What activates the light in our engine bay?
#1
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What activates the light in our engine bay?
Just as the topic asks, what turns on the light in our engine bay. Mine does not work. I do have a new bulb in there.
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I think mine only works when the engine is running... or the lights are on... i dont know for sure... some electrics with these cars are crap shoots right?
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Originally posted by brrt50cal
Yea mine only works with the engine running...
Yea mine only works with the engine running...
Just curious, if it only works when it's running, how do you work on your car when it's broke down.
I'll have to see if the wire is crimped some where. Thanks guys.
#7
On my car, the wire to the light is broken right where it is zip-tied to the hinge for the hood.
Over time, opening and closing the hood bends and unbends the wire, I imagine all of them break given enough time.
Perhaps the wire is broken in your car, but the insulation for the wire is intact.
I am going to solder in a fresh piece of wire at the bending point tomorrow night.
-Kevin
Over time, opening and closing the hood bends and unbends the wire, I imagine all of them break given enough time.
Perhaps the wire is broken in your car, but the insulation for the wire is intact.
I am going to solder in a fresh piece of wire at the bending point tomorrow night.
-Kevin
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#8
Nordschleife Master
Don, The underhood light will work as long as you at least have the parking lights on. Engine doesn't have to be running or keys in ignition. I'm not sure about the '83 switch but the later cars had a mercury switch built into the socket base. That is why it is so long compared to other sockets. So check yours and see if it about a half inch longer than it should be, then you have a mercury switch.
Mercury switches don't usually fail unless you bash them open and drain the mercury out so I would suspect a broken wire at the hinge area or dirty bulb socket.
BTW, you wouldn't believe how much underhood light you get when you put in a 50 watt halogen bulb in that socket. It is really amazing.
Mercury switches don't usually fail unless you bash them open and drain the mercury out so I would suspect a broken wire at the hinge area or dirty bulb socket.
BTW, you wouldn't believe how much underhood light you get when you put in a 50 watt halogen bulb in that socket. It is really amazing.
#9
Originally posted by IceShark
BTW, you wouldn't believe how much underhood light you get when you put in a 50 watt halogen bulb in that socket. It is really amazing.
BTW, you wouldn't believe how much underhood light you get when you put in a 50 watt halogen bulb in that socket. It is really amazing.
-Kevin
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I replaced the wire, and I know there is power there because I popped a fuse. The light socket is screwed. I'll have to find another one. Thanks
#14
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Kevin, 50 watt would be the absolute maximum you would want to run underhood. I've been running a sample bulb in there for a few months and it seems OK. It would probably be safer to run a 35 watter in there. The issue is wire gauge size - it is a 0.5mm wire and depending on how long the run is that is a bit small for a 50 watt load.
Luis, when the car is off and you flip turn signal to right you engage the parking light function for that side. The underhood light is somehow tied into the right side, but I have never tried to figure out how.
Luis, when the car is off and you flip turn signal to right you engage the parking light function for that side. The underhood light is somehow tied into the right side, but I have never tried to figure out how.
#15
Three Wheelin'
Ice Shark is, once again, the MAN! The underhood light draws power off connector M33 of the main circuit board (85.5 and later models.) This is the same terminal that powers the right hand tail light, but not the left hand tail light. It therefore gets power whenever the parking lights or fancy euro right-side-only parking light functions are on, independent of the ignition key.