Over the past year or so, I've noticed quite a few GM Trucks that have one of their daytime running lights burnt out. I usually see two or three of them each day on my ride to and from work. I started a blog on this subject a while ago, but didn't have any pictures to prove my point.

I've finally been able to snap some pictures of these trucks to show some evidence. I've found out that it can be difficult to get these pictures, especially while driving. These pictures were taken while I was a passenger in a car. I still have not yet had the dexterity to take pictures while I'm doing the driving (due, primarily to safety concerns).

NOTE ON PHOTOSHOP: Someone observed that I've been using Photoshop on the pictures I post to this web site. Yes I do. But, I use Photoshop ONLY in the following manner: a) to crop the picture, b) lighten the picture when the exposure was too dark, c) to size it to 400x320 pixels, so all images are a consistent size, and d) to grey out any license plate or hide any personal identification. I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT use Photoshop to "turn off" one of the daytime running lights. Nor do I use an existing picture and change the color of a truck to make another one (as someone else suggested as well).

As of 10/16/2005, this is the final posting of cars with one light out. I've grown weary of taking pictures of these cars and trucks -- I have more interesting things to do with my life. As a final parting note on the progress at GM, I received an update from a friend who has an inside connection to GM. He said that GM has known about the DRL-burn-out problem for at least three years now. In those past three years, they have been unable to pinpoint the problem. But recently, according to my friend, they tracked the problem down to a voltage problem on the SUV and Truck models. Apparently, they designed the alternator to put out 14 or more volts instead of the usual 12-13 volts. This was needed because the electrical runs in the trucks and SUVs were longer, so the resistance in those long wires reduced the voltage by the time it reached a far end of the truck or SUV. Additionally, the trucks (and especially the SUVs) have so much electrical equipment on them, that the higher voltage was needed to drive all those components. So in the end, this higher voltage was causing the DRLs to run hotter and burn out more quickly. Furthermore, many people don't care if their DRLs are out (in fact many people WANT them out), so if they notice a burnt out light, many people tend not to replace them. The non-truck line of GM cars didn't have the voltage problem, so most GM cars' running lights have not burned out (which can be evidenced by the number of trucks & SUVs verses cars that I've taken pictures of). According to my friend, 2006 models and later of the GM truck and SUV lines will have the running light problem resolved. Thanks to everyone for your interest in this site and for the feedback. --Todd

10/16/2005	10/16/2005
9/10/2005	9/10/2005
9/5/2005	9/5/2005
9/5/2005	9/5/2005
This weekend (8/27/2005 and 8/28/2005) we drove down to Tucson and back. I caught quite a few semis with one DRL out (as the following images show). I was surprised at the number of semis with one light out, but since I don't see very many semis on my normal commute I never had a good sample from them.
8/27/2005	8/27/2005
8/27/2005	8/27/2005
8/27/2005	8/27/2005
8/27/2005	8/27/2005
8/27/2005	8/27/2005
8/27/2005	8/27/2005
8/27/2005	8/27/2005
8/27/2005	8/27/2005
8/27/2005	8/28/2005
8/28/2005	8/28/2005
8/28/2005	8/28/2005
8/28/2005	8/28/2005
8/28/2005	8/28/2005
8/28/2005	8/28/2005
End of Tucson trip
UPDATE! On 8/24/2005, I decided to take the camera with me on my way to work. Driving to/from work is when I see most of these one-DRL-out problems. In contrast, it seems I don't see as many of them when I'm riding as a passenger. It might be that I normally ride as a passenger only on the weekends, so there aren't as many cars out. On 8/24, I was able to snapshot six cars and trucks (pictures below). I also saw three more that I didn't have the dexterity to snapshot.
8/24/2005 I caught this one out of the corner of the car window. Fortunately, I snapped off two pictures and was able to get a view of the one-light-out problem.	8/24/2005
8/24/2005 A Volkswagen with one DRL out.	8/24/2005
8/24/2005	8/24/2005 An older model Volvo with one DRL out. This makes two Volvos that I've seen with this problem. Do Volvos have a similar problem? On my Volvo, if the DRL goes out, there's an indication on the dashboard, so I promptly fix it. Maybe older models don't have the indication feature (and likely GMs don't either).
8/21/2005
8/21/2005	8/21/2005
8/21/2005	8/13/2005 The high-end Hummer also exhibits the one-DRL-out symptom.
8/13/2005	8/13/2005
8/6/2005 Not even the Cadillac Escalade is immune from the one-DRL-out problem!	8/13/2005
8/6/2005	8/6/2005
8/6/2005 One DRL out and the blinker on (turning left).	8/6/2005
8/6/2005	8/6/2005
8/6/2005	8/6/2005
8/6/2005	8/6/2005
8/6/2005	8/6/2005
8/4/2005	8/6/2005
I took the following 8 images on 7/29/2005 while driving to Mom's house during rush hour on the Northbound 101, from Elliot Road to Indian Bend Road. I was able to snap Eight pictures during that trip, and I missed at least five others since the cars where whizzing by so fast.
7/29/2005	7/29/2005
7/29/2005	7/29/2005
7/29/2005	7/29/2005
7/29/2005	7/29/2005
7/24/2005	7/24/2005
7/10/2005 I snapped this picture when I noticed the Chevy with one light out. But, to my surprise, I also caught the winking Mitsubishi.
7/10/2005	7/10/2005
7/9/2005	7/9/2005
7/9/2005 This Chevy had one brake light out. :-)	7/9/2005
7/4/2005	7/4/2005
7/2/2005	7/2/2005
6/26/2005	6/26/2005
6/26/2005	6/26/2005 To be fair, I also snap a picture of any vehicle (not just GM) that has one DRL burnt out. This car happened to be a Volvo.
6/26/2005	6/25/2005
6/25/2005	6/25/2005
6/25/2005	6/25/2005
6/19/2005	6/19/2005
6/18/2005	5/28/2005
4/10/2005	4/10/2005

Copyright © Todd Lindberg, 2005