Jump to content

2017 Silverado LED tail light swap

Armo325

By Armo325
in Modifications & Accessories

Recommended Posts

Armo325 Enthusiast

Armo325

Posted
Posted

Unlike the LTZ headlights, which I love, I don't really care for the styling on the LTZ tail lights.  I do, however, like LEDs so I decided to do a swap.  For those who haven't considered it, it's a pretty easy process and doesn't require many parts or a ton of skill.  Both of those things are good news for me.

 

Here's the result.

 

New "bulb" and old bulb:
37944417146_bcac4e9c07_b.jpg

 

I prefer to solder all of my connections rather than using the provided wire splice clips.  It takes a little longer this way but I like the assurance of a solid connection.

 

Resistors wired in:
37944415916_5fb393bcb6_b.jpg

 

Everything taped up and back in the OEM wire loom:
37288265274_cf0a07a060_b.jpg

 

New LED inside the stock housing:
37944417916_7f545b1481_b.jpg

 

A couple VERY short clips of the LEDs in action:

 

  • 2 months later...
Armo325 Enthusiast

Armo325

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I had had a few folks ask what I used for this swap, so here are a couple Amazon links:

 

Bulbs

 

Resistors

 

As you can see, you can get everything you need for $41.97 before tax and shipping.  Not too bad if you're looking for an inexpensive mod.

 

Also, it has only been a couple months now but everything is holding up great and I'm still very happy with the look.

  • 1 month later...
DEV1ST8R Enthusiast

DEV1ST8R

Posted
Posted

Those bulbs are highly rated on Amazon - a lot higher than Sylvania Zevos and Philips Visions. Thinking about ordering some...

 

How are they holding up? Any issues? And would you say they’re about the same intensity as the stock incandescents?

Armo325 Enthusiast

Armo325

Posted
  • Author
Posted
11 hours ago, StealthZ71 said:

Those bulbs are highly rated on Amazon - a lot higher than Sylvania Zevos and Philips Visions. Thinking about ordering some...

 

How are they holding up? Any issues? And would you say they’re about the same intensity as the stock incandescents?

I bought/installed them last October so, unfortunately, I don’t have a ton of time to give you a good long-term review. That said, they have been great so far. Not a single issue. They’ve seen a temperature range from about 0 to 90 degrees since I got them. I’d say they’re maybe a tad brighter than the stock lights. 

 

I really like the small “projector” lens on the end of the bulb that puts light straight out. This is anecdotal but I think this feature helps the bulbs perform better in a housing designed for incandescent bulbs. 

  • 2 weeks later...
Logan_343 Enthusiast

Logan_343

Posted
Posted

Very nice! I was planning to replace any non-LED bulbs with LED's. I have been looking at Diode Dynamics's lighting and haven't seen a single complaint from them yet. Your setup is pretty nice and very similar to what I want to do to mine.

  • 2 weeks later...
DEV1ST8R Enthusiast

DEV1ST8R

Posted
Posted

My only holdup on adding LED tail lights is that I'm apprehensive of having to use resistors... Are the resistors only active, and heating up, when the signals/flashers are on? And not in use when the tail lights or brake lights are on?

pgamboa Senior Enthusiast

pgamboa

Posted
Posted
My only holdup on adding LED tail lights is that I'm apprehensive of having to use resistors... Are the resistors only active, and heating up, when the signals/flashers are on? And not in use when the tail lights or brake lights are on?

Correct. Only when turn signal is applied. The resistor gets wired in between the turn signal and ground circuit. The stop Lamp is separate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Armo325 Enthusiast

Armo325

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 2/28/2018 at 7:43 PM, a_salazar08 said:

Thanks for the input! Seems simple enough...

 

The trickiest part, in my opinion, was making sure I had the correct wires.  The ground is easy since it's almost always black.  The "turn signal control" wire is a different color in every light housing, both front and back, so it can be easy to mix it up with other wires - the brake light power, for example.  All told, it really wasn't that bad once the wires were sorted out.

  • 2 weeks later...
Docknow9 Enthusiast

Docknow9

Posted
Posted

I installed the plug and play  resistors with LED bulbs on my 2015 Sierra SLT. They work fine during the day but when I drive at night with my headlights on my turn signals hyper flash. Can my BCU be programmed to stop the hyperflash?

Armo325 Enthusiast

Armo325

Posted
  • Author
Posted
9 hours ago, Docknow9 said:

I installed the plug and play  resistors with LED bulbs on my 2015 Sierra SLT. They work fine during the day but when I drive at night with my headlights on my turn signals hyper flash. Can my BCU be programmed to stop the hyperflash?

I'm not a software engineer but I suspect the BCM can be programmed for something like that.  That said, a dealership absolutely won't help you with anything non-OEM (or anything else, for that matter) so you'd be left figuring out how to program the BCM by other means.

 

There are some folks around here more knowledgeable on that than I am but I suspect the juice isn't worth the squeeze to figure that out.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • diyer2
      Injector update

      By diyer2 · Posted

    • Atlas
      The Peckish Synapse

      By Atlas · Posted

      I'm tangentially aware of what Harley used to be, back in my riding days, although I was into Italian sport bikes. Ducati seems to have gone the other way; still very expensive, but they've made a large subset of their bikes a lot more reliable and accessible, and they've diversified their lineup to include other riding sports too. IMO, a good example of where greed and growth might have also been beneficial to the consumer.   Although GM is charging a relative premium for its most popular pickups, I find that there are some excellent value propositions in its lineup as well.   The Colorado still strikes me as the most attractive midsize on the market, and also the most reasonably priced given capability and features. There's a part of me that wishes I would have bought one instead of my Silverado.   The Equinox ...I must be getting old. The ICE equinox is a great design IMO. Probably because it reminds me visually of an actual SUV aka an S Blazer. Underneath it's nothing even remotely close, but it LOOKS good. It's got all the modern features plus some at a very reasonable price. If I had to run out and buy myself a daily commuter to do everything except tow, an Equinox would be on my list.   It does bug me that mid-tier 1500's reach into the 50-60k range, and Tahoes and Burbs are even more expensive. Less than 10 years ago, dealers were sitting on rows of Tahoe LS and LT's for low 40's. You could even still find Tahoes with a front bench, still!
    • Grumpy Bear
      Gas Prices

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      Big oil is raking in billions from the Iran war. Can it avoid Trump’s fury?   Remember I said Big Oil is 'Vertically Integrated"?   Even as they no longer own the majority of the "Pump" they still own the "Well". Crude price upward pressure does not translate into that same pressure on production. Pumping cost remain unaffected and the gap is pure profit. Even after subtraction of a minor, comparatively, lower amount from supposed, but not always, realized refining volume. Consumers hate war, Big Oil, not so much.
    • KARNUT
      2027 GMC Sierra: Official Discussion

      By KARNUT · Posted

      We live in a world where the average person expects more. People say wages and our needs are farther apart. My first new home had 3 bedrooms and one bedroom. My first car and truck had what would be considered a stripped or work vehicle. In my neighborhood back then there were more homes like that and cars too. Middle managers and second home buyers worked their way up to the fancy houses and cars. Car loans were 3 years. GM had different models of cars for different income levels. The cars were pretty much the same size if you wanted a big vehicle. The nameplate designated the opulence. Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, Oldsmobile and Cadillac.  To be fair some of the cost is government mandated. We can’t blame them for giving us what people will pay for. Careful advertising steering people towards more profitable SUVs and trucks. As I learned recently a minivan is a cheaper more efficient form of transportation. Certainly easier to live with. Somebody realized the profit margin wasn’t as big and gave it a soccer mom label. So it lost its coolness. They’re making it the masses are buying it. You hit your hand with a hammer you can’t blame the hammer.
    • Aussie2500HD
      Electrical /Immobilizer Data- Battery Voltage (V) Test malfunction

      By Aussie2500HD · Posted

      Hi All, I’m In need of advice regarding a scan result on my 2023 Silverado HD.  The Sensor Supply voltage relay states ON But…. the following 3 tests show Malfunction. Sensor supply voltage relay control circuit HIGH voltage Test status- Malfunction Sensor supply voltage relay control circuit LOW voltage Test status- Malfunction Sensor supply voltage relay control circuit OPEN test status - Malfunction. No DTC codes are stored. No DIC Lights. Remote Key Fob has been giving a few issues, namely Vehicle will not respond to an Open/Lock command from the key fob. New batteries installed to FOB made no difference, plus on one occasion recently the vehicle unlocked using the Fob, the vehicle started normally via the push button, then a random warning came up on the DIC stating the Remote Key was not found, all this while the key was located next to the central cup holders. Does anyone have any input or advice regarding this scenario? TIA 

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...