Bad news for the 2016 Sierra

TJay74 · July 17, 2015

Those of you that have already been eyeing the new headlights and taillights, just got word from the exterior lighting engineer at GM. They wont work on the 2014/15 trucks. Electrical, wiring and programming changes will keep them from being swapped over.

Really surprised as when I spoke with him during the headlight update for the 2014/15 trucks they had eluded that GM knew about the issues and would be making some design changes, I gave him input at that time to try and make the changes able to be retro to the 2014/15 trucks. I guess someone up higher in the food change didn't like that idea.

Bummer, I liked the new lights. Now to see just how bad the changes are, but if it is anything like the SLT lights that have still not been able to be swapped over to non-SLT trucks then it may never happen.

j-ten-ner · July 17, 2015

I think it's more like bad news for the 14/15 Sierra...;)

so long

j-ten-ner

TxTruckMan · July 17, 2015

That blows.

fondupot · July 17, 2015

Of course they wouldn't fit. They want you to buy a whole new truck to get the new headlights

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

raym0016 · July 17, 2015

Of course they wouldn't fit. They want you to buy a whole new truck to get the new headlights

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Working as intended.

TenofMe · July 17, 2015

As long as the exterior dimensions and mounting points are the same, I'm confident you can get them to work. I've done enough reverse engineering on the current headlights that it shouldn't be that big of a deal.

Of course the GMC party line will be "No, they won't work. Buy a new truck."

In any case, the more I look at the new lights, the less I like them.

TenofMe · July 17, 2015

Now to see just how bad the changes are, but if it is anything like the SLT lights that have still not been able to be swapped over to non-SLT trucks then it may never happen.

The SLT headlights can now easily be fitted to non-SLT trucks. I built some harnesses myself as a test and they worked fine.

Now Gen5 DIY has them for sale on their site: http://www.gen5diy.com/GMC/Sierra/NON-SLT-to-SLT-Headlamp-harness/

If you read through the SLE to SLT headlight swap thread you can see the installs people are doing, starting on page 10:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/153974-swap-2014-sle-headlights-for-slt-w-leds/page-10

Hobb3s · July 17, 2015

As long as the exterior dimensions and mounting points are the same, I'm confident you can get them to work. I've done enough reverse engineering on the current headlights that it shouldn't be that big of a deal.

Of course the GMC party line will be "No, they won't work. Buy a new truck."

In any case, the more I look at the new lights, the less I like them.

:werd: No doubt in my mind that someone will figure out a way

14silverado4.3 · July 17, 2015

Are the vibration problems gone for the 2016!

zmnypit · July 17, 2015

but if it is anything like the SLT lights that have still not been able to be swapped over to non-SLT trucks then it may never happen.

The SLT headlights can be swapped to the SLE trucks. There's a harness available to do so. If the mounting points on the new lights are the same then there should be no reason someone couldn't get them to work with a little wiring. The whole redesign is irritating as I just bought my truck a few weeks ago.

Brian S. · July 17, 2015

Are the vibration problems gone for the 2016!

My thought is the vibrations are more a part of the 4.3l drivetrain, and the transmission not matching the torque curve of the 4.3l as well.

I had a 2014 4.3l and noticed the vibrations when in auto 4wd between certain speeds. (I think it was like 15mph-35mph)

Have a 2015 5.3l and it's pretty non existent there, but again, where I have noticed is at low speeds in auto 4wd. (unfortunately it is a lot less pronounced in the 5.3 models, so I've driven around in auto 4 more than I'd planned after forgetting to turn it off after pulling boat out)

Bvonscott · July 17, 2015

I wouldnt mind getting those tail lights. And that GM engineer apprently doesnt know what wire splicing is LOL. It is not that hard to get electrical working on a 12 volt system.

RobZ71LM7 · July 17, 2015

If they physically fit, people will get them to work.

POS VETT · July 17, 2015

I couldn't care any less about retrofitting a '16 lighting to my '15.

Roader · July 17, 2015

The SLT headlights can now easily be fitted to non-SLT trucks. I built some harnesses myself as a test and they worked fine.

Now Gen5 DIY has them for sale on their site: http://www.gen5diy.com/GMC/Sierra/NON-SLT-to-SLT-Headlamp-harness/

If you read through the SLE to SLT headlight swap thread you can see the installs people are doing, starting on page 10:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/153974-swap-2014-sle-headlights-for-slt-w-leds/page-10

These guys are awesome. I've used them for multiple upgrades on both my wife and my camaro. I had some issues installing navigation and called them up, walked me thru the issue, and i was good. Hope they start doing more truck stuff