Pamela

Yesterday, when checking/refilling coolant/oil/wiper fluid levels, I noticed for the first time a small light bulb on the driver's side attached to the hood. Is this normal?
I am embarrassed to admit that I have only just noticed it there, and I feel like a real fool asking you guys, but I have never owned a car with a built-in light bulb under the hood before. Oh, by the way, it does not work either, neither do the shocks which are supposed to hold up the hood, so here is me topping up oil/coolant with one hand, whilst trying to hold the hood up with the other!! Any comments about this mysterious bulb would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

Jonathan Martini

Replaced the hood lifts Saturday myself. A 2 minute job. You will probably need two people though. Pep boys didn't have it in stock, but Autozone did. Just go to your local parts store and say you want a gas hood lift. After telling them what kind of car you have they should be able to get you a lift, or at least the part numbers. I think mine were about $25 a piece.

It is SO nice to not have to prop the hood open.

Cheers

trebor_quitman

The hood light is normal. For months I thought mine didn't work either until one day I happened to open the hood while the parking lights were on, Presto! It was on and the mystery was solved. It only comes on when you have your driving lights on, kinda makes sence actually ounce I thought about it. Good luck

Tom

The under hood light is indeed standard equipment. It should light when the headlights are on and the hood is raised to a magic angle. They are somewhat touchy and live in a harsh environment so it is not uncommon to find them operating randomly or not at all. First check the bulb (duh!) also sometimes jiggling the hood may make it work. I think it is controled by a mercury switch. When it works it is very nice for checking the oil at night.

GTL

The hood light bulb should turn on when the beam lights are on and the hood is open. If it doesn't, change the bulb. It is pretty handy to have a light there.

The hood shocks are a typical problem on 944s. They go out in a few years. You can find replacements at Pelican Parts, I believe.

Good luck!

Dave

Or, check the usualparts sites, where they can be found as low as $10 ea.
I don't recall the deal with the light, it only goes on under the right conditions, parking lights on and door open, or something

Rob

[quote] Oh, by the way, it does not work either, neither do the shocks which are supposed to hold up the hood, <hr></blockquote>

Pamela,

The underhood light only comes on when you have the parking or headlights on. As for the hood shocks they are easy to replace and can be found for as little as 25.00 a pair. Be careful when you go to change them, because the corner of the hood can come in contact with the windshield and crack it. Somebody earlier this year on the list found out the hard way.

Later,
Rob

trebor_quitman

Wow, we all jumped on that Question at about the same time...

Pamela

Great, thanks you guys, so quick with answers and information. Yes, I intend to replace those shocks within the next week. They drive me bonkers and caused me to get a line of dirt on my nice white t-shirt I had on! Then again, perhaps I should have changed into my "porsche working clothes" before I attempted to hold up the hood. <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

GTL

Yeah, I thought I was the first one to answer and suddenly I turned out to be the fourth!

944Fest (aka Dan P)

BOY..a female (I think) asks a question and gets 5 replies in 3 minutes..that has to be some sort of a record. Guys ask questions and sometimes don't get answers for hours or days!!

I'm surprised no one made comments about the nice white t-shirt..what gentlemen!

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Pamela

Okay, so I tried the headlights on/door open approach to see if the light bulb would light. No luck - so took the bulb out, and it looks okay, the filament is still intact(but I am no expert) so I am surmising that there must be a problem with the connection. So for the unintiated electrician that I am, where do I start troubleshooting? Perhaps a new bulb? Any thoughts on this, anyone? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Robby

That's a pretty standard bulb- I BELIEVE it's the same one used in the tail lights. I know I got a replacement at Wallmart, after I bought my car- I changed most of the bulbs I could get to b/c several of the markers were out, and I wanted to start w/mostly new bulbs- a very inexpensive thing to do. BTW, when I have my hood up (ALL THE WAY), and turn the parking lights on, sometimes the light doesn't come on- I will tap it lightly and it MAGICALLY lights up- not sure why- I'm not even CLOSE to an electrician- but I haven't worried w/it yet b/c I can always get it to come on one way or another when I want it to- too many other car probs taking priority

Good luck,

Water944t

No, Dan, looks like you get to be the first.



<img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Water944t

[quote]Originally posted by Pamela:
<strong>Okay, so I tried the headlights on/door open approach to see if the light bulb would light. No luck - so took the bulb out, and it looks okay, the filament is still intact(but I am no expert) so I am surmising that there must be a problem with the connection. So for the unintiated electrician that I am, where do I start troubleshooting? Perhaps a new bulb? Any thoughts on this, anyone? </strong><hr></blockquote>

If you look on the underside of your fuse box lid, there is a list of what fuses go to the various electrical items. I believe that there is a fuse associated with the hood light. Then you could check the bulb socket itself, for corrosion or broken pieces. Then if you get really bitten by the repair bug, you could always trace the wiring, and looks for breaks or cracks.

And you can always ask questions, it looks like ladies get preferential treatment, as it should be.

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />