Question about the Headlights

[Siems13]

I had the headlight issue as well. I have a 22 Tahoe High Country that was built in February 2022. On our first trip I noticed the headlight icon on during a perfectly sunny day, and as the sun went down, the icon went off and DRLs came on. Carried it to the dealership after researching this and coming across this post (plus I had two warranty repairs needing to be done). They tried giving me the same spill that the headlights were suppose to be on during a perfectly sunny day due to safety reason and that GM engineers confirmed they were working as designed. Because it wasn't giving diagnostic code, they refused to change the sensor, so I told them to change the sensor and bill me for the part and one hour labor. They initially refused to do that because there may be a deeper issue (even though they've told me multiple times that all is working "well"), but finally gave in to billing me for a new sensor. I had even sent the service manager the link to this thread and ask him to read the issues people were having and encouraged him to read the GM owner's manual for Tahoe DRLs because they were working opposite of what the manual states. The dealership delivered my Tahoe to the house this past Monday, and they had replaced the sensor and repaired the warranty issues. I looked over the computer printout to see how much I owed on the sensor replacement, and what do you know, it was covered under warranty. The DRLs work as any DRL system is supposed to work and then the headlights come on when it actually gets dark outside. I guess they felt compelled to file it under warranty sense my "problem" was resolved. Man, common sense is in short supply nowadays.

Same issue here. Dealer claims they're working as they should and it's a "safety feature". Once again, makes zero sense. I am going to go back to the dealership this week and ask for the same thing. I'll be interested to see what they try and charge me to replace it.

 

[DxOCD]

Did you fix it yourself?

No dealer did

 

[Motocross338]

Same issue here. Dealer claims they're working as they should and it's a "safety feature". Once again, makes zero sense. I am going to go back to the dealership this week and ask for the same thing. I'll be interested to see what they try and charge me to replace it.

The dealership was going to charge me around $115…$13 part, labor and applicable taxes. Initially refused to replace it under warranty due to no diagnostic code. Next thing I know is it was covered.

 

[Morales1995]

No dealer did

What did you tell them was wrong with it or diagnosis paperwork? I cant get the dealers to help at all. I am now dealing with 3 of them that all say its how it is supposed to be when I know for sure it is not.

 

[ecbc1]

My dealer said it was functioning normal with no error codes and no bulletins.

So I asked that the tech and I look at it together. It was sunny and bright and he shined a flashlight on it and it immediately turned on the DRL. And he took away the flashlight and the headlights went on.

Tech agreed something was wrong so they ordered the part. Unfortunately its backordered so they don't know when it'll come in. They'll call when it arrives.

What worked for me was showing the tech.

 

[BG1988]

When I left my office today, the sun was a little lower and the trees were blocking direct sunlight so the Daytime Running Lights came on as they should. As I pulled out of my office and headed down the street where the trees are cleared, the sunlight was able to directly hit my sensor and my headlight indicator on the dash came on. Definitely either a bad sensor or a software issue.

maybe they plugged it in backwards

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

What did you tell them was wrong with it or diagnosis paperwork? I cant get the dealers to help at all. I am now dealing with 3 of them that all say its how it is supposed to be when I know for sure it is not.

Tell them to call GM tech line and ASK.
I cannot believe how crazy some dealers are on this...agree w/ the guy in post #85. Get a tech to look at it, or put it in the sun w/ the lights on and then shine a flashlight on it and watch the DRL's come on.
OR, cover it up and watch the lights turn off!!

 

[amrock88]

Whats up guys, glad I found this thread. I have the same issue on my 2022 Yukon Denali! At first the dealer played dumb and didnt want to do anything. I first brought it up to them in April after taking delivery and just now I hear that the sensor is on backorder from them. I have been telling them for months now to get this fixed for me and after so long they decide to "find out" its on backorder. I followed what some of the guys said and found the sensor online at GM parts bin. Just placed my order for it and will handle this myself as well.. thanks for the info all.

 

[Jcunny]

To close the loop, they replaced the light sensor for free (under warranty due to error code) and everything is working as it should.

They also mentioned that there are a lot more of these complaints coming in and that the light sensor is now back ordered.

 

[Tyrell]

My dealer also told me it is backordered. Thinking I may just buy my own from GM Parts Bin like other have. How are they available through that sales channel but not available to the dealers from GM???

 

[todayusay]

2022 Tahoe built at the end of March, same issue, headlights on in bright sunlight.

I can see where some dealers are hesitant about moving forward if you don't have the vehicle actually showing the problem when you bring it in.

Dealer said they wouldn't be able to fix it under warranty if we brought the part in. Said they aren't allowed to order the part beforehand either...which makes sense. So i ordered the part from their parts department a few weeks ago and had them hold it. Said I'd pay for it ($12) if that wasn't the problem. Honestly got a little lucky with them agreeing to move forward with down that path. A couple hundred dollar part and they probably wouldn't have agreed to it... Had it fixed under warranty - below are their notes

 

[vwfast]

Just ordered the sensor for my 2022 Z71 with the same issue. Glad I found this as I had been reading the manual and playing around trying to get the DRL’s to come on thinking I was crazy.

 

[Siems13]

My dealer also told me it is backordered. Thinking I may just buy my own from GM Parts Bin like other have. How are they available through that sales channel but not available to the dealers from GM???

Same thing here. I had taken mine in a few weeks ago and they claimed they ran a diagnostic on it and nothing was wrong. Unfortunately it was rainy that day so the headlights were on anyways. Took it back on a bright, sunny day when the sun was shining right on the sensor and the headlights were on. Tech & Service Manager both agreed something wasn't right. They ordered a new sensor, but of course on backorder too. Who knows how long it'll be before one comes in! Frustrating. I figure there will be a service bulletin/recall on this VERY soon.

 

[Siems13]

What did you tell them was wrong with it or diagnosis paperwork? I cant get the dealers to help at all. I am now dealing with 3 of them that all say its how it is supposed to be when I know for sure it is not.

Just stop by the dealership/service department on a day when it's bright & sunny and have them come out and look at it. That's what I had to do with mine. They had to see for themselves the bright sunlight hitting right on the sensor to put 2 + 2 together that something wasn't right. It's hard to argue the system is functioning as it should be when the headlights are on in bright sunlight. That's what it took for me anyways!

 

[Drothe3]

Sorry for this stupid question but please confirm my understanding. I think my low beam headlights are also incorrectly on during bright sunlight (switch is set to Auto). A short phone call and description to my local service dept said they are functioning as they are supposed to. I don't think he is correct.

To avoid descriptive errors on my part, here are a couple example pictures to illustrate...

What my headlights look like in bright sunlight:
View attachment 370557

What I believe my headlights (DRLs) are SUPPOSED to look like in bright sunlight:
View attachment 370558

Exactly what my 22 Denali is doing and I believe you are correct. Great pictures, thank you for doing this. Looks like I’m heading to the dealer tomorrow.

 

[nick14226]

Just picked up our '22 Tahoe this past weekend and same deal with the headlights. Had the dealer order the sensor but no ETA yet. Anyone have luck with someone online who has any left? I've checked the typical places, including parts bin, but so far no luck.

 

[vwfast]

I'd like to know too. Had 2 online orders cancelled after they determined they couldn't get the sensor. Had dealer check and they said it looks like a nationwide backorder but they've ordered it for me with no ETA.

 

[nick14226]

I'd like to know too. Had 2 online orders cancelled after they determined they couldn't get the sensor. Had dealer check and they said it looks like a nationwide backorder but they've ordered it for me with no ETA.

When searching I stumbled upon a lot of info in a corvette forum. Seems the C8 vets have P/N 13529378, older sensors with that p/n are good, newer ones aren't. Those guys are pulling serial numbers together to try to figure out a cutoff (props to them for the effort as some of them reference coming here when researching too). When going to dealers, before the shortage, the P/N 13545621 was being used to replace there's. Seems to me the two are likely backwards compatible so I'm going to try the older one from an ebay seller that seems to have old stock (at least the vet guys have had success with that seller but who knows what you'll get). Should have it in 4-5 days, I'll report back if it works as they seem to be more readily available, even though we could still get a bad one if not old enough inventory...

 

[Stbentoak]

I found parts that “weren’t available “ by Calling the largest dealer in each of my surrounding states, with the GM part number. Many times these dealers have access to an in-state Intranet that searches the parts availability of all dealers inside that state. I found parts on the shelf at certain dealers that weren’t available or radar nationally.
Whether you can coerce them or not to get them to sell that part to you is another story. Of the parts I found available, many dealers protected them and would not sell them to me, but eventually I came across the one that would and that’s how I got my airbag issue fixed….

 

[nick14226]

I found parts that “weren’t available “ by Calling the largest dealer in each of my surrounding states, with the GM part number. Many times these dealers have access to an in-state Intranet that searches the parts availability of all dealers inside that state. I found parts on the shelf at certain dealers that weren’t available or radar nationally.
Whether you can coerce them or not to get them to sell that part to you is another story. Of the parts I found available, many dealers protected them and would not sell them to me, but eventually I came across the one that would and that’s how I got my airbag issue fixed….

One of the local dealers I talked to didn't have it but rattled off a couple dealers that did. None were within driving distance but I contacted the closet one. They weren't willing to ship it. I could keep going down that route but then I'm thinking the older P/N (older stock) may be the closest "known good" sensors so far, so giving that a shot.