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Headlight Illumination Issues

deputy

By deputy
in Troubleshooting & Recalls

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chinookmtp Enthusiast

chinookmtp

Posted
Posted

I purchased a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 last week and noticed night time driving visibility is rather poor. Researching this brought me to this site and made me aware of the PIT 5374A. My truck build date is after the date specified so it's my understanding the BCM calibration flash is not needed but it still needs the new bulbs. I checked my bulbs and they are Phillips and not Vosla, so they will need replacement? Has anyone replaced with LED lighting after the BCM calibration? If so, do you feel the LED upgrade is worth it?

Thanks,

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SierraRover Enthusiast

SierraRover

Posted
Posted

The Vosla 55 Watt HIR bulbs are an improvement over standard 9012 bulbs -- maybe 20% better. Not sure how long that improvement lasts, as some people are reporting the bulbs get dimmer after a while. I have some 65 watt 9011 bulbs (with the tabs trimmed to fit the 9012 socket) that I will re-install in my 2014 Sierra if the Vosla bulbs don't hold up -- the 65 Watt 9011 also provides about 20% more light and was the best low-cost option for improving 2014/2015 Sierra headlights before the TSB came along.

 

Can't speak about HID bulbs behind the projectors... or LEDs. Experiences apparently vary on these, in terms of how reliable the set up is. I'm avoiding them because of the expense. If I lived in the country, I'd probably buy some Rigid Industries LED light bars.

chinookmtp Enthusiast

chinookmtp

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the input Sierra Rover. I called dealer and they ordered bulbs. Based on DOM I don't need the BCM just the bulbs. I do have se LED replacements on order to try later for comparison.

Aaron1085 Senior Enthusiast

Aaron1085

Posted
Posted

I'm using the Xencn 9012 5300K bulbs. They are high quality UV bulbs made in Germany and are a perfect match with the headlight LED's. I'm very satisfied with them so far.

Plug N Play bulbs?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

Aaron1085 Senior Enthusiast

Aaron1085

Posted
Posted

I have a 2015 however don't 100% trust a dealer unless I see it for my own eyes...that said, how can I confirm if I've had the updated bulbs / wattage adjustment?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

rufous03 Enthusiast

rufous03

Posted
Posted

I purchased a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 last week and noticed night time driving visibility is rather poor. Researching this brought me to this site and made me aware of the PIT 5374A. My truck build date is after the date specified so it's my understanding the BCM calibration flash is not needed but it still needs the new bulbs. I checked my bulbs and they are Phillips and not Vosla, so they will need replacement? Has anyone replaced with LED lighting after the BCM calibration? If so, do you feel the LED upgrade is worth it?

Thanks,

IMHO, the replacement bulbs from GM did nothing, I have tried LED Replacement bulbs, looked great, but as for performance at night a waste of time installing them. Best thing I have come up with so far is a LED light bar mounted behind the grill, not inexpensive, but works great.

theatasigma Enthusiast

theatasigma

Posted
Posted

IMHO, the replacement bulbs from GM did nothing, I have tried LED Replacement bulbs, looked great, but as for performance at night a waste of time installing them. Best thing I have come up with so far is a LED light bar mounted behind the grill, not inexpensive, but works great.

I tried LED bulbs too, no luck so far. I replaced the dealer bulbs with Phillps 9012LL bulbs from the autoparts store. They are brighter than bulbs from the dealer and allows me to see better at night. Going to to revisit the LED after I get the truck inspected next month. Here is a link to the bulbs I am using:

https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/930200/00850/2014/GMC%2520TRUCK/SIERRA%25201500%2520PICKUP/0/V8-325%2520%25205.3L

mafd2 Senior Enthusiast

mafd2

Posted
Posted

Plug N Play bulbs?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

Yes. As with all, be sure the bulbs are all the way in and seated properly.

Beer Belly Enthusiast

Beer Belly

Posted
Posted

I just had mine at the dealer...they replaced the bulbs, and adjusted the beam a little higher....no BCM programming needed....still not up to par. The Service Manager wants me to stop by to make sure everything was done correctly. GM needs to come up with a real fix.

SierraRover Enthusiast

SierraRover

Posted
Posted

I have a 2015 however don't 100% trust a dealer unless I see it for my own eyes...that said, how can I confirm if I've had the updated bulbs / wattage adjustment?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

You can pull the driver's headlight bulb (passenger side is much harder) and check it out. The bulb should say Vosla in the lettering on the side of the base, and will probably also say HIR 9012 55W. As noted above by mafd2, make sure it is seated in the right location in the projector when you put it back in, or the focal point of the light will be off. As for the BCM flash, the dealer's records are probably the only place this is recorded (would it be in a CarFax record? Some maintenance is listed in CarFax reports).

 

I agree GM has failed miserably with the 2014/15 Sierra headlights -- I have adjusted my driving (slowed down, dimmed the dash bulbs, learned to watch the light pattern more carefully) but the 2014 lights are a D at night, and a D-minus on a rainy night.

Imcrazy Senior Enthusiast

Imcrazy

Posted
Posted

I fixed the headlight problem on my '14 Sierra, I traded it in on 2016 Silverado....

shaun727 Enthusiast

shaun727

Posted
Posted

I purchased a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 last week and noticed night time driving visibility is rather poor. Researching this brought me to this site and made me aware of the PIT 5374A. My truck build date is after the date specified so it's my understanding the BCM calibration flash is not needed but it still needs the new bulbs. I checked my bulbs and they are Phillips and not Vosla, so they will need replacement? Has anyone replaced with LED lighting after the BCM calibration? If so, do you feel the LED upgrade is worth it?

Thanks,

 

I have purchased both HID and LED for the truck..go with the HID - theretrofitsource.com has a complete Morimoto kit and it is awesome. I still have my LED's (6000k) and they are better than the stock. I paid $190 for the pair, willing to sell them (only 2 hours on them) for $100 plus shipping. They are sitting the factory packaging in my garage. I put them in on Monday and took them out on Wednesday. It should also be known that I have a tinted front windshield so I need all the light I can get! The LED's put out a great color and good spread, just not enough for my current set up.

GTD Enthusiast

GTD

Posted
Posted

I just had mine at the dealer...they replaced the bulbs, and adjusted the beam a little higher....no BCM programming needed....still not up to par. The Service Manager wants me to stop by to make sure everything was done correctly. GM needs to come up with a real fix.

Concur. My truck may have been the first to receive the Volsa bulbs and BCM mod; while a little better turning onto a rural un-lit side road is a challenge even with fogs on. A neighbor has a 16 Denali and one day I'll try to do a visual comparison. It would be interesting if the16 fenders carry the same part number as the 14/15s?

mafd2 Senior Enthusiast

mafd2

Posted
Posted

I fixed the headlight problem on my '14 Sierra, I traded it in on 2016 Silverado....

That was an expensive fix by trading. You took a beating like that just for headlights. There was other options out there from FXR HID projectors to converting the '16 Sierra headlights which are a direct fit. Just waiting on the conversion harness.

Imcrazy Senior Enthusiast

Imcrazy

Posted
Posted

That was an expensive fix by trading. You took a beating like that just for headlights. There was other options out there from FXR HID projectors to converting the '16 Sierra headlights which are a direct fit. Just waiting on the conversion harness.

I actually am paying less for a truck with a $7000 higher MSRP than the one I got rid of, it was a lease. I got a hell of a deal. There were other reasons I got out of the Sierra, the headlights were just a bonus.

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