs weren't an option. Ram and f150 both have them

Flying Tomatoes Enthusiast

Flying Tomatoes

Posted
Posted

How many "headlight sucks" threads do we need? There are already tons of threads on this subject.

 

Judging by what I've seen i'm going to say about three a day. :banghead:

 

Use the search button folks.

jamin87ss Senior Enthusiast

jamin87ss

Posted
Posted

How many "headlight sucks" threads do we need? There are already tons of threads on this subject.

because the best answers get scrambled bye the other garbage, I to have started a cpl threads becaus ethe idea is fresh, Ive spent countless hours reading and I get more confused, but after a year there are some fresh ideas and answers that get lost in the long threads,

nivekcanam Enthusiast

nivekcanam

Posted
Posted

Has any body installed rigid industry fog lights ? They make a round one now looks pretty slick !! ? Also I want to add a light bar under the grill in that little opening has anybody done that and what beam did you use

Dnt Senior Enthusiast

Dnt

Posted
Posted

I had a 2009 GMC Sierra SLT and I have noticed only a very slight difference on this 2014 GMC Sierra SLT. As stated above the light does not seem to spread evenly but it is more than sufficient for night time driving unless you have a vision condition. I get a lot of people flashing their high beams at me also and I have a completely stock truck. I would urge Pw1 to go have his eyes checked as he may have an undiagnosed case of glaucoma and be unaware of it. Night blindness is one of the symptoms..........................

Pw1 Enthusiast

Pw1

Posted
Posted

I had a 2009 GMC Sierra SLT and I have noticed only a very slight difference on this 2014 GMC Sierra SLT. As stated above the light does not seem to spread evenly but it is more than sufficient for night time driving unless you have a vision condition. I get a lot of people flashing their high beams at me also and I have a completely stock truck. I would urge Pw1 to go have his eyes checked as he may have an undiagnosed case of glaucoma and be unaware of it. Night blindness is one of the symptoms..........................

 

not real sure whats up with personal attack but i am guessing you are leaving your office at gm and are trying to save face on these trucks. first of all i had a 2008 and the headlights were so much better that if you cant tell the difference you might be the one with serious eye problems!!!!! you are also in the minority in this thread if you can see well enough to read all the posts. and from what i read there many threads on this subject that i didnt find before starting this one. good luck and stay on the road
Dnt Senior Enthusiast

Dnt

Posted
Posted

not real sure whats up with personal attack but i am guessing you are leaving your office at gm and are trying to save face on these trucks. first of all i had a 2008 and the headlights were so much better that if you cant tell the difference you might be the one with serious eye problems!!!!! you are also in the minority in this thread if you can see well enough to read all the posts. and from what i read there many threads on this subject that i didnt find before starting this one. good luck and stay on the road

Pw1 I am not attacking you man. I have a close friend that is in the late stages of Glaucoma. He ignored the night blindness symptoms for years and it is too late for him now he will be completely blind soon and not a dang thing anyone can do about it because he waited too long to seek treatment. I hope you can get past your anger and get checked for Glaucoma. When I read your post it just reminded me of my friend and how stubborn he was to go to the eye doctor.

I have several things that I am disappointed in when I compare my 2009 SLT to this 2014 SLT but the headlights are not on that list. Good Luck and yes stay on the road.

Skeeter McSkeet Senior Enthusiast

Skeeter McSkeet

Posted
Posted

I use a lot of "glaucoma medicine"....I think the headlights still suck lol! [emoji23]... I decided to order the morimoto Sierra kit from TRS. Still still will utilize the stock projector, so it won't be as nice as a retrofit; but, still will be a vast improvement over oem, and basically plug and play. [emoji106]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

502ss Enthusiast

502ss

Posted
Posted

I use a lot of "glaucoma medicine"....I think the headlights still suck lol! [emoji23]... I decided to order the morimoto Sierra kit from TRS. Still still will utilize the stock projector, so it won't be as nice as a retrofit; but, still will be a vast improvement over oem, and basically plug and play. [emoji106]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just installed the morimoto sierra kit and its a huge difference. I have a 2015 and I am not sure if GM tweaked the headlights but I don't think they are terrible! Would love to put a 14 and 15 side by side to see if anything was changed by GM!

 

Anyway here are some pictures of the HID kit. First two pics are low/high on a dark road and then low/high in front of my garage.

 

0FEA5BE4-20FA-4E03-9826-3A1E20078C66_zps

D81090D2-C676-4D8B-9FAA-8FE14D082C0D_zps

 

C04C67B4-8084-4100-93B5-2EBA36A9A8C9_zps

017361D9-2802-4B57-9388-4A26E5763869_zps

Ventilator Senior Enthusiast

Ventilator

Posted
Posted

I just got my eyes checked less than a month ago, no problems. I even paid for two new procedures not yet covered by insurance. I don't have any abnormal conditions.

 

I don't have any problems driving at night with several other vehicles, both cars and trucks. The lights suck in rural areas, with no other light influence.

 

Take those same pictures without the guard rails in both sides of the road.

 

My trucks lights cast light straight ahead ok, but very little to none past the shoulders of the road. Not a good feeling to have in deer country. GM can do better, and better be working on a fix.

Skeeter McSkeet Senior Enthusiast

Skeeter McSkeet

Posted
Posted

I have a 15 MY, didn't own a 14 so I can't compare the two. I agree though that straight ahead isn't bad at all, but taking a turn onto a side road in the country can be challenging to see when you start the turn

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

davidegl Enthusiast

davidegl

Posted
Posted

Just another subjective opinion. I traded in a 2008 Tundra and my 2015 Denali has much less illumination. I do believe the Toyota had excellent lights for a "non-hid" or "non-led" design.

 

I had to drive about 200 miles at night right after picking the Denali up for the first time. I literally had some concern that only the driving lights were working and the headlights weren't until I got close enough behind someone to see the reflection. Those who say they are fine must have different lights or have different comparisons than I do. They remind me a lot of a 1995 convertible my wife drives.

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