Jump to content

HID, LED Reverse, and LED License Plate Bulb Install


Recommended Posts

I hadn't had much luck finding bulb sizes for my wife's 2017 GMC Acadia online, so I thought I would do a short write up on my install. The 2017s use a 9012 headlight bulb for all trims besides Denali, as that is the only trim that comes stock with HID bulbs (we have a SLT1). I had used theretrofitsource.com previous to do a HID install on my 2015 Silverado, and I knew they had a kit specific for Sierra's that use a 9012 bulb. I spoke with the customer service team at The Retrofit Source(TRS) and they told me I would be best off trying that system as it comes with the necessary relay/capacitor link to not throw any codes with the new headlights. Here is a link to that system: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/hid-systems/application-specific/2014-sierra-morimoto-elite.html

That being said, the install was fairly straight forward. The headlights were very easy to get to. You are required to drill a hole in the dustcaps as the wiring for the HID system has to go through them (TRS provides rubber grommets to make this a water tight seal). I mounted the relays to the back of the drier side horn mount. Both driver and passenger ballasts were zip tied to a cross members under the hood and the igniters were zip tied to the ballast mounts. As for wiring, I tied into one of the fuse block legs for the positive and right to the negative post attachment for the negative. The capacitor also requires a ground and I attached it to a bolt on the cross member the ballasts are attached to. Below are pictures of the install as well as some before and after pictures of the light output.

I also switched out the reverse bulbs and licnense plate bulbs with LED. Pictures will be in subsequent replies to this post.

post-155554-0-18619900-1486956784_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-10102800-1486956785_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-53939100-1486956785_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-05844000-1486956786_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-56019900-1486956786_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-86694500-1486956788_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-86683000-1486956790_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-96849000-1486956792_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-77863000-1486956794_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-18619900-1486956784_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-10102800-1486956785_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-53939100-1486956785_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-05844000-1486956786_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-56019900-1486956786_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-86694500-1486956788_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-86683000-1486956790_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-96849000-1486956792_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-77863000-1486956794_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-18619900-1486956784_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-10102800-1486956785_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-53939100-1486956785_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-05844000-1486956786_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-56019900-1486956786_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-86694500-1486956788_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-86683000-1486956790_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-96849000-1486956792_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-77863000-1486956794_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-18619900-1486956784_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-10102800-1486956785_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-53939100-1486956785_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-05844000-1486956786_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-56019900-1486956786_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-86694500-1486956788_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-86683000-1486956790_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-96849000-1486956792_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-77863000-1486956794_thumb.jpg

Edited by bigsby
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Changing the reverse bulbs was somewhat easy, though a 2nd set of hands is a big help. There is only one 7mm bolt you have the remove in the tailgate door panel, the rest are just clips in the door. The bolt is under a cover in the inside tailgate pull handle. You also have the disconnect the tailgate close button wiring harness to be able to remove the door panel. The bulbs are easiest to remove with needle nose pliers, they come out by turning counter clockwise. I am very happy with this upgrade, the LEDs put out a significant amount more light than the OEM bulbs. Here are the bulbs I ordered: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I3OTWQ2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

post-155554-0-01965000-1486957178_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-49341300-1486957179_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-10034300-1486957180_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-05584700-1486957181_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-01965000-1486957178_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-49341300-1486957179_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-10034300-1486957180_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-05584700-1486957181_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-01965000-1486957178_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-49341300-1486957179_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-10034300-1486957180_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-05584700-1486957181_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-01965000-1486957178_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-49341300-1486957179_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-10034300-1486957180_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-05584700-1486957181_thumb.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Replacing the license plate bulbs was very easy. There are instructions in the manual of how to replace the bulbs, so I'll just post a couple pictures of the before/after. Here are the bulbs I purchased: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OYT1322/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

post-155554-0-38750300-1486957260_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-46340900-1486957261_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-38750300-1486957260_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-46340900-1486957261_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-38750300-1486957260_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-46340900-1486957261_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-38750300-1486957260_thumb.jpg

post-155554-0-46340900-1486957261_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the write up, we purchased a 2017 Denali and could not figure out how to get into the reverse lights. I was hoping there would be some Mod threads on here like for sierra but maybe with time. Would love to find out how to have the fog lights come on with the auto headlights. Thanks again for the links.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 1 year later...

Thanks for the exhaustive write up and pictures. I was wondering on the reverse lights: is there any way to change the reverse light bulbs without having to remove the entire tailgate cover? I have an Acadia Denali, and I have two small plastic covers in the top third of the hatch, right where the brake light assembly is. Can I access them through there? What was your experience? Thanks!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 months later...

Thanx for the post & pictures.  Very helpful.  I decided to install the recommended license plate bulbs. 

I was disappointed to find that the original bulbs already had some corrosion on one contact wire on side of the bulb.  The bulb wire on one bulb had nearly corroded off.  It took some doing to clean the socket contacts.  I put some Noalox inside the socket & on the new bulbs.  I then coated the sockets O rings with some silicone grease.  Even with the effort, I am not convinced that electrical contacts are secure.  I expect to have to replace the socket in the future.  I hope Springhill has addressed this issue & is now including anticorrosion grease to these bulbs and sealer on the O ring.

My '18 Acadia has ~12000 miles & I live in SE Michigan.  -Bob

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.