GM Truck headlights

[fireplug]

Ok, I'm not sure if this has been brought up but I want to ask. This has been a huge thorn in my side for the last 10 years that I've owned GM trucks. Chevy and GMC. How in the heck do you stop the dang light bulbs from blowing? I've read where older models blew because the bulbs couldn't handle the voltage surge but I can't find a solution to my '08 GMC. I have been buying the more expensive bulbs thinking they would last longer, but I'm averaging about 3 months to a bulb. WTH is going on and what do I need to replace them with? I don't care what it costs send me some ideas.

[stang67]

I was told not to touch the bulbs with my bare hands and they'd last longer. Seems to be helping on my second replacements. Knock on wood.

[hntrpat1]

I hope y'all don't ever have to change the bulbs in a 08 suburban. Got to take the whole dang thing apart

[fireplug]

I hope y'all don't ever have to change the bulbs in a 08 suburban. Got to take the whole dang thing apart

It's a chore changing them out in my '08 Sierra. And not touching the bulbs hasn't helped mine for the last several bulb changes. I typically get about 3-6 months out of a bulb no matter how I treat the bulb. I'm looking at the HID kits that have ballasts on them but I don't know a thing about them. May take it to a shop that can fix it up.

[jacksbuddy]

If you are blowing bulbs, it may be something as simple as having some debris in the headlight itself. Check to see if there is anything, and I DO mean anything, getting inside the light casing. Is it cracked? wet on the inside? etc. If anything touches the bulb, especially if it is already hot, the thing'll blow. They are a pain in the .....

Good luck.

[JaMak84]

What about LED? I briefly looked at some kits for my 04 f150 just for an upgrade cause the 13 year old lights aren't what they used to be, and neither are my eyes. Buying the kits for headlights, taillights, front and rear turn signals, fog lights, and cargo lights was gonna be a little over $500. For someone that knows what they're doing, they could probably save some money shopping around and buying all the bulbs, resistors, fans, etc separately. I ain't willing to invest that kind of money or time in a 13 year old vehicle. If you're just looking for headlights or taillights, you can probably find everything for a couple hundred bucks.

[fireplug]

What about LED? I briefly looked at some kits for my 04 f150 just for an upgrade cause the 13 year old lights aren't what they used to be, and neither are my eyes. Buying the kits for headlights, taillights, front and rear turn signals, fog lights, and cargo lights was gonna be a little over $500. For someone that knows what they're doing, they could probably save some money shopping around and buying all the bulbs, resistors, fans, etc separately. I ain't willing to invest that kind of money or time in a 13 year old vehicle. If you're just looking for headlights or taillights, you can probably find everything for a couple hundred bucks.

Found a guy up here in Memphis that does this. He does all the fancy light installs you see on these show cars and stuff. Said he'd do the HID kit for my low beam, high beam and fog lights for $300. Supposed to last 25k hours. He said they disable the daytime running light to save on life. Said that is what burns up the low beam lights on all the GM's so fast they come on when you put it in gear and run all the time basically.

[BR549]

Ok, I'm not sure if this has been brought up but I want to ask. This has been a huge thorn in my side for the last 10 years that I've owned GM trucks. Chevy and GMC. How in the heck do you stop the dang light bulbs from blowing? I've read where older models blew because the bulbs couldn't handle the voltage surge but I can't find a solution to my '08 GMC. I have been buying the more expensive bulbs thinking they would last longer, but I'm averaging about 3 months to a bulb. WTH is going on and what do I need to replace them with? I don't care what it costs send me some ideas.

You have a harness problem. The pigtails going to you lights need to be replaced. On my '08 I could simply replace the pigtails. But on my '11 you had to change the whole light harness. Not real expensive for the harness. The 08 was no problem to put on. But the 11 and possibly the others too now you get the complete harness both headlights turn bulbs and parking lamp. You have to remove the headlights to replace this. That in itself is a pretty good task. Take it to someone and smile. Especially if you have a heavy front bumper!