Better Roads

February 2013

Better Roads Digital Magazine

Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/109757

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 93 of 93

HEADLIGHTBULBUPGRADE By Bruce W. Smith BRIGHT LIGHTS Sylvania's SilverStar Ultras a good step up when your pickup's OE headlight bulbs need replacing H eadlights dim and eventually burn out over time. It might not be today, tomorrow or next week, but at some point in the typical work truck's life, the bulbs will need to be replaced – probably more than once. Replacing the bulbs is a job shop mechanics would rather poke themselves in the eye than tackle because it is a pain to do. This is especially true in later model GMs where the headlight assembly needs to be removed just to access the bulbs.  That's an hour R&R time for each side – and downtime in a shop is lost money. So make the time worth the effort by installing stronger, brighter bulbs that improve the driver's night vision and ability to see farther down the road. One good upgrade that improves a pickup's OEM headlights is switching to higher-performance bulbs like the Sylvania SilverStar Ultra.  The bulbs, which are available at auto parts stores, are street-legal in every state (unlike HIDs). According to Sylvania (sylvania.com), the Ultras add 40 to 50 percent greater distance and side-toside coverage than the stock bulbs on pickups that are just a couple years old. We upgraded both the high- and low-beam headlight bulbs in our Project Bedrock (2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4) to take advantage of the improved efficiency and performance of the SilverStars. The SilverStar Utras do make a noticeable difference compared to the stock headlights: They cast a wider spread on low-beam and penetrate farther down the road on high, and the whiter light makes it easier to see details. Oncoming traffic isn't bothered, either – a plus for those who want to be conscientious to others with whom they share the road. Later-model GM pickup headlight assemblies have to be removed to replace the bulbs, which takes about 45 minutes per side. SilverStar Ultra bulb (top) looks almost identical to the OE halogen bulb, but its performance is markedly improved. Bulb replacement takes just seconds. Unplug the connector, then a 1/4-twist and the bulb is out. PROPICKUP DIGITAL PP0213_Headlight Upgrade.indd 50 1/10/13 2:33 PM

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Better Roads - February 2013