2019/2020 Puddle Lights Install

[2020SierraDenali]

Everyone that's done this mod simply does it and shows off their puddle lamps when completed. But they never tell you how to do it.

 

This won't be much, but after an extensive search on this subject, I haven't seen any real pictures of the original puddle lamps. Not much to it, but apparently the passenger side puddle lamp was installed a bit wonky and the clip was extended out too far where I couldn't even find it with the mini-screwdriver I used to try and get it out. I figured I did something to it so I went with a scribe tool thinking I needed something skinnier.  Nah. It was on the assembly line. Anyway, if you follow the included instruction sheet for the puddle lamps, about the only good thing it tells you is the color code for which side you need to put your lamps on. In GMC case, it says blue decal goes on driver side, green decal goes on passenger side.

 

It actually is pretty simple. But it's kind of a PITA to reach up under the mirror and fish for the indentation on the end of the clip. You would think it would be right there, but it's not. So holding a flashlight and fishing around with the scribe tool...not bad, but I'm getting too old for this sh*t.

 

Only difference I found was the passenger side OEM lamp and the new lamp have the prongs backwards. One prong for the plug is vertical, the other is horizontal. No biggie, just rotate the plug 180 degrees and plug it in. Checked for proper operation first by covering the light sensor in the middle of the dash to make the truck think it was dark out, then clicked the unlock buttons. Nice little GMC logos lit up the palm of my hands. Then just snapped them in place. Done.

 

 

[rikhek]

I'm curious what these lights would be used for as I've never had them on prior vehicles.  I have them on my AT4 but in over a year I've never used them.  What am I missing?  In what scenario are they useful?  FWIW, I'm genuinely interested in their purpose and am not trolling.

[eppieguy]

They basically are supposed to light up the ground or side steps at night when you unlock the truck. To be honest I didn't even know I had them on mine until I looked to see if I could replace them with the BowTie ones because they were so dim. Now with just the bowtie its a novilty and does't really serve any good purpose. But the sure do look cool! LOL

[rikhek]

39 minutes ago, eppieguy said:

They basically are supposed to light up the ground or side steps at night when you unlock the truck. To be honest I didn't even know I had them on mine until I looked to see if I could replace them with the BowTie ones because they were so dim. Now with just the bowtie its a novilty and does't really serve any good purpose. But the sure do look cool! LOL

Thanks.  I find it interesting that manually cycling these lights with the switch turns on the right side light only with the first push of the switch, the second push turns off the right side and turns on the left while the third push then turns on both left and right.  A final push of the switch turns both off.  I thought there was some "hidden/cryptic" usage for these lights the way they provide for the cycling I listed above.  I personally find them about as useful as ****** on a boar hog...

[ullose272]

Thanks.  I find it interesting that manually cycling these lights with the switch turns on the right side light only with the first push of the switch, the second push turns off the right side and turns on the left while the third push then turns on both left and right.  A final push of the switch turns both off.  I thought there was some "hidden/cryptic" usage for these lights the way they provide for the cycling I listed above.  I personally find them about as useful as ****** on a boar hog...

I think you are think of the work lights on the front of the mirror.

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[rikhek]

15 minutes ago, ullose272 said:

I think you are think of the work lights on the front of the mirror.

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Yes sir, that's what I'm talking about.  Aren't these the lights this thread is addressing?  If the ones I'm talking about are "called" work lights I'm not certain what kind of work I'd be doing that light projected straight down to the ground below the mirrors would prove beneficial.  I'd appreciate anyone that could enlighten me on how these "work" lights would prove useful.  I'm missing something...

[2020SierraDenali]

No. The "task lights" are the front of the mirror. The ones discussed here are the puddle lamps. They're located on the bottom of the door mirrors (see enclosed picture). A single LED light on each from the factory if your truck has them. Mine's maxed out with all the goodies so it has all those little items. To note, the packaging says they only work on trucks equipped with factory puddle lamps. But if you can swap the housing piece to one with puddle lamps, and wire it up, you could probably make it work on any truck that didn't come with them from the factory.

 

I sold some parts from my old 2010 truck parts stash, so I figured, hey, why not get these nearly useless little trinkets for shining a "GMC" logo for under the mirrors on the ground with some of that money. They only really can be seen at night when you remotely unlock the doors. The factory lamps are virtually invisible and don't do much anyway. The logo projector puddle lamps are like the lighted GMC grille logo. Doesn't do much but a nice little upgrade to promote the brand.

 

Edited June 19, 2020 by 2020SierraDenali

[rikhek]

Ahhh, thanks.  I didn't know "puddle lamps" existed.  I appreciate you taking the time to educate me.  FWIW, I can't view your picture.  I shows a file named "spacer.png" but does nothing when I click on it.  I wish it did as I'm curious to see how they project the logo.

[2020SierraDenali]

15 hours ago, rikhek said:

Ahhh, thanks.  I didn't know "puddle lamps" existed.  I appreciate you taking the time to educate me.  FWIW, I can't view your picture.  I shows a file named "spacer.png" but does nothing when I click on it.  I wish it did as I'm curious to see how they project the logo.

Hmm. The picture shows the GM promotional picture of what the puddle light projection should look like. It's all kind of useless. It's one of those deals where if you have $100 burning a hole in your pocket and want to do a virtually useless upgrade...I went back and edited my post and uploaded the saved picture of the same thing. Maybe it will work now.

 

 

[Mike_F]

Quote

Yes sir, that's what I'm talking about.  Aren't these the lights this thread is addressing?  If the ones I'm talking about are "called" work lights I'm not certain what kind of work I'd be doing that light projected straight down to the ground below the mirrors would prove beneficial.  I'd appreciate anyone that could enlighten me on how these "work" lights would prove useful.  I'm missing something...

I am guessing you have the tow mirrors with the work lights.

I have the tow mirrors and have not found  puddle lamps.

The mirrors option is listed as DQS which has the  puddle lamps listed but darn if I see anything under the mirror.

 

LTZ with tech camera package with surround views.

 

Maybe you loose the puddle lamp with camera package?

[2020SierraDenali]

I got mirror cameras and the puddle lamps too. I don't have the square tow mirrors though. Just the regular Denali mirrors.

[Mshawn]

Has anyone added puddle lights to there new truck that didn’t come with puddle light or do you need to buy to whole housing for this?