Denali Headlight Issues

[bjh06161]

Hello,
I am new on the forum so I apologize if Im posting in an incorrect section. I recently bought a 2002 Yukon Denali. It has a few minor issues that Im working through but the main problem I am having is with the low beam headlights. They are working but they are incredibly dim. Im trying to figure out if this is normal for this make/model or if I have something wrong. When I turn on the vehicle the lights on the top corners that are projectors are illuminated at all times. If I turn the interior switch on nothing happens, they stay on at the exact same brightness. I replaced those bulbs with silverstars thinking the bulbs were just dim, but its really about the same. My foglights have been a saving grace driving at night because they put out way more light than the low beam. The high beam is great and I have no issues seeing with those. Are the lights down by the turn signals supposed to be on too? Once again for clarification when my low beams are on, the only lights illuminated are the top lights in the corners which are dim in my opinion and the marker lights.

 

[Rocket Man]

The projectors on Denalis are very good, better than any other model, so something is obviously wrong. It could be that you have some cheap aftermarket lights in place of the stock ones. Pull the housings and take some pictures of them, especially the backs, and post them here. We should be able to tell more by looking at them.

 

[Davidb5303]

I have an 03 that I just got and I am curious too. I am experiencing the EXACT same thing and curious to what the remedy is..

 

[Rocket Man]

I still see no pictures of the actual headlight housings and bulb assemblies. Hard to find a remedy that way. It takes no tools to pull the headlight housings out of your vehicles and about a minute of your time.

 

[Davidb5303]

Well I am not the OP but here are my pics. I am to the point of wondering if they light up anything. Thanks

 

[Davidb5303]

The low beams are horrible and the high beams are incredible

 

[Rocket Man]

Weird; I was expecting to see some cheap aftermarket housings but those look like the original Denali projectors. The good news is that they work good with an inexpensive PNP HID kit. That will definitely light things up nicely. Those housings are in pretty high demand by the non-Denali crowd just for that reason. Most factory halogen projectors will scatter HID lighting so much that they don't work well or they blind oncoming traffic but the Denali projectors focus the HID good and they have a good cutoff line so they don't offend oncoming drivers. If you go that route, you'll want to do the 4-high mod so the lows stay on when you hit the brights otherwise when you go back to low beam it takes a few seconds for the HID's to light up again. Also, I did the auto headlight disable because it kept burning ballasts due to trying to fire up the HID's when the starter was turning the truck over and the voltage was low. It might sound like a lot of work but only takes a few minutes for each mod. I can steer you to the info if needed.

 

[Davidb5303]

Weird; I was expecting to see some cheap aftermarket housings but those look like the original Denali projectors. The good news is that they work good with an inexpensive PNP HID kit. That will definitely light things up nicely. Those housings are in pretty high demand by the non-Denali crowd just for that reason. Most factory halogen projectors will scatter HID lighting so much that they don't work well or they blind oncoming traffic but the Denali projectors focus the HID good and they have a good cutoff line so they don't offend oncoming drivers. If you go that route, you'll want to do the 4-high mod so the lows stay on when you hit the brights otherwise when you go back to low beam it takes a few seconds for the HID's to light up again. Also, I did the auto headlight disable because it kept burning ballasts due to trying to fire up the HID's when the starter was turning the truck over and the voltage was low. It might sound like a lot of work but only takes a few minutes for each mod. I can steer you to the info if needed.

Perfect I am all ears and eyes....cause I need to do something cause I feel like Ray Charles trying to drive st night. Can't tell if it shows in pic but there is a plug for the low beam and that plugs into a short 6" harness that then plugs into the 9005 lamp. I assume this is all original. If these are referred as "projection" it's almost like there closed.

 

[Rocket Man]

They can't be closed, there's no shutter like the projectors that combine high and low beam in one lamp. You might take the projector portion apart to see if they're dirty inside. Here's a link to the 4 high mod for an 03:
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/thre...mod-on-an-03-06-full-size-truck-for-3-00.571/
I can't find an auto headlight disable thread for an 03 yet. You might try a search if you need to do it.

 

[Davidb5303]

well i removed both headlight assemblies...they apear to be clean, and i then swapped low and high beam lamps and reinstalled..low beams still seem to not be very bright and hick beams are still very bright. I need to figure something out cause i almost feel there not a safe amount of light being emitted

 

[Rocket Man]

You could either get a HID kit for the 9005 bulbs or some aftermarket light assemblies. For the latter I suggest DEPO or Spyder. I'd say try different halogen bulbs but you already swapped those. I bought Spyders but only because my Denali stock ones had faded lenses. The hid kit can probably be found at a local auto parts store, the new housings would have to be ordered.

 

[Rocket Man]

Another option is the new LED plug and play kits. I've heard some here have given them good reviews and there's no problems with auto headlamps, also they're instant on so no other mods needed as far as 4 high etc.

 

[DDenali]

Another option is the new LED plug and play kits. I've heard some here have given them good reviews and there's no problems with auto headlamps, also they're instant on so no other mods needed as far as 4 high etc.

I'd recommend you modify the factory projector shield more light


Sent from Dugar's iPhone 7 Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Davidb5303]

I'd recommend you modify the factory projector shield more light


Sent from Dugar's iPhone 7 Plus using Tapatalk

How would you modify it? looks like there is a top and bottom "diverter" with the center open...maybe try and open that gap some more?

 

[DDenali]

Just unbolt the mounting bracket and unbolt the projector housing and separate the the housing and the projector and you'll see the cutoff shield its night and day the difference.


Sent from Dugar's iPhone 7 Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Davidb5303]

Just unbolt the mounting bracket and unbolt the projector housing and separate the the housing and the projector and you'll see the cutoff shield its night and day the difference.


Sent from Dugar's iPhone 7 Plus using Tapatalk

So just remove all together or cut in half and reinstall the top?

 

[DDenali]

So just remove all together or cut in half and reinstall the top?

I'm sorry bud re install the piece with the step in the edge like in the picture


Sent from Dugar's iPhone 7 Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Davidb5303]

I'm sorry bud re install the piece with the step in the edge like in the picture


Sent from Dugar's iPhone 7 Plus using Tapatalk

ok thanks....will work on that...then just leave the 9005's or LED's or HID's?

 

[Rocket Man]

Just unbolt the mounting bracket and unbolt the projector housing and separate the the housing and the projector and you'll see the cutoff shield its night and day the difference.


Sent from Dugar's iPhone 7 Plus using Tapatalk

That cutoff shield is there so you don't blind oncoming traffic. Your mod will result in scattered light and piss people off. Why would you do that? You're instructing him to basically destroy his headlights. As they are, they're worth money if he wants to sell them but if he hacks up his cutoffs they're worthless. Not trying to jump your ass but be careful of what you suggest. If I'm wrong, please let me know but that's the way I see it. Not sure what your mod will accomplish since the stock Denali housings are known to be good projectors.

 

[Davidb5303]

That cutoff shield is there so you don't blind oncoming traffic. Your mod will result in scattered light and piss people off. Why would you do that? You're instructing him to basically destroy his headlights. As they are, they're worth money if he wants to sell them but if he hacks up his cutoffs they're worthless. Not trying to jump your ass but be careful of what you suggest. If I'm wrong, please let me know but that's the way I see it. Not sure what your mod will accomplish since the stock Denali housings are known to be good projectors.

Well I guess I am trying to figure out why my low beams suck hind side...I just got this 03 and the first night I drove it I actually got out to see if the low beams were on. So that's the reason I looked for help in a forum like this. I am sure I wasn't the first to ask this, as I wasn't the OP but wasn't sure how to search the archives because of the different titles this could be. I just want to see at night and be safe is all. Again thanks for everyone's input. If we can accomplish this with some type of lamp change I am all for that