Daytime running lites on 2016 Tahoe

RayP(MI) · Jul 4, 2019

When we bought it in September both were out. Dealer replaced them pre sale. Now one is out already. These are the white lights adjacent to the amber turn signals, adjacent to the grille. Not having to do with headlights. Manual doesn't list, and looking up on internet is conflicting. Look like common 3057 clear bulbs (dual filament) which doesn't make sense. Before I go out and buy bulbs, I want to know right number. Replacement requires removal of headlight assembly and that requires removal of inner fender cover. Not a pleasant task according to utube videos. Wonder why such a short life on these bulbs. Would a LED replacement be in order? Which one - many choices available. Only want to do this once!

waynesteuck · Jul 4, 2019

Ray , if u keep a eye out u will see a lot of Chevys Suvs and a few pickups all with the drivers side turn signal lights out , and this has been going on for a long time , Son and Daughter both had Chevys and they both had the lights burn out Just saying !!
Wayne

DCM · Jul 4, 2019

I thought by now they would have addressed the issue, when I use to be on the road there were a lot of GMs with one running light, especially pickups,my GMs running lights were the headlamps(astrovan)

DoubleO7 · Jul 4, 2019

(quoted from post at 10:36:59 07/04/19) Ray , if u keep a eye out u will see a lot of Chevys Suvs and a few pickups all with the drivers side turn signal lights out , and this has been going on for a long time , Son and Daughter both had Chevys and they both had the lights burn out Just saying !!
Wayne

Yep, been going on for 10 years.
Seems GM engineering is either to stupid or not interested in fixing it.

BillinCentralMO · Jul 4, 2019

I have a 2004 Suburban. There is always a grill light out in mine. They last about fifteen minutes

Brent Zappe · Jul 4, 2019

Very good point and it is true. I can always tell a G.M. product pick up by the front head lights in day. My dad 2000 G.M.C. always did the same thing always changing the one lead light that brunt out. I own fords and I always use head lights on my freeway. because the road is not a double lane and I have notice that gray, dark color cars blend into the roads. Just like my big F-250 dose so I run head lights to be seen.

DR. EVIL · Jul 4, 2019

Read an article in a car magazine that explained why the one light failed on all those pickups. Can't say I ever saw one with both lights working.

The plastic grill was molded, lots of gussets in the grill making it stiff, which raised the "Harmonic Frequency" that it vibrated at as it ran down the highway bucking winds. Most times the grill vibrated at a frequency enough different than the frequency of the filament in the light that nothing happened, but with the stiffened grill the frequency of vibration was so high that when the frequency of the grill holding the light and the filament matched, the filament just went crazy and exceeded the strength of the tungsten and the bulb failed. The article ended with the suggestion that you cut some or most of the molded gussets so the grill and light had WAY different frequencys.

Bet Chevy built trucks with that problem for 20 years or more.

JMOR · Jul 4, 2019

A real long time problem. I replaced, replaced, replaced, until one day I said, enough is enough, and decided to run 'one eyed' until the other one burned out & then they would match.. Would you believe I drove it another decade & that 'other one' never did burn out!!!! :roll:

Steve@Advance · Jul 4, 2019

I would either let them both burn out, or change over to LED.

It's going to be an ongoing battle otherwise.

Look on Amazon or Ebay, they might have aftermarket replacement assemblies. Or you can probably buy just replacement LED lamps.

JD Seller · Jul 4, 2019

DR. Evil has the answer. The dealership I worked at had all Chevy pickup trucks. Eight trucks in total. The shop bought the running light bulbs in packs of fifty bulbs and that did not last more than six months. We had a state trooper in the area that would pull them over every time he saw one burnt out and write a warning on the burnt bulb.

LED bulbs help but they still will fail. The trouble is getting a good rugged LED bulb. A lot of the ones you see on the internet are not really very heavy duty and the vibration kills them soon too.

rustyfarmall · Jul 4, 2019

I had to replace one of those bulbs on my 2001 Silverado. Just one. No problems since then. Access was very easy. Just open the hood, remove a screw or something and pull up on a rod. The whole assembly will fall out if you're not hanging onto it.

Kansas4010 · Jul 4, 2019

I've noticed several GM trucks running around with one burt out but never knew it was an epidemic. I bought this 1999 new and it still has the original lights. I never did care for the daytime running lights but couldn't argue with the deal I got.

DoubleR · Jul 4, 2019

I've always noticed it and thought it was a problem too. But I just realized my 07 Chevy truck that I bought new has never burned out a bulb. Probably shouldn't mention it though probably bring bad luck to me and burn one out now.

Phil9N3667 · Jul 4, 2019

My "05 Colorado would burn them out. They use the turn signal bulbs as DRL. Last time I R&R one, I coated the contacts good with dielectric grease and the RS one died last month, almost seven years later. Dielectric grease is a good thing in most electrical connections, read somewhere it wasn't to be used on certain plugin connectors, forgot what type they were.

DoubleO7 · Jul 4, 2019

(quoted from post at 11:22:15 07/04/19) I've noticed several GM trucks running around with one burt out but never knew it was an epidemic. I bought this 1999 new and it still has the original lights. I never did care for the daytime running lights but couldn't argue with the deal I got.
<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto28421.jpg">

My 1999 Tahoe never lost a bulb either.
Seems to plaque post 2000 models.

I wonder is the grill vibration bulb failure thing only effects those trucks that see highway speeds vs those that do not hardly ever see speeds over 50?

kcm.MN · Jul 4, 2019

(quoted from post at 06:47:05 07/04/19)

(quoted from post at 10:36:59 07/04/19) Ray , if u keep a eye out u will see a lot of Chevys Suvs and a few pickups all with the drivers side turn signal lights out , and this has been going on for a long time , Son and Daughter both had Chevys and they both had the lights burn out Just saying !!
Wayne

Click to expand...

[color=blue:fae412c16a]Yep, been going on for 10 years.[/color:fae412c16a]

Longer. We have a 2004 and still have that problem. Have seen GM trucks even older. Been common so long that folks up here actually expect one of the DRL's to be out. Strange thing is, it's almost always "just one". And on our truck, it has swapped sides. ...Try figuring THAT out! :shock:

DoubleO7 · Jul 4, 2019

I agree, seems to always be just one light out.
Maybe only because it gets fixed or they both go out but we just do not notice they should be on.

I always thought it must be an electrical problem or the connectors were not very weather proof.

john in la · Jul 4, 2019

GM put out a service bulletin on this for older trucks.
They faulted voltage spikes as the reason the bulb burnt out.
They recommend replacing the stock 3157 bulb with a 4114 bulb.
Going to 4114 LED may even be better.
If your newer truck uses the 3157 bulb for daytime lights you might consider this upgrade.

rusty6 · Jul 4, 2019

Yes very common to see GM trucks with burnt lights on one side. Although I have yet to replace any of the bulbs in my 97 Blazer. Main light switch failed leaving me to drive home with just the daytime running lights They are not very bright at night time.
Now the windshield wiper control(or the motor?) has failed again leaving me with no wipers at all.

dr sportster · Jul 4, 2019

4114 LED should solve everything for you.

Adirondack case guy · Jul 4, 2019

It wouldn't be a GM truck if it didn't have a front running light out. Even the State Police cruisers here in NY have one light out, a good deal of the time.
Loren

GordoSD · Jul 4, 2019

wiper control module replacement is 5 minute job, tops. Buy a couple online.

Russ from MN · Jul 4, 2019

We have never burned one out on our 13 Silverado, but I better check them!

rusty6 · Jul 4, 2019

(quoted from post at 16:25:25 07/04/19) wiper control module replacement is 5 minute job, tops. Buy a couple online.

I thought I had it fixed a few years ago after little soldering on the circuit board. It worked for a while.

Rex Simpkins · Jul 5, 2019

Now that's just funny

Grandpa's Fords · Jul 5, 2019

(quoted from post at 10:32:18 07/04/19) I've always noticed it and thought it was a problem too. But I just realized my 07 Chevy truck that I bought new has never burned out a bulb. Probably shouldn't mention it though probably bring bad luck to me and burn one out now.

I shouldn't say anything either my 07 classic has the original bulbs, where I know of many others that have the issue. My 03 went through 3 or 4 in 3years, and my dads 05 get's 1 every year.
Mileage didn't seem to matter his 05 only has 38k now. My 03 had 130k when I traded. I know the local inspection stations will ignore them if both lights are out. Most time they don't think to check them as there not on when inspected and not in gear. The only way I'd know if they were out somebody would have to tell me.

Ozlander · Jul 5, 2019

(quoted from post at 10:15:19 07/04/19) .
Going to 4114 LED may even be better.

It's been an epidemic forever. Shame on GM. Socket gets to hot. Only way to fix it is going to LEDs.

Daytime running lites on 2016 Tahoe

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