Automatic Headlamp Sensor Styles???

[Matthew Jeschke]

I bought a dash top out of another truck as mine was destroyed when I got my truck. However, the light sensor was smaller than the hole in the dash. I've just let it set there on the dash until now...

I assumed there was another piece of the dash I was missing to fit it. I though I saw a little transparent bubble that holds the sensor from above kind of like an adapter on some trucks...

1. I see GM Make two styles of light sensors. Are they different dimensions? I only have the one to look at...

2. Did they make a adapter to fit the smaller sensor to the larger hole? I thought I saw that somewhere.

The donor truck had the SAME sensor as me, the two pin light sensor. yet the hole is 20mm. I looked all over the junkyard including that truck to find the mystery sensor holder but never found one.

Is there such a thing as a little transparent orb to hold the twin pin sensor in the dash?



MY notes...

I have this style sensor in my truck HERE the hole in the dash I bought was too big for that. Here's a second version I found HERE

I found on this guy's video at 5:11 his sensor is the same two wire but where it attaches is MUCH wider to accommodate that bigger hole. However, I cannot find a sensor of the style in his video anywhere in the parts catalogs.

Dash from junkyard I installed. The hole looks mostly intact. The barrel of my sensor is only 13mm so that hole in the dash won't support it.

I see there's a second design on some model years of the GMT800. This has a four pin connector instead of a two pin connector so I cannot swap it in. Nor do I have one to compare.

 

[mikez71]

Maybe this one will plug in.. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7626604&cc=1433255&pt=17059&jsn=2378
But maybe not..

You can probably use the 4 pin sensor if you get the right connecter and wire up just the two pins you need.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I have the 2 pin style on my 03.

 

[Fless]

What year is yours vs the year of the dash you pulled?

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

Maybe this one will plug in.. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7626604&cc=1433255&pt=17059&jsn=2378
But maybe not..

You can probably use the 4 pin sensor if you get the right connecter and wire up just the two pins you need.

Dang how did you find that! That's the correct one! I searched and only found that at AutoZone for an exorbitant price. However, Rock Auto didn't list it under the GMT800 models / years.

I have the 2 pin style on my 03.

Good to know. I've been curious how the various years are configured, which style is yours from below?

Style A

Or style B

What year is yours vs the year of the dash you pulled?

Unfortunately, this was one of the first things I did back in 2017 when I bought the truck. I don't remember what year the donor vehicle was. I just recall it being a pickup truck.

 

[mikez71]

Dang how did you find that! That's the correct one! I searched and only found that at AutoZone for an exorbitant price. However, Rock Auto didn't list it under the GMT800 models / years.

Not certain it's the right one, that was an '07 I looked up.
Do you have manual controls? I believe the 4 pin is for automatic dual zone..

 

[strutaeng]

I ordered the 4-pin style for my 06 Suburban because it fell down below the dash (I think, but not sure). I can't remember how I determined it was the 4 pin style though? It does have the auto AC. When I replaced my stereo last year, I thought you could reach behind there and replace that sensor, but you can't. I still haven't replaced that sensor...SMH

On 1999 Silverado I was able to replace that sensor by removing the stereo many years ago because the sensor failed. It was kind hard, I think I used some needle nose pliers. So I'm guessing they changed something, maybe a 99-02 vs 03+? IDK

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

Not certain it's the right one, that was an '07 I looked up.
Do you have manual controls? I believe the 4 pin is for automatic dual zone..

I ordered one of these per your suggestion HERE.

I noticed AutoZone listed that part as the correct fitment for a post split model year GMT800 Silverado. However, all the other parts catalogs I check say it's the wrong part.

This is starting to look like a case of confusion with split model year part numbers where some of the catalogs are incorrect.

I ordered the 4-pin style for my 06 Suburban because it fell down below the dash (I think, but not sure). I can't remember how I determined it was the 4 pin style though? It does have the auto AC. When I replaced my stereo last year, I thought you could reach behind there and replace that sensor, but you can't. I still haven't replaced that sensor...SMH

On 1999 Silverado I was able to replace that sensor by removing the stereo many years ago because the sensor failed. It was kind hard, I think I used some needle nose pliers. So I'm guessing they changed something, maybe a 99-02 vs 03+? IDK

The 4 pin includes a cabin air temp sensor. I don't have the Auto AC, but maybe the truck I pulled the cover from did. However, I pulled the sensor too and took it home to find out it didn't fit... something odd, likely unrelated anomaly (somebody put the sensor there in the junkyard?). This is where my adapter bubble theory came into play.

I did a BUNCH more part catalog searching, the GMT800 / NBS Cadillac Escalade uses that part number for the larger sensor! It lists the part number for both the the 2 pin and the 4 pin styles. Some of the Cadillac dashes must have been installed by the factory on trucks but not all the parts catalogs were updated! This is my latest theory. I'll be able to confirm when I get the sensor I ordered.

Thanks for the help!