My hood light, lights up sometimes so I'm thinking contact dirty,

 

But out of curiosity is it a mercury switch... because it lights up (most of the time) when hood gets to certain level.

I'm pretty sure it's a mercury switch. 

Its a rolling copper like ball inside that makes contact when it rolls back from the hood going up. It gets kinda dirty in there and the bulb sometimes gets corroded/ dirty too. I've had mine all apart sanded and cleaned and it works like new again.

 

I really need it to be retractable and it could lay down in the area needed for doing any work.

 

I think someday I might put about a 6 foot length of wire on it so it would serve me better, but need a way to coil up the wire.

 

The Mopar store should be selling a retractable under hood light that would work on all vehicles. 

Edited September 3, 20186 yr by JAG1

@War Eagle did a write up for LED under hood lighting. Sad the pictures are all gone. Photobucket policy change.

1 minute ago, Mopar1973Man said:

@War Eagle did a write up for LED under hood lighting. Sad the pictures are all gone. Photobucket policy change.

want to add under hood lighting someday 12 volt to help with rodent problems ???????? may just mount some led angle eye headlights on the hood> I had one on my mill spindle for a couple of years till a large thread on aluminum took it out..

Edited September 3, 20186 yr by Ed ke6bnl

Anybody have a link to one? Mine sadly quit working recently...

WarEagle article was a pair of bar LEDs mounted near the grill so when the hood was opened the under hood switch turn on the power then the LEDs were already pointed at the engine. Would someone be willing to farm out a new article?

Edited September 3, 20186 yr by Mopar1973Man

I use an LED head lamp like the one below.  What ever you're looking at be it under the hood, truck, dash or the brakes and tires it will be illuminated.  It works great day or night and both of your hands are free.  No extra wiring needed and it fits in the glove box, door pocket or under the back seat.  You can also use it if you need to work on a trailer you towing.   Good ones sell for $20-$40 and get the one that has 3 AA batteries;  they're brighter and stay lit longer.  

   

1 hour ago, JAG1 said:

 

I think someday I might put about a 6 foot length of wire on it so it would serve me better, but need a way to coil up the wire.

I can't remember what vehicle I had, I think it was a Chevy that had a light that had a crack thing that reeled the light back, and you could reach anywhere under hood with the light. 

Just now, Dieselfuture said:

I can't remember what vehicle I had, I think it was a Chevy that had a light that had a crack thing that reeled the light back, and you could reach anywhere under hood with the light. 

Those were the early 90s Chevy's I believe. Saw it on a 91 half ton with a 454 in it

27 minutes ago, TheGreatWhite said:

Those were the early 90s Chevy's I believe. Saw it on a 91 half ton with a 454 in it

old jeep Cherokee had them, I have it in my shed

 

12 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

WarEagle article was a pair of bar LEDs mounted near the grill so when the hood was opened the under hood switch turn on the power then the LEDs were already pointed at the engine. Would someone be willing to farm out a new article?

What a cool set up. With winter coming could be very handy

 

IBMobile, do you sometimes have to hold your neck kind of funny for the light to get right? Me got bad bad neck arthritis. Wish I could get rid of that. I think changing from high to low beams might hurt. 

 

 

19 hours ago, Dieselfuture said:

I can't remember what vehicle I had, I think it was a Chevy that had a light that had a crack thing that reeled the light back, and you could reach anywhere under hood with the light. 

 

I installed one of those (82 Ford) in my '74 Ford. It is getting sticky on the rewind but I am afraid to take it apart and clean it, I usually loose them dang big ole wound up springs, lol. I do have to unplug it because sometimes it stays on.

 

 

Finally got a hold of @War Eagle and we found the article for the lighting...

 

This is all cool and good ideas, but I usually have a small led flash light in my pocket and I make sure batteries are always good. I was going to say where I put it and what I do next but it wouldn't of come out right so .....

@Dieselfuture I'm the same way I normally have my Maglite LED flashlight on my right side of my belt. It's part of my daily dress code. I carry a flashlight in the door pocket of my truck. So I'm typically well covered for light. I like the LED idea because now your hands are free and the light is provided.

I carry several Craftsman battery powered tools including the light in my '01, my main rig,  I use it even in the day time for dark areas. Seems like my normal flashlights always need batteries. My brother always has a small led light on his cap brim, uses it all the time.

One of the few things I like at harbor freight is their "free" flash lights.  Went on family camping trip and 4 teenage nephews couldn't destroy them, and only 1 lost until ice chest was emptied back at house and it still worked?.  So loaded up again on them (I like free) altogether have 3 in door side pocket along with it temp gun and windshield ice scraper.  

I disconnected the underhood light on my truck.  Didnt think it was bright enough and I didnt need it turning on when I wasnt aware and running the battery down.

My cell phone light is brighter than most flashlights and its always in my pocket...so thats usually my go to.

1 hour ago, 015point9 said:

I like at harbor freight is their "free" flash lights.

Lol, I now have 5 volt meters that you get for free every time you make a purchase. 

1 hour ago, KATOOM said:

I disconnected the underhood light on my truck

I did the same for the same reason lol