Quote:
Originally Posted by kaisen
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Well, from working with GM during that era (the GMT800 platform) I can tell you that a LOT of the problem stems from incorrect replacement bulbs.
Note the AC Delco 4114 bulb I referenced earlier? It is a glass-base bulb. It is exactly the same style and wattage as a clear 3157 turn signal bulb (plastic base). MANY early afermarket parts guides spec'd the 3157 as the replacement bulb because it was the correct connection-style, size, and wattage. In other words, it plugged in and lit up.
Trouble is, a turn signal bulb is used infrequently and intermittently. It doesn't have the chance to get hot. When used as a DRL, it gets so hot that the plastic partially melts and the bulb fails. Not the filament, the base. So using the incorrect 3157 bulb may cause a much shorter life span than the "correct" 4114 bulb.
Still to this day you can walk into some Wal-Mart, NAPA, or Autozone and look at their bulb guide and see the 3157 listed.
GM's thought here stemmed from what had been common practice to run DRLs as a lower-current run through the high-beams of the headlights. That was causing premature headlight failure and GM thought by switching to a dedicated light it would be safer than risking running with no headlight. And since headlight bulbs are $10-20 versus $4 for the correct DRL bulb, it would be a benefit to their customers.
So shame on GM for adding the cost of having a separate DRL. And shame on them for allowing it to be confused with the wrong bulb by the aftermarket, by clueless morons who will later blame the truck itself.
Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and VW have all had similar issues with "almost-right" bulbs being used in the aftemarket and making problems for the manufacturer.
But it's GM's fault....
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I think you're taking the comment a bit wrong, at least from me. I would not point to that as a quality concern with GM, just an interesting observation.
This is not to say GM doesn't have serious quality and design issues...
