GM recalls 900,000 trucks

http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/10/Autos/gm_recall/index.htm?cnn=yes

Thats a large number.

Like a rock....

I'm surprised they never had a recall on the DRLs on the GMT800 trucks. Then again I guess that's not really a required safety feature, just an 'extra one', but man, those things seem to go out on almost every 800 ever made.

I asked my service advisor at the chevy dealer about it one day (because mine on my 2000 Silverado had already gone out twice in under 30k miles) and he said "well, any bulb that comes on every time you turn the vehicle on is going to have a short life". That made sense to an extent, but they're not high power bulbs; and most other cars with DRLs that I see (including most other GM vehicles) don't seem to have issues with them going out as often.

Weren't the pickups recalled a couple of years ago for the same thing?

Come on GM. :rolleyes:

Weren't the pickups recalled a couple of years ago for the same thing?

Come on GM. :rolleyes:


I know I've heard this exact same recall before too... :confused:

Did they simply annouce this a while back, and now they are actually enacting the recall?

Is it another recall on the same exact item?

I am pretty confused on this one.

Either way, they've managed to get double bad press from it.

I know I've heard this exact same recall before too... :confused:

Did they simply annouce this a while back, and now they are actually enacting the recall?

Is it another recall on the same exact item?

I am pretty confused on this one.

Either way, they've managed to get double bad press from it.
Yeah I thought that this issue was already addressed. The article says 1999 and 2000 models, which I had associated with that problem in my mind. Maybe I am remembering incorrectly and it was a different set of model years.

I'm surprised they never had a recall on the DRLs on the GMT800 trucks. Then again I guess that's not really a required safety feature, just an 'extra one', but man, those things seem to go out on almost every 800 ever made.

I asked my service advisor at the chevy dealer about it one day (because mine on my 2000 Silverado had already gone out twice in under 30k miles) and he said "well, any bulb that comes on every time you turn the vehicle on is going to have a short life". That made sense to an extent, but they're not high power bulbs; and most other cars with DRLs that I see (including most other GM vehicles) don't seem to have issues with them going out as often.

WTF they said DRLs burn out faster? :rolleyes:
In Canada DRLs have been mandatory since 1988...

Yeah I thought that this issue was already addressed. The article says 1999 and 2000 models, which I had associated with that problem in my mind. Maybe I am remembering incorrectly and it was a different set of model years.
The 99 model wasnt included in the first recall. Now they are.

WTF they said DRLs burn out faster? :rolleyes:
In Canada DRLs have been mandatory since 1988...

Well, on one hand they do come on and off every time the truck is started. But on the other hand, low wattage bulbs (like DRLs are) generally have a much greater life expectancy (that's why that bulb that has been running since 1911 or something like that is still running, it's only like a 4 watt bulb)

In the end the fact of the matter is I don't think a day has ever gone by since the GMT800s were released that I haven't seen at least one, if not many with a burnt out DRL yet to be replaced. I can't say the same for any other DRL equipped vehicle out there to my knowledge.

In the end the fact of the matter is I don't think a day has ever gone by since the GMT800s were released that I haven't seen at least one, if not many with a burnt out DRL yet to be replaced. I can't say the same for any other DRL equipped vehicle out there to my knowledge.

I wonder who the supplier is? My old 99 GP that I sold to my brother has 126,000 on it and is still using the original DRLs.

I don't see any 03+ trucks with burnt DRLs, but I do remember seeing a lot of 99-02's

DRL's are the most retarded idea ever. If they actually help you guage the range and approach speed of an oncoming car during daylight hours, please refrain from driving.

Well, on one hand they do come on and off every time the truck is started. But on the other hand, low wattage bulbs (like DRLs are) generally have a much greater life expectancy (that's why that bulb that has been running since 1911 or something like that is still running, it's only like a 4 watt bulb)

In the end the fact of the matter is I don't think a day has ever gone by since the GMT800s were released that I haven't seen at least one, if not many with a burnt out DRL yet to be replaced. I can't say the same for any other DRL equipped vehicle out there to my knowledge.

Just like a engine, in bulbs the biggest stresses come from being turned on and off.

A 10000 hour bulb will usually have the disclaimer of "continuous".

Just like a engine, in bulbs the biggest stresses come from being turned on and off.

A 10000 hour bulb will usually have the disclaimer of "continuous".

I'm not saying they should last forever but I am saying that I think the fact that they're switched on and off more often than headlights should be balanced out by the fact that they're such low wattage bulbs to begin with, and looking at most cars with DRLs would support that theory.

Heck - if it really is a design issue inherent to the function of the bulb, put longer lasting bulbs in there!:p

GM DRL's are the high beams working at 90% power in most cases.

I'm surprised they never had a recall on the DRLs on the GMT800 trucks. Then again I guess that's not really a required safety feature, just an 'extra one', but man, those things seem to go out on almost every 800 ever made.

I asked my service advisor at the chevy dealer about it one day (because mine on my 2000 Silverado had already gone out twice in under 30k miles) and he said "well, any bulb that comes on every time you turn the vehicle on is going to have a short life". That made sense to an extent, but they're not high power bulbs; and most other cars with DRLs that I see (including most other GM vehicles) don't seem to have issues with them going out as often.

It's a freaking light bulb!!!! again a freaking light bulb.

Weren't the pickups recalled a couple of years ago for the same thing?

Come on GM. :rolleyes:

That recall was for 2000-2004's . This one is for 1999's and some 2000's .

It's a freaking light bulb!!!! again a freaking light bulb.


Good one!

It's a freaking light bulb!!!! again a freaking light bulb.

So you think it'd be easy enough of an issue to remedy, then.... no extreme costly re-engineering required.

I don't get why they don't just equip the vehicles with LEDs instead, don't have to worry about warping, burned socket, and looonnng life....Toyota is doing an onslaught of LED taillamps....

I don't get why they don't just equip the vehicles with LEDs instead, don't have to worry about warping, burned socket, and looonnng life....Toyota is doing an onslaught of LED taillamps....

Their flagship (LS430) has a ground up redesign going for sale here in just a few months (LS460) and on the long wheelbase version it will be using LED headlights, actually... which I thought was pretty interesting.

I know Lincoln has a car coming out soon (or maybe it was a concept?) that's doing the same. It's a very very flexible dynamic way to light ahead of you as the height, left to right angle, brightness, and even 'beam pattern' is adjustable on the fly with no actual moving parts.