Burned light sockets

[zach1990]

I was going to change bulbs this morning and noticed my passenger/driver side DRL socket, driver side turn signal socket, and driver side parking light socket were burned. Driver side turn signal was even smoking and glowing. What would be the cause of this? Moisture maybe? My 2000 did the same thing and replacing the socket seemed to fix it I'm just concerned as to the cause.

Truck is a 2004 Sierra SLE 2wd 5.3

[Chris]

Originally GM said the bulbs were too hot for the sockets. I put 3 pin sockets in mine. So now DRL is amber, and it is on dim to match the parking lights at night

[sahls01gmc]

I just let my DRL's burn out....and I haven't replaced them. Became too much of a hassle, and looked lame because I usually had one that didn't work.

[zach1990]

Originally GM said the bulbs were too hot for the sockets. I put 3 pin sockets in mine. So now DRL is amber, and it is on dim to match the parking lights at night

I'm trying to post pictures but tapatalk is being a PITA. So the solution according to GM is to use less efficiant lights

[Chris]

Instead of a 3157 they say use a 4114

[zach1990]

Alright thanks I'll have to exchange the 3157s I already bought.

[Doug_Scott]

Actually the rating on the bulb has little to do with efficiency. Putting a "brighter" bulb in may give more light, but, to do that it also has to produce more heat from the higher current flow.

 

I liked it better back when there were only about 4 different light bulbs in all the automobiles.

[Jsdirt]

I hear that Doug.

 

Never seen this happen in my life -even on vehicles anywhere from 25 to 80 years old, all with the original sockets and wiring!

 

Got to love that "high quality" amber coating they put on bulbs now. Another sign of the times ...

[MikeNH]

This seemed pretty common on the 03+ 800-series. Mine were quite discolored but I spotted it and swapped them for something lower wattage. But yeah I see the cheap crap coating peel all the time.