GM Press Release Tail light tribulations

[Smoochy916]

I've got a problem with a part I ordered on line. First the facts; I have a 06' XLR that has a broken tail light. Now being a good shopper I bought one on line from a discount parts distributor called "Gm parts giant dot com". The price was over 500$ less than what my local dealer wanted, needless to say I was ecstatic. Long story short the plug is different: it has five pins and mine has four. I've included some pics, mine is easy to spot as that was pretty much all that was left. lol Any help would be much appreciated, I'm hoping I can just eliminate the fifth pin or at least find out why it has an extra one in the first place. Many Thanks! Leif

 

[Phrede]

I've got a problem with a part I ordered on line. First the facts; I have a 06' XLR that has a broken tail light. Now being a good shopper I bought one on line from a discount parts distributor called "Gm parts giant dot com". The price was over 500$ less than what my local dealer wanted, needless to say I was ecstatic. Long story short the plug is different: it has five pins and mine has four. I've included some pics, mine is easy to spot as that was pretty much all that was left. lol Any help would be much appreciated, I'm hoping I can just eliminate the fifth pin or at least find out why it has an extra one in the first place. Many Thanks! Leif
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This should be posted in the technical discussion area, not under GM Press Release.

 

[BusaMan]

I've got a problem with a part I ordered on line. First the facts; I have a 06' XLR that has a broken tail light. Now being a good shopper I bought one on line from a discount parts distributor called "Gm parts giant dot com". The price was over 500$ less than what my local dealer wanted, needless to say I was ecstatic. Long story short the plug is different: it has five pins and mine has four. I've included some pics, mine is easy to spot as that was pretty much all that was left. lol Any help would be much appreciated, I'm hoping I can just eliminate the fifth pin or at least find out why it has an extra one in the first place. Many Thanks! Leif
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Leif, in addition to the issue with the number of pins, I don't believe your connector would fit into it. That "L" shape protuberance from the mushed light, and it's corresponding female version on the connector, don't look to me like they'll "mate" with the receptacle on your "new" taillight. Have you tried to see if it's actually an XLR taillight? What's the part number of the new physical light?

Tim

 

[LoganDiagnostic]

Little late on this...

The export lamps for Japan and Europe have the extra pin in the center. The center pin is technically pin B in the service manual... The US spec lamps do not have the center pin.


ledfix.com

 

[rnrt99]

Just wondering if you happened to get your light working ?? I'm now in the same boat . Couldn't find a light anywhere and came across a new one but with the same 5 prong plug . Now do we need that middle prong or possibly drill a small hole in the center of my 4 prong plug so it pushes in ? any suggestions would be great .... getting desperate

 

[ccclarke]

If you don't need the pin, they're easy to remove with a pair of flush-cutting nippers. They look something like this: Pliers, OHM, slim-nose nipper, carbon steel and rubber, yellow and black, 4-1/2 inches. Sold individually. - Fire Mountain Gems and Beads You nibble away at the pin.

Or. . . you can bend the center pin back and forth and get it to yield at the face of the molded plug.

CC

 

[rnrt99]

If you don't need the pin, they're easy to remove with a pair of flush-cutting nippers. They look something like this: Pliers, OHM, slim-nose nipper, carbon steel and rubber, yellow and black, 4-1/2 inches. Sold individually. - Fire Mountain Gems and Beads You nibble away at the pin.

Or. . . you can bend the center pin back and forth and get it to yield at the face of the molded plug.

CC

So I read the middle pin operates the light slightly different in Europe / Japan ? and if I cut the middle pin out the light will still function the same as a normal 4 pin plug ? Just a little worried if I alter the light and it still didn't work I wouldn't be able to return it , thanks for your help.

 

[rnrt99]

Update

Ok so I had a friend come over that is knowledgeable with fixing cars . Instead of cutting out that middle 5th pin we decided to drill a small hole in my 4 pin plug and plugged in the light . Only the right strip of the led came on . I read online that you need that 5th pin (so don't cut it off) and you have to "jump" it from another wire to make a 5th pin in the middle . After doing that and getting it to work it ended up being amber , damn it . Another friend was able to use a heat gun and peel my old tail light apart and replace the leds . I guess I have another job for him with the new light . I sure wish GM would have replacement parts for our cars , I couldn't imagine buying a 09 XLR and not be able to fix a tail light 6-7 years later.

 

[xlrlist01]

Ok so I had a friend come over that is knowledgeable with fixing cars . Instead of cutting out that middle 5th pin we decided to drill a small hole in my 4 pin plug and plugged in the light . Only the right strip of the led came on . I read online that you need that 5th pin (so don't cut it off) and you have to "jump" it from another wire to make a 5th pin in the middle . After doing that and getting it to work it ended up being amber , damn it . Another friend was able to use a heat gun and peel my old tail light apart and replace the leds . I guess I have another job for him with the new light . I sure wish GM would have replacement parts for our cars , I couldn't imagine buying a 09 XLR and not be able to fix a tail light 6-7 years later.

Do you need the amber (euro turn signal), or is the red enough anyway? Does the red change from dim to brake intensity?

 

[rnrt99]

Do you need the amber (euro turn signal), or is the red enough anyway? Does the red change from dim to brake intensity?

Without both sets of lights working the signal clicks fast showing something is wrong. It would work with only the outside strip lighting up but wont look as good . I guess I could get the drivers side in euro and have both amber lights matching .

Yes the red does change intensity , I was driving around for awhile with the old light after the inside strip stopped working but the brake and signal still worked. (clicked fast) I just couldn't pass my inspection to insure it in canada until it was fixed or replaced .