AMBERS 101 - ATTENTION NEWBIES - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AMBERS

[johnnymmmm]

very nice...welcome to Amber Nation

[mrfrancis3000]

Not too bad

[Stick]

Ambers 101 – Attention NEWBIES - Everything You Need To Know About “AMBERS”

“Ambers” is the popular conversion of changing out the white 4114K factory Daytime Running Lamps (“DRL’s”) to AMBER bulbs. This “mod” <modification> is a popular Chevy Avalanche Fan Club conversion used to identify other club members. It is also really neat-looking, PLUS it is actually a safety enhancement as amber light is visible at a further distance. (Amber is the color to which the human eye is most sensitive.) Some vehicles such as Corvettes, Buicks and Chevy Vans are factory equipped with Ambers. However, check your local laws as some localities are very specific about what you can and cannot do as far as making changes to automotive lighting.

Now – on to accomplishing the AMBERS mod’s.   

If you have the plastic skirting all around your Av, you have a CLADDED (aka “Body Hardware”) Av. If you have NO CLADDING you have a WBH –or- “Without Body Hardware” Av. (GM terminologies.)

The procedure for changing the DRL’s is different for each of the two models.

On the CLADDED Av, your DRL’s are located within the lowest part of your front bumper and are the INBOARD lights (closest to the tow hooks.) Switch on your fog lamps while the LOW BEAM headlamps are on and the transmission is in PARK. The DRL’s are the extinguished lights next to the fog lights. NOTE: The fog lights will normally switch off whenever the HIGH BEAMS are on.

On the WBH Av, your DRL’s are located within the set of lights below the headlamps. The DRL’s are the INBOARD lamps (closest to the grille.) Switch on your parking lights while the transmission is in PARK and the DRL’s are the extinguished lamps adjacent to the parking lights.

Amber bulbs to purchase <for either model of Av> are Sylvania 3157/4157NALL. A pair can be obtained at certain auto parts stores for around $5.50 or so. Do NOT pay $10 for these bulbs, as some other parts stores (who will remain unnamed) charge.

CLADDED Av’s. From beneath the bumper, depress the lock tang on the DRL socket and turn 1/4 turn, pull socket out of housing. Remove factory bulb and replace with the amber. Reinstall socket (turn to lock.)

WBH Av’s. Open hood. Remove “L” shaped shiny aluminum retainer pins from the tops of left and right headlamp assemblies. Carefully lift assemblies up and out of the way. (Do NOT disconnect any of their sockets/wiring.) Reach down to the DRL socket and depress its lock tang, then turn socket 1/4 turn, pull socket out of housing. Remove factory bulb and replace with the amber. Reinstall DRL socket (turn to lock) and reinstall headlamp assemblies. You may have to fuss a bit when reinstalling the driver’s side headlamp assembly as the wiring may need to be positioned to allow clearance. Very easy to do, just do not force anything. The headlamp retainer pins may utilize a slotted tab at the top of the assemblies in which to ‘lock’ the pins in place.

CHECKING YOUR DRL’s.

BE FREAKING CAREFUL whenever you do this using method “B”!

Your DRL’s will normally only be on in daylight (NOT inside your garage,) with the engine running and in DRIVE, NOT in PARK. The DRL’s will switch off when the transmission is placed into PARK.

Method A) The safest method is to drive somewhere to observe the reflection of your Av in a glass window. Go to a local business, or convenience store (you need beer anyway, right?) Check DRL operation in drive, with the engine running, footbrake applied.

Method B) You can also check DRL operation by placing your Av in DRIVE on a flat, open area, and engaging the parking brake. Get out and observe the DRL’s. DO NOT walk directly in front in case the brake slips. Or you can have someone stay in the driver’s seat, depressing the brake pedal while you make your check.

Method B) is not recommended unless you live out in the boonies, as method A) is so easy and safe.

Method C) You can monitor DRL operation during the course of normal driving. At traffic lights you can often see a reflection off the back of a vehicle in front of you. This is an easy method for monitoring lamp status to determine a burnout. They should last quite a few years as the "NALL’s" are long-life bulbs.

Follow up notes.

A) The amber bulbs will not burn your sockets or plastic lamp housings. When you go to change them from the factory bulbs, you may notice a very slight ‘burnt’ look to the base of the sockets. This is noted to occur on the factory sockets with factory bulbs and is not to be of any concern to you. Lamp sockets which have just a little use (a brand new Av, for example, with only a few hours of running) may exhibit the slightly burnt-looking socket condition. Simply ignore this non-issue.

B) The description of how the DRL’s and headlamps operate during daytime, as told in the above instructions, assumes that you have an original factory electrical wiring setup. Other modifications, such as “Full Time DRL’s” (or “All Time DRL’s”) and “All Four-On Headlamps” changes the way the DRL’s and headlamps operate compared to the original factory set up.
You can do a search on the CAFCNA site to learn more about these additional modifications.

[   Hey, maybe we should have a LINKY THINGY to "AMBERS" off the web site main page.    ]


                                                                                            

I am a Newbie to the AV World but think this is a great idea for many reason will pick some ambers up tonight!

Great Forum

[Stick]

  Done! Officially a Canadian Amber user! 

[Royal Vader]

  Just put the ambers in this morning. Got a few skuffs on my arms from reachin' behind the loosened grill, but hey, it was worth it

[tritonboulder47]

Just put mine in this afternoon...     I noticed that one of my Ultra White ones blew...  I had a pair of ambers laying around, so I took my Silver Stars out of my marker lights and put them in my DRL's and put the new ambers in the marker lights.  Since I have marker light covers, I didnt need the chrome looking ones in there...  I'll try and get a pic tomorrow...  It does look sweet though...

[tritonboulder47]

And here's the finished result...   

[p1not]

Bought and popped in my ambers in about 10 minutes...too easy!

Will post pics as soon as they let me (hint, hint)

[GulfstreamV]

Bought and popped in my ambers in about 10 minutes...too easy!

Will post pics as soon as they let me (hint, hint)

  to the ambers.

Oh, and you'll get the chance to post pics after you post a lot more on the site.  They don't turn on a switch, you just need to bump up your post count.  There is no published number, but in the neighborhood of 20+ should work 

[welcmj18]

I just bought and installed my ambers for my 02.  It was pretty easy except one of the bulbs wouldn't stay in all the way.

[Drunk_J]

Got ambers in my 08 today!  Thanks for all the info!

-=J

[scott41677]

Stopping at the Autozone on my way home to get my Ambers in my 07 today!

[GulfstreamV]

Nice job all the newbies with ambers 

[jtdchevy]

Put them in today

[harleyt26]

I just switched to the amber DRL's, but I must go back to Wally World for another set so my marker/turn signals will match. The older bulbs are a lighter shade of yellow. My obsesive compulsiveness cannot handle the variation. It is an 06 WBH so they are right next to each other and matching size and shape.

Thanks a lot Drunk J, I just put a finger print on my moniter trying to smash that gnat. 

[Drunk_J]

Thanks a lot Drunk J, I just put a finger print on my moniter trying to smash that gnat. 

 

[ShapeShifter]

I just switched to the amber DRL's, but I must go back to Wally World for another set so my marker/turn signals will match. The older bulbs are a lighter shade of yellow. My obsesive compulsiveness cannot handle the variation. It is an 06 WBH so they are right next to each other and matching size and shape.

I know exactly how you feel. My first set didn't match my turn signals, so I had to replace them for bulbs that were a better match. And with a cladded, the two sets of bulbs are nowhere near each other! But I still had to change them.

Between the two type out there, I defintely prefer the darker orange vairant over the paler yellow type.

-- SS

[subijmt]

Put mine in this weekend!!

So easy to do on my WBH.

Now I'm on the lookout for more ambers on the roadways   

[Daves69gs]

I put in ambers in my 04 now the reflectors are discolored

[highflyinbean]

Mine are in!

[00kidd]

Finally broke down and added ambers. And I'm glad I did because both my drls were smashed and both housings are cracked from off-roading.  I hadn't even noticed until I went to install the ambers.

[ncon315]

Nice I'm going to do this tommrow

[loneraider]

installed ambers yesterday,2002 z71 it was easy,,,,,,,,,took ten minutes ...they look great,

[lurchsavalanche]

Silver Star 3357A ST Ambers are in along with BP3357NALL turn signal lights, a pair of 194 lights,  and a pair of Silver Star 9006 ST bulbs. Got bored and worked up after reading the lighting "upgrades" mods and just had to do it. 

A K&N filter also went in place of the stock filter for now until I can do a CAI. 

The pics were done while the key was in run position, engine OFF and wheels chocked and gear selector in drive (or out of park). Read about so many people needing a friend to help or taking other unnecessary engine running steps to get pics and was wondering why.....it does the same thing engine running than it does engine off.   

My DRL housing has a smoke film inside of it and is hard to clean out, is there a simple way of removing the film or would I have to locate new ones or clean salvage yard housings?
DRL before

DRL after ambers

DRL's

DRL w/road lights

turn signal on

Smoke film inside housing?


reflection using another AVY

[Violanche]

Got mine in, had my new Ava for 3 days before putting them in and wow! what a pain in the butt for the 09's.

My first of many planned mods and 3rd post.