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Anyone else with burnt/damaged DRLs?

16K views 112 replies 29 participants last post by  BobT 
#1 ·
Reading through some of the threads here and noticed some people are having issues with their DRLs.

Went out to check mine and discovered the same thing happening. Burnt sockets and damaged reflectors. Not happy :mad:

Has everybody else checked their lights? Is this covered by warranty?
Thinking of changing them to LEDs to reduce the heat output.
 

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#42 ·
I did try the LED's, but the CAN bus threw a wobbly and they stopped working.
The dealer re-enabled them and I have been running the OEM globes since.
 
#43 · (Edited)
Had another look at the brake lights and there is actually what looks like a hole right over the top of the bulb in the older lamp. It is hard to get on picture because of reflections but you can vaguely see a dark spot at the same height in the picture as the cloud over the socket. The newer lamp does not have this.
 

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#47 ·
Had another look at the brake lights and there is actually what looks like a hole right over the top of the bulb in the older lamp.
It's clearly a factory provided cooling vent :lol:
 
#44 ·
It may be more useful if instead of quoting klms travelled, you quote engine hrs. It is obtained from the EVIC readouts.
I think that would be a better indicator of how long the DRL's have been lit before they show damage.
 
#45 ·
True, mines 50 hours.
 
#53 ·
This thread is very informative and fascinating. I'm researching to replace my DRLs and fogs with LEDs so was surprised to learn of this issue. Checked my DRLs and see the "fogging" issue at the top of the housing. Not sure on the socket as it was in a parking deck and didn't have a flashlight.

In any case is there a concensus recommendation on which LEDs work best to replace the DRLs?
 
#54 ·
Our 9 month old Laredo CRD (23957km @ 454 hours) has the damaged reflectors and burnt sockets in the DRL's as well as the tail light heat damage....I fully intend to take up the issue with the dealer for replacement under warranty and its easy to have become convinced to replace the DRL's and tail light globes with LED.
i haven't seen any reports on the parking light function when the DRL's are replaced with LED - what is the outcome?
And in line with dobiegillis's post above - do we have consensus on the best LED replacement for the DRL and tail lights for the export (Australian) vehicle?
 
#55 ·
If there is damage already there, it might be an idea to leave thing as is till the dealer replaces the reflectors. I wouldn't mind betting that if you rocked up with LEDs and demanded the reflector be replaced under warranty, some dealers will give you a BS story about the LEDs having caused it all.
 
#56 ·
hmm interesting, I already pulled the fuse, looks like the way to go is to put the fuse back on and burn the reflector before the warranty run out, then get replacement headlights.

I checked my friends 2011 GC (he has done 54,000 km). The chrome on DRL reflectors are bubbling and lifting off. It looked liked white sandpaper. I was originally thinking that the burned residue from the socket get deposited on the reflector, but after seeing my mates jeep it looks like the chrome used on the reflector unable to handle heat.

After seeing the burned sockets, is it possible that there is high resistance joint between the bulb and socket resulting in additional heat (more than bulb rating 7w) being dissipated inside the DRL?
 
#57 ·
I looked at pulling the fuse this morning but I think its tied into the liftgate so I didn't do it. My socket shows signs of burning as well. I also see a tiny amount of fogging on the tails. I'm going to go ahead and get LEDs for most of the exterior, though I don't want to have to install resistors so I'm hesitant.
 
#59 ·
The DRL relays aren't tried in to the power lift gate.
I had mine out for a couple of months before I put in the LEDS.
So far the LEDS are working fine after 3000ks but the reflectors are showing damage. I may put the standard globes back in for warranty purposes though,
Before next service.
 
#62 ·
I haven't had a chance to contact either Jeep Australia or the dealers yet so I decided to check the tail lights this evening and discovered that they are damaged as well.

Give it a few more months and I'll have a nice little hole above the globes.
 
#63 ·
So I pulled the M3 fuse. But the fuse box says it also controls something like hubs, a vacuum pump, and the DRLs. Should I worry about the other things??

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
 
#65 ·
Hey lads,

I'm due to pick up my 2013 CRD Overland in 3 weeks.

Is it worth swapping in some LED's as soon as I get home or just have Jeep replace the headlights every time they get too charred?

Also, does anyone have an eBay link for ones that work well?
Do not replace anything until Jeep sort out the issue.
 
#67 ·
I have a set of Putco LEDs I was going to replace the DRL with but haven't got around to it yet. I haven't been on the forum for a few weeks so this is the first I'm reading of the heat damage issue. I'll be checking my lights tomorrow to see if I've been affected or not, but if my lights are ok I'll the fit the LEDs ASAP.

Can anyone who has changed their DRLs post some instructions on how to do it please? I couldn't see how to get to the bulb?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
#69 ·
Drivers side is easy, just reach around the radiator header tank and rotate the bulb a few degrees to unscrew from the headlamp. The bulbs are a simpe push fit but your new LEDS are directional. If they dont work first try, rotate them 180 and try again. The passenger sides a bit more tricky. You need to remove the air intake pipe that goes into your air filter box. A simple unclick and re-click to put back together after installing your LED. Wrapped with the look of mine. Good luck.
 
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#68 ·
Hi to all above with this issue.
I have now checked my 2012 Overland and has the same issues at front with heat damaged DRL sockets and cloudy upper reflectors.Cannot see any changes in rear tail light assembly.
Jeep is 6 months old with 13000 Klm on the clock.
Will leave to 20K service and advise Dealership.This will need a recall I presume as they are listed as a safety item during daylight driving.

Regards
Strategy
 
#71 ·
Even after having a whole headlight replaced (still waiting for the other front and rear) it has started show the same issue within a few weeks.

Jeep Australia has now given a case number for this issue and have encouraged a particular fix for this but I'm more then happy to get new headlight at $3000 retail per side every few months.
 
#72 ·
Mines in Wednesday for the replacement. Are you running LEDs?
 
#76 ·
An interesting phenomenon. I changed my DRL's to LED a while ago and look and doing great. Went fishing this weekend and in the dark of the bush night whenever a door was opened the passenger side DRL glowed very faintly for about 5 minutes then shut off. Any one else experienced this?
 
#79 ·
I have raised it with the dealer today at the 20k service and in an email to Shona Ruse from Jeep Customer Service. Ill see what the dealer has to say when I pick it up this afternoon.
 
#80 ·
Was that at Castle Hill?
I went in there today, to book a service. Mentioned the DRL burnt issue, and got the blankest of looks.
Going back tomorrow, with the Jeep, to show them. I told them that when I book the car in, I wanted everything fixed, and not be told they don't have the parts.
 
#81 ·
No, Parramatta.

I have also referred to it in an email to Shona from FCJ in Melbourne. She was quick responding to me about the stuck in sand issue so I took the opportunity to raise the DRL and Satnav issues at the same time.

BTW, when I rang around pricing the 20k service, Castle Hill was $200 more than Penrith or Parramatta for that service. Penrith was cheapest but when I told them I was supplying the oil, Penrith and Parramatta were the same price: $430.
 
#82 ·
I think the blank look from the dealer service people is standard jeep aust staff training.

Don't acknowledge
Deny responsibilty
Wait for warrant to run out
Then charge like hell to fix it.
 
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