After months of waiting, deliveries of the all-new 2023 Chevy Colorado have been slowly picking up speed. As such, we’re beginning to see photos of 2023 Colorado owners showing off their new vehicles on social media. With this mind, one interesting trend that’s been gaining traction is swapping the halogen headlamps for a set of LED bulbs.
As evidenced on social media platforms, owners are eager to put their own touch on their new pickup trucks. To this end, some people are purchasing off-the-shelf LED bulbs and swapping them in for the halogen bulbs that come in select Colorado models. Boasting a white hue instead of the halogen’s yellow tint, this allows the owners to upgrade their lighting arrangement without swapping out the entire headlight cluster.
For those who may be unaware, only certain 2023 Colorado units are equipped with LED headlights from factory. The halogen headlamp cluster (RPO code T4A) is standard on Work Truck (WT), LT and Trail Boss trim levels. Meanwhile, the LED headlamp clusters (RPO code T4L) are featured as standard fare on Z71 and ZR2 trims, and optional on LT units as part of the LT Convenience Package III (RPO code PDB).
In regard to other 2023 Colorado developments, General Motors recently announced that a new Kicker audio system will be made available as an accessory for the midsizer. Designed to fit inside the StowFlex tailgate, this speaker kit includes all the necessary equipment for installation, and is waterproof.
As a reminder, the 2023 Chevy Colorado features two engine options, including the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L2R gasoline engine, rated at 237 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine, which produces either 310 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque, or 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, depending on the tune.
Under the body panels, the next-gen Colorado rides on an updated variant of the GMT 31XX platform, while production takes place at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Colorado news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
It’s amazing halogens are still even offered
My 2019 volt has halogen high beams. I rather like the Warm white color of them.
They could make LEDS look the same, but some of the aftermarket blue things are blinding.
Amazing is not the word but perhaps bizarre, or pathetic should be used.
I was saying that about the F-150 back in 2019.
So a-holes that don’t realize that most standard light sockets can’t swap to LEDs without blinding oncoming drivers are cool with this. Unless you have projector lenses, don’t count on LEDs doing anything but blinding every one else on the road and not doing much good for you. Pricks!
Partly true. Headlamps that have the metal reflector placed in front of bulb on the low beam side are also ok. Hence is why low beam bulbs are frosted out at the tip in case the reflector is not part of the assembly to avoid glare. And yes Bob, regardless they will either way benefit the driver…lol!
Agree, most of the LED swaps end up with worse long range lighting because they were not designed for LED’s. They are bright but there’s not much beam. They are a waste of money but people will never admit it because they like the look. I flash my brights at these idiots every time.
My understanding is that the design of the optics in the halogen housing is designed specifically to focus the light emitted by a halogen bulb in all directions from a single point, which is a specific distance from the back of the housing. Most of the aftermarket LED bulbs emit light from 2 sources, 180-degrees from each other, and the distance of that light source from the rear of the housing may or may not be in line with what was calculated for the halogen bulb. Some LEDs have adjustable lengths, but that only addresses part of the problem.
The glare shield may or may not help with LEDs in a halogen housing, but I think the glare problem is mostly because there’s a bunch of unfocused light heading off in unintended directions. This article seems a bit misleading, as it almost implies that base model trucks are a couple of bulbs away from the same lighting performance as in the higher trim levels. In the first 2 paragraphs, you could substitute a base trim for almost ANY make & model for “Chevy Colorado”, and the story is the same.
That’s what Stan just said in a lot fewer words.
Bob Spelled Backwards is Karen or Prick
In a cold northern climate like we have in Canada, led lights are fantastic in summers but not so much in winter. They do not produce enough heat to melt ice off headlights like a halogen or even an hid would do. I have switched all my vehicles lights to led but extra time must be taken at times to knock ice buildup off headlights
Careful or they’ll give us an $1800 “Cold Climate Lighting Package”, with heaters to keep the LEDs clear!
LED traffic lights in snow country had the same problem. Adding a heating element on the lens is supposed to melt ice and snow.
Funny, heating elements seem to negate the proposed LED power savings.
Morimoto 2STROKE 3.0 leds will heat the headlights.
Some states like Texas, prohibit aftermarket LEDs that were not originally designed for the vehicle. It can fail state inspection if it is enforced.
yea, but texas allows truck tires to stick out from body 1 foot and have no issue with that. Left hand has no clue what right hand is doing.
There are no vehicle inspections in my free red state.
Unfortunately that’s a huge “IF”.
All trims above the W/T trim should have been avaliable with LED or HID headlight and daytime running lights from the factory.
No they shouldn’t, Satan.
They better read owners manual, it say’s do not use led bulbs in place of halogen, could damage electric circuit
Waiting so long for canyons or Colorados to arrive at dealers beginning to look for different vehicle ,if parts were as slow to come by as trucks would be foolish decision on my part,sorry GM
For the insane prices being charged for these trucks nicer alloy wheels, LED headlights and some two tone contrasting to the interior should be included on these Work Trucks. I checked out a white WT with most of the option packages and it was well over 40K with an all black interior, urethane steering wheel, cheap steelie wheels and several missing features like a rear seat armrest and back seat map pockets. I get that this is an entry level trim but it should be priced accordingly or deliver something more to justify the sticker.
Yup, you can buy a full-sized WT for a bit over $40k.
Why does GM keep offering Halogen lights…..do they know it is the year 2023 Lol
Monologue, it seems that way but you have to realize for the 2023 refresh, most specifications were finalized about 24 months before the planned release date. That was during the peak of the Covid lockdown. There still was a fear of supply and LEDs are chips
At the time halogen lamps were probably less costly and LED was perfect as an incentive for the higher trim levels. All suppliers must have months to prepare for design changes and retooling. Orders must be place well ahead of time and think how long it takes to get thousands of headlamps built for production.
Left and right, new molds made, headlamps must go through testing for DOT specifications and many other requirements. It is not a simple switchover. As usual, LEDs may now be less costly and is standard on many vehicles. Any new released vehicle today is about two years old in design specifications.
I’ve noticed a lot of searching but, no real answers (I did see where someone suggested removing the front end pretty much, grill, housing, etc.), so I’’m posting this. As an Owner, I’ve done this.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado
How to Change Headlight Bulbs
NOTE: Bulbs Needed = 9005 + H11 (Each Side)
Remove Fender Well Liner (remember to turn the tire inward). This will give access to change the Low Beam Bulb. Replace the Fender Well Liner, Remembering to Install all the Torx Screws That Were Taken Out During Removal of The Fender Well Liner. The High Beam is Accessible from Underneath the Hood. Repeat for the Opposite Side. Taaa – Daaa
~ NTXCajun ~
Are you seeing good results with your new LED’s? Any issues?
Where did you buy yours?
I’m absolutely loving them… Using Fahren LEDs… They’re a little more expensive but, they last… Let me know, I’ll post the ones I used…
I would love to see the ones you use.
I would love to see them.
Text me @478-733-6373 and I’ll send pics
My entire front end had to come off
I went with XenonPro
Any pics? Do you like them?
I do have pics Absolutely Love the look I got the Blue to match the Blue
It’s extremely evident how out of touch with technology and ready to spew majorly WRONG information a lot of commenters on this site are, LOL.
Many halogen-to-LED bulb kits these days are actually meant to be put in halogen housings, and the results leave you with great, even light output and an even, clean cut off line that is NON-blinding to oncoming traffic. Basically the same concept with the OEM “reflector housing” style LED headlights on many vehicles.. I have experience doing LED swaps in halogen headlights on a new Nissan Frontier & a Mercedes C-Class, and the LED kits had little devices to aid in not blinding head on drivers, and made the crappy “base” headlights so much better.
Same for these Colorado owners- A friend did the swap and he’s got a clean cut off line, and didn’t blind me when we drove around testing after he did install.. He apparently used a LED bulb kit he was recommended from by a guy on YouTube who did it first, so you can see the results yourself if you search this topic on YouTube.
*This isn’t 2009 anymore, when people were putting HIDs in halogen reflector housing lights and blinding oncoming traffic.. *
Can you just purchase the Z71 / ZR2 headlight housing from GM?