2003 GMC fog light warning ! (And question)

[Toddster]

DO NOT try higher wattage bulbs in these fog lights ! Mine had a nuclear melt down :( The metal reflector cup fell right off inside the assembley, damn it ! Anyone happen to have the part number for these lights ? Better yet a company that makes a direct replacement for these cheesey a$$ stock ones ?

[DmaxMaverick]

Toddster

Did you fry one or both? I damaged one in a racoon incident. I removed the fog lights when I took off the air dam. Decided to go aftermarket for replacements. Email me at gmcparts1995@hotmail.com if I can help.

[IndigoDually]

Don't the '03's have round fog lights and not the square with a teardrop end ones?

John

[Toddster]

Thanx Mav, but the 03 foggies are totally different :mad:

[mackin]

Oh Toddster

I see you never viewed my photo album???? Hell I learned that EH a year ago ......What sucks even more ,ready???? No after market air dam for GMC.....OH that gotta hurt ......LOL.... So your stuck ,no pun intended ,with the stinky stockers.....

Mac :D

See here ,after the fact =>http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=720418&uid=412377

the Don't Try This Folder.....

[ 11-06-2002: Message edited by: mackin ]</p>

[Toddster]

Thanx for the sympathy buddie ! You are always a comfort. Oh, and your link dont work. Yeh, you got mail....Reply, I'm bored ! :mad:

[Silver Bullet]

Don't go with the 50 watters or you will pull a MACKIN! I am using the 38 watt bulbs with no problem.

[DmaxMaverick]

Uhh....I knew that :D

Should be much easier to find aftermarkets to fit in the round hole.

[DaveRuane]

Be careful Silver Bullet - I melted the stock fogs with my 37W - it took awhile but the reflecter in front of the bulb just melted off...

I have the PIAA air dam/lights now and love it...

[mattb5150]

I would like to know if anyone can compare an 01/02 GMC side by side with an 03 if an 03 airdam would bolt right on to an 01/02? If so us GMC guys could do that and go with a number of round replacement lights!

Matt B.

[FisHn2DMax]

As I was getting my first oil change done at a local GMC dealer, I noticed my exact same 03 SLT CC truck on the showroom floor but it seemed to looked different from the front? After looking at it for awhile, I Finally noticed the stock Fog lights had been changed to after market "KC" round lights that fit perfect into stock round fog light air dam holes. I asked the sales person why this was done, thinking my 03 fog lights were fine? He said " the stock lights aren't worth $hit". "We change them out to either the high power KC or the more expensive PIAA's and it's worth every penny". The KC lamps installed on this truck really looked nice!

So when it got dark on the way home, I tried my stock "fog" lamps for the first time on a long open highway, the dealer was right, "they're not worth $hit".

I'll be buying and installing the high power round KC's or PIAA's that just drop right in the same holes. They both sit a little more forward than the stock unit. The KC has a chrome bezel/body around the lens that really looks sharp! I believe they're rated at 60 and 45 Watts? Dealer did say a slightly higher amperage fuse was required. Other than that it should be plug & play installation.

When I get the KC or PIAA Fog lights installed (- haven't decided which one yet-) , I'll post pictures.

:D

[ 11-16-2002: Message edited by: FisHn2DMax ]</p>

[3176CATPOWER]

While on the subject of foglites maybe someone could inform us on how they should function.Obviously they should cut through the fog to give better vision but how do they differ from a driving lite technically?Mine have an adjustment for elevation but what is proper elevation for them to cut through the fog and not oncoming traffic?The factory fogs on both of my vehicles do nothing to improve vision in the fog.I meet a lot of vehicles with there fog lites on and no fog,mine also do nothing to improve vision in non fog conditions.Do the aftermarket versions explain proper aiming and such or is it just hit and miss.

[3176CATPOWER]

Got curious so went on piaa.com to try and find some answers.Visual aim is made with the top of the beam 4 inches below the lamp center at 25 feet with the lamp facing straight forward per piaa instructions.This makes the light bounce off the surface off the road and up through the fog as I would guess.Guess I will check the visual aim on mine before relplacing anything.

[Diesel Freak]

Fishn, can you tell me which KC and Piaa lights fit in the stock spot? Do they just bolt right up, or do you need to modify some brackets etc.?

Thanks,
Jerry

[FisHn2DMax]

CATPOWER,

You've brought up the very question I'm trying to determine before deciding on the PIAA, KC's or ??.
Power is just one of many considerations needed in the in selection of FOG Lights. What looks good,is not necessarily the best Fog light.

As I've been doing some research, this is getting a little more complex. I'm looking for a FOG light that has both a wide angle horizontal beam dispersion, and a very narrow vertical beam dispersion while still having the power capacity to penetrate heavy dense fog 50-100'. Our Stock fog lights have good horizontal beam width, but not a very tight vertical beam, and not enough penetrating power! With out a road level tight vertical beam, the generated visible light above the road surface refracts off water vapor and back to the driver, or worse into on-coming traffic. The beam must have very tight (small angle) vertical displacement at a 50'-100' road surface focal point. Moreover, they must have a (wavelength/temp) color that minimizes Water vapor visible light refraction.

In looking at both PIAA and KC specifications on-line, I'm still not sure which one is actually better in heavy fog? The PIAA has many light Color temp options that should allow less light visible light refraction in heavy fog? I'm still not sure about the vertical beam width's or focal distances?

Both will require only slight ( minor) mounting bracket modifications to fit. I also came across a round Bosch Fog light that looks very promising! When I make a decision and install, I'll forward my findings.

If someone is looking for just more road Lighting power, you could install high intensity parabolic reflector lights or get the simple wiring mod kit that turns on both High and Low beam on your headlamps. True Fog lamps are not designed for long range forward lighting.
:eek: