# Why do Chevy lightbulbs always seem to burn out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chevrolet, traverse\ **Created:** [April 8, 2018, 10:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227 "2018-04-08T10:10:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CindyPereira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@CindyPereira](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CindyPereira)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2018, 10:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/1 "2018-04-08T10:10:05Z")
We always buy Chevys. They are relialable, but every model we have had, have issues with the light bulbs burning out. Why? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/2 "2018-04-08T14:34:25Z")
How often do they burn out (in operating hours)? Since you only buy Chevys, what reference are you using to ascertain that they burn out faster than other makes? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/3 "2018-04-08T16:41:43Z")
I’ve found that the original bulbs take a while to burn out, but replacements burn out a lot faster. I even use gloves to put the bulbs in. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2018, 5:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/4 "2018-04-08T17:05:18Z")
We need some more details Is it always the exact same bulb burning out? If you replaced the left low beam bulb last year, and now the right low beam bulb, or a different bulb altogether, is burnt out, I don’t see a problem When you replace the bulbs, are you looking at the connector? All good? Or toasty? ---
**Author:** ![CindyPereira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@CindyPereira](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CindyPereira)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 9:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/5 "2018-04-10T21:15:46Z")
We have had a Tahoe and a Traverse. We take the vehicle to Tire Pros for service. We have had to replace many bulbs multiple times in both vehicles. It is all of the bulbs…back, front, signal, etc. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/6 "2018-04-10T21:22:03Z")
Maybe they use cheap bulbs that burn out early. Take your trucks to Chevrolet and have them change the bulbs. It seems more like a Tire Pros problem than a Chevy problem. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/7 "2018-04-11T00:19:08Z")
Maybe Tire Pros used cheap bulbs that burn out! Maybe they even put in incorrect bulbs, especially if they’re out of the correct ones. They’re a tire store. Would you go to an optometrist for dental work? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/8 "2018-04-11T01:25:09Z")
I have a 14 year old Chevy Avalanche with 131K miles on it. I’ve had one headlight burn out. I replaced both bulbs at the same time. No other bulb has needed replacing. ---
**Author:** ![vipergg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/50afbb/32.png) [@vipergg](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vipergg)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/9 "2018-04-14T19:25:26Z")
Why because most GM’s use the headlights and or the parking lights for their DRL function so they are on no matter what time of day it is . Luckily with the advent of LEDS they have gotten away from this practice and LEDs generally will last the life of the car . On mine you can shut off the DRL’s just by turning the headlight switch so I turn them off every time I drive the car. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/10 "2018-04-14T19:27:09Z")
I have a 2009 Cobalt LT and haven’t had to replace the headlights yet. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/11 "2018-04-14T19:37:19Z")
The cars that I work on generally have between 18 and 24 exterior light bulbs, when a vehicle gets to around 100,000 miles I usually find a few bulbs that need to be replaced. Your shop is finding burned out bulbs because they are inspecting them. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 1:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-do-chevy-lightbulbs-always-seem-to-burn-out/115227/12 "2018-04-15T01:02:16Z")
Headlights are brighter and more complicated these days, so that might be part of the reason. Next time you visit an auto parts store, take a look at the headlights. You’ll probably notice there are three different types that fit your car. One is really bright, one is pretty bright, and one is just the normal brightness. On the package it will say which lasts the longest. The really bright type often has a really short life-span spec, the equivalent to 6-9 months of driving. The standard brightness type might have 10 times that lifespan. If yours is an older car, it isn’t unusual to have to replace the small side marker bulbs and tail-light from time to time. I had to replace 6 of them on my Corolla last fall.