2000-2002 Chevy trucks and daytime running lights

[crashz]

Clinton's right. My passenger side socket is all crusty and burnt looking. I've also heard this on other forums.

I wiggled the socket a few months ago while changing the headlights out, and presto! Working DRLs again! Never did burn a bulb out...

Overall my 04 GMC has been the best vehicle I'ver ever owned, but one design flaw it has is cheap wiring. Electrical components seem to be made to bare minimum standards and are operating at 100% without any factor of safety. By far, the most repairs I have done to the truck have been electrical in nature and usually caused by tiny wires that have broken or shorted. So far I've fixed:

- An air bag sensor connection below the driver's seat. Wire broke at the plug. Couldn't repair, had to replace the entire seat harness.
- Headlamp socket.
- Rear tail light connection point below the bed. Had no operational brake or directional lights.
- Tow haul button wire broke. Had to replace the shifter.
- Cigarette lighter burnt the center connection. Replaced the lighter socket.
- Accessory socket, same as the cig lighter.
- The occasional fuse.
- 4wd switch.
- 4wd actuator encoder motor (twice)
- Fan motor resistor
- 2 body/chassis grounds

I've kept up the charging system as well, with a new alternator (at 150K, thats not bad) and a fresh battery every 3 years. I clean all connections at the battery, plow connections and trailer connections and liberally apply dielectric grease each year too.

 

[timswi]

Clinton's right. My passenger side socket is all crusty and burnt looking. I've also heard this on other forums.

I wiggled the socket a few months ago while changing the headlights out, and presto! Working DRLs again! Never did burn a bulb out...

Overall my 04 GMC has been the best vehicle I'ver ever owned, but one design flaw it has is cheap wiring. Electrical components seem to be made to bare minimum standards and are operating at 100% without any factor of safety. By far, the most repairs I have done to the truck have been electrical in nature and usually caused by tiny wires that have broken or shorted. So far I've fixed:

- An air bag sensor connection below the driver's seat. Wire broke at the plug. Couldn't repair, had to replace the entire seat harness.
- Headlamp socket.
- Rear tail light connection point below the bed. Had no operational brake or directional lights.
- Tow haul button wire broke. Had to replace the shifter.
- Cigarette lighter burnt the center connection. Replaced the lighter socket.
- Accessory socket, same as the cig lighter.
- The occasional fuse.
- 4wd switch.
- 4wd actuator encoder motor (twice)
- Fan motor resistor
- 2 body/chassis grounds

I've kept up the charging system as well, with a new alternator (at 150K, thats not bad) and a fresh battery every 3 years. I clean all connections at the battery, plow connections and trailer connections and liberally apply dielectric grease each year too.

Wow!!...I only replaced 1 headlight bulb in my '04 GMC in 4 years....That was it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Clinton's right. My passenger side socket is all crusty and burnt looking. I've also heard this on other forums.

I wiggled the socket a few months ago while changing the headlights out, and presto! Working DRLs again! Never did burn a bulb out...

Overall my 04 GMC has been the best vehicle I'ver ever owned, but one design flaw it has is cheap wiring. Electrical components seem to be made to bare minimum standards and are operating at 100% without any factor of safety. By far, the most repairs I have done to the truck have been electrical in nature and usually caused by tiny wires that have broken or shorted. So far I've fixed:

- An air bag sensor connection below the driver's seat. Wire broke at the plug. Couldn't repair, had to replace the entire seat harness.
- Headlamp socket.
- Rear tail light connection point below the bed. Had no operational brake or directional lights.
- Tow haul button wire broke. Had to replace the shifter.
- Cigarette lighter burnt the center connection. Replaced the lighter socket.
- Accessory socket, same as the cig lighter.
- The occasional fuse.
- 4wd switch.
- 4wd actuator encoder motor (twice)
- Fan motor resistor
- 2 body/chassis grounds

I've kept up the charging system as well, with a new alternator (at 150K, thats not bad) and a fresh battery every 3 years. I clean all connections at the battery, plow connections and trailer connections and liberally apply dielectric grease each year too.

I had wiring issues on my 05 Dmax also. That was the main reason I got rid of it. Everything else the got fixed in a timely manner but the electrical gremlins just never left.

If thats the best vehicle you have ever owned you expectations are low. My 04 F-250 has needed nothing. My 06 F-350 has needed a new dash cluster due to a malfunctioning fuel gauge. My 08 Titan has needed nothing. I have owned nearly a dozen Ford trucks and nothing but a few recalls and the one dash cluster. I usually keep them for 5years or 100,000 miles. Same with my Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and even my Saturn other than a few small electrical items, sunroof motor, 2 power windows, neutral safety switch, and a few other small items. Keep both them till 140,000 miles or so.

Chris

 

[JDgreen227]

A bit late on this thread, but my Y2K GMC XL 2500 has only needed one DRL bulb replaced, about 3 years ago. Might have such long life with the OEM bulbs as it has only 38.000 miles on it now.

 

[JDgreen227]

I had wiring issues on my 05 Dmax also. That was the main reason I got rid of it. Everything else the got fixed in a timely manner but the electrical gremlins just never left.

If thats the best vehicle you have ever owned you expectations are low. My 04 F-250 has needed nothing. My 06 F-350 has needed a new dash cluster due to a malfunctioning fuel gauge. My 08 Titan has needed nothing. I have owned nearly a dozen Ford trucks and nothing but a few recalls and the one dash cluster. I usually keep them for 5years or 100,000 miles. Same with my Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and even my Saturn other than a few small electrical items, sunroof motor, 2 power windows, neutral safety switch, and a few other small items. Keep both them till 140,000 miles or so.

Chris

Agree with you about GM trucks having a lot of electrical problems, I've had issues with the Autoride system sensor, the transfer case switch had to be replaced (Service 4WD System light kept coming on) both rear passenger door window motors had to be replaced, I could understand the first two but having to replace those window motors in a Y2K, 38,000 mile truck really ticked me off. I owned a '92 Olds 98 and it still had the OEM power window motors working at 212,000 miles two years ago.

 

[Soundguy]

Agree with you about GM trucks having a lot of electrical problems, I've had issues with the Autoride system sensor, the transfer case switch had to be replaced (Service 4WD System light kept coming on) both rear passenger door window motors had to be replaced, I could understand the first two but having to replace those window motors in a Y2K, 38,000 mile truck really ticked me off. I owned a '92 Olds 98 and it still had the OEM power window motors working at 212,000 miles two years ago.

if I listed ONLY the electrical problems my 2000 yukon has had it might take the server her down due to lack of bandwidth...

soundguy

 

[JDgreen227]

if I listed ONLY the electrical problems my 2000 yukon has had it might take the server her down due to lack of bandwidth...

soundguy

If it's THAT troublesome, why do you keep an 11 year old truck?

 

[Soundguy]

it's paid for and I'm not independently wealthy. Heck.. my trucks older than her's... and with this economy.. I'm not picking up another loan payment... My wife drives it to haul her musical gear. I have a lil enclosed trailer.. but she can't back a trailer.. so the yukon stays till we get something else... had a minivan from 90 before that.. age finally got it though.

besides.. it's kind of like therapy to give gm a lil negative word of mouth since they built me such a lemony flavored vehicle..

soundguy

 

[RayCo]

I went to the auto parts store today to get replacement sockets, but the only sockets they had (for order) were AC Delco. It didn't seem to make sense to replace the existing ones with the same ones, so I didn't get them. Were they, perhaps, improved and not actually the same as the ones that originally came in my 04 Chevy?

After a few days with my truck, I have noticed some of the electrical issues that others have spoken of. I figure there's always going to be some flaw in vehicles, and of all things, I'm probably best equipped to handle electrical things. So, I'm not too distraught yet!

 

[crashz]

If thats the best vehicle you have ever owned you expectations are low. My 04 F-250 has needed nothing. My 06 F-350 has needed a new dash cluster due to a malfunctioning fuel gauge. My 08 Titan has needed nothing. I have owned nearly a dozen Ford trucks and nothing but a few recalls and the one dash cluster. I usually keep them for 5years or 100,000 miles. Same with my Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and even my Saturn other than a few small electrical items, sunroof motor, 2 power windows, neutral safety switch, and a few other small items. Keep both them till 140,000 miles or so.
Chris

Well the old dog has 152K miles now, and most gremlins have appeared sometime after 125K miles. This truck has been a reliable daily driver, towing rig, and plow truck. Can't complain too much.

Besides, I had two F150s (a 97 and 2001, bought new) before this GMC and many old junkers before those, and I still stand behind my statement. The Fords weren't bad, but I had bought the V6 trucks, which was not the right engine for those trucks. Especially 4x4 trucks. Both went well over 100K miles, but they had their issues as well.