FINALLY! Some movement on the dangerous headlights on the '14

15 Z71 · July 11, 2016

Your truck should have the latest bcm calibration and correct bulbs, at least the ones specified from GM.

OK. Thanks,I'm getting use to them after almost a year. Just was a big difference coming from my 06 Silverado. Heck, people would bright me when I had my fog lights on in that truck. Lights where fantastic in that truck.

TxTruckMan · July 11, 2016

Your truck should have the latest bcm calibration and correct bulbs, at least the ones specified from GM.

Not necessarily. My 2015 was built in August or September. I assume it has the correct BCM program, but it did not come with the better bulbs. I think that is still upon customer request only.

BoomBoom19 · July 11, 2016

I bought from a company called Subzero LED USA out of California. It does not specifically say what make/model/product code for the projector. I may have to follow up and ask them this during business hours. It was not an online purchase all done over the phone.

I tried to take a pic of it installed but looks clear, could be because of the camera phone or it being sunny out. Will have to try taking pics at diff times of day.

Funny story I pulled up onto this lawn / boulevard to snap a couple pics. Before I could exit and get out phone 2 cars cluelessly drove up and started parking beside me. I was like WTF you doing can you move please. The parking stalls are over there I am just snapping a couple pics and leaving.

What size bulbs does the new Spyder headlights need?

Silvern Sentry · July 11, 2016

What size bulbs does the new Spyder headlights need?

H1 55W for low, H1 55W for high and 3157 for blinker

Shredzy · July 11, 2016

OK. Thanks,I'm getting use to them after almost a year. Just was a big difference coming from my 06 Silverado. Heck, people would bright me when I had my fog lights on in that truck. Lights where fantastic in that truck.

I agree, the lighting on my '06 Silverado was much better!

Who'd have thought when buying a newer vehicle would include worse headlight performance?!

Not necessarily. My 2015 was built in August or September. I assume it has the correct BCM program, but it did not come with the better bulbs. I think that is still upon customer request only.

What would the better bulbs be? The Vosla's aren't necessarily better than the Philips.

Lifespan isn't all too good from what some have found out.

.

redwngr · July 11, 2016

For what these trucks cost, they should have came with something better than $10 halogen bulbs!

Nothing wrong with a $10 bulb, IF it has the correct optics and reflector to go with it.

Silvern Sentry · July 11, 2016

Nothing wrong with a $10 bulb, IF it has the correct optics and reflector to go with it.

Try taking a ride in a 2015 with halogens I bet you change your tune mighty fast. As someone who upgraded you would have to put a gun to my head to make me drive with those shitty halogens again ... even then I would just say pull the trigger!

It is a shitty bulb and a shitty setup, if you need proof just go outside and count the number of vehicles that have a single halogen projector as DRL, Low and High. Bet you do not find many if any at all, as they will all have reflector housed high beams as is proper. When both high and low are in the same projector the low beam it directed up and reflects back down and out onto the road, the high beam is faced opposite and faces down and simply relects the light up. Like this:

as you can see the Lowbean itself is 2250 lumins but combined they can only push out 3700 combined. If these were in separate housings they would each be pushing out 2250 for a total of 4500.

What does this tell us? That if you are going to use the same projector for low and high then you better damn well use a powerful / high lumin lightbulb like an HID at minimum 3000lumin per high and low. You know who also figured this out? GM which is why the 2016 are base HID.

Marticus · July 12, 2016

I couldn't read 7 pages. What exactly is the problem. Is this for the Sierra or silverado.

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TJay74 · July 12, 2016

I owned a 2010 Sierra, a 2014 Sierra that came with the pre headlight update and also had the headlight update done and now a 2016 Sierra with the LED headlights. I didn't notice much difference from the 2010 Sierra to the 2014, the only thing I really noticed and I understand why it is done is that the headlights were aimed down to low. But that is in case you tow or have the bed loaded down so the headlights don't blind oncoming traffic.

Now I will say the 2016 Sierra with the LED is light years ahead of the prior generation trucks, but that is to be expected. Sad thing is over in Europe the headlight technology is worlds ahead of what the USA uses, you can thank the USDOT for that as they have some very archaic laws on the books in regards to the maximum amount of lumens/candle power that head lights are allowed to produce over here.

I spoke with the GM lighting engineer, it was no simple task for GM to even roll out the 2014/2015 Sierra headlight updates. They had to go thru a bunch of testing and re-certifications in order to stay with in DOT compliance and to get approval for that update to roll out.

So sadly once again, blame the .gov for making it harder for automakers to be able to fix or correct something quickly.

Silvern Sentry · July 12, 2016

I spoke with the GM lighting engineer, it was no simple task for GM to even roll out the 2014/2015 Sierra headlight updates. They had to go thru a bunch of testing and re-certifications in order to stay with in DOT compliance and to get approval for that update to roll out.

As the saying goes: "Lo barato sale caro." The cheap comes out expensive.

Bottom line is single halogen projector is sub standard by any reasonable standard. No other auto maker uses this kind of setup and for good reasons as explained above. The trucks were engineered for HID from the start which is why they always had them, but only in the top couple trims. The reason we are stuck with halogen is some bean counter was trying to maximize profit margin so they used a cheap component instead of a proper one and we all ended up with an $11 shit light bulb. Ironically it was probably much cheaper for them to just go HID from the start instead of paying for re-certifications and lawsuits and TSBs. Someone made a decision and clearly it was the wrong one, so they should be 100% liable.

TenofMe · July 12, 2016

Guys, if you haven't spoken to the law firm handling intake for the class yet, I encourage you to do so. Even if you decide not to join, it may ultimately help get a solution to the problem.

I asked them (the law firm) point blank what was the ultimate goal of the lawsuit. They stated that they want GM to offer a safe, reliable fix for the trucks on the road. The easiest fix is to swap headlights with a newer design that offers superior lighting, and have already been through DOT certification. Either the assemblies from the '16+ HD trucks, which employ new projectors and HID bulbs, or replacements from the '16 1500 series. Personally I'd prefer the HIDs from the HD trucks as I'm not a fan of the new design.

Don't know if it will ever happen, but I have nothing to lose at this point as GM has slammed the door on offering a real fix on their own.

Every time I drive my wife's 2015 Honda Odyssey with HID's I realize just how freaking awful the lights on my truck are.

TenofMe · July 12, 2016

Here is the contact info again, reposted from the other thread:

The Russell Law Firm
7557 Rambler Rd., Suite 810
Dallas, TX 75231

Phone: 214-443-0800

Fax: 214-443-0898

Email:

[email protected]

Silvern Sentry · July 12, 2016

Guys, if you haven't spoken to the law firm handling intake for the class yet, I encourage you to do so. Even if you decide not to join, it may ultimately help get a solution to the problem.

I asked them (the law firm) point blank what was the ultimate goal of the lawsuit. They stated that they want GM to offer a safe, reliable fix for the trucks on the road. The easiest fix is to swap headlights with a newer design that offers superior lighting, and have already been through DOT certification. Either the assemblies from the '16+ HD trucks, which employ new projectors and HID bulbs, or replacements from the '16 1500 series. Personally I'd prefer the HIDs from the HD trucks as I'm not a fan of the new design.

Even easier than all of that. The could literally just install the wiring harness and HID with ballests they use in 14/15 Denali's/SLT premiem (99.99% sure this is same bulb and harness in all 2016). Or they could use existing harness and just use a relay harness like aftermarkets do (requires drilling a hole in headlamp cover and using a 5c grommet to run the wire through). Total cost about $150 per truck to GM, they could probably even get a good rate on the parts and bring that down if they are ordering 500,000 extra at once.

PS. I sent them all my info including all receipts for parts that I used to self correct this issue and all details and specifications of how it was professionally corrected. Personally I am just hoping to get some of that back they can kept thier $11 light and cheap lamp housing I would be happy to return that =D

Leon seems like a good guy he seemed pretty interested in how I corrected this and how much it cost. Not many have went to the lengths I did, but hey that is my life we are talking about.

cbrsilv15 · July 12, 2016

I wish us Silverado owners were included. Can't imagine how bad you GMC owners have it. Probably getting rid of my 2015 LTZ because of the headlights. I've modded cars my whole life. I have no desire to put in custom HIDs with no reliability that aren't covered through factory warranty. Pricing out comparable 2017 LTZ Z71 now. I did put 20K miles on my '15 since September. Can't say I didn't give it a shot to live with the shitty lights. I emailed Chevy and they told me to take it to a dealer. My reply to Chevy was they knew the lights sucked, that's why they changed them in 2016...

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I'll send you my LT headlights for your LTZ's before you trade it in. Lol!!