claf

The under hood light in my '04 appears to have been intentionally disconnected by the previous owner. Before I blindly reconnect it I'd like to know how it works.

I'm guessing there is a switch in the light that operates when the hood is open and only then. Is there power to the switch at all times or only when the main lights are on ?

I don't want to reconnect it and come out tomorrow to find a dead battery. Somebody loan me some smarts. Thanks, Bob

knewblewkorvette

It should only come on when the hood is up and I believe even when the hood is up, it shuts off after 15 minutes. I would check my 98 but battery is not connected due to winter storage. My 02 no longer has a hood light.

Fcar 98

I have mine disconnected because I go to car cruises and open my hood. And yes it goes off after a while. But every time you open a door or the trunk the light come on. So that could be a reason why it is unplugged.

Daypoblue

Wait a minute.... You mean I am suppose to read that thing ?

rrwirsi

With all the electric and battery issues, I just remove the hood light bulb. Just another step to minimize any phantom voltage drain issue.

Choreo

There is always power to the lamp housing all the time. It apparently has some type of mercury switch that makes contact when the hood is open? If that is the case, not sure if that light comes on when the angle of the car changes?

I changed mine out to LEDs and they stay on very dim when I first close the hood and come on full brightness when I lift the hood about 2 inches to full open.

coia96vette

On my '04 the light goes on when you open the hood about 1/4 of the way and goes off at the same point.

Jeff T.

Several forum vendors have a plug in LED. Get more light and uses less current. Seems like a no brainer...

Vetteman Jack

Surprising what you may find in there.

Tsumi

I changed mine out to Radioflyer's LEDs and they do not behave that way. Full off when off, and full brightness when on. Also, the hood on mine needs to be at least at a 45 degree angle for the light to come on.

claf

Thanks to most responders, I was looking to see if there was some insidious fault with the switch that would allow the light to go on/stay on when it should not. I don't think the manual would have told me that. I will consider my hand slapped and will avoid asking stupid questions of people who are to smart to answer them.

Slo Yelo C5

In my 2000, I leave the hood up during the winter (to stare at that beautiful LS1 when I'm bored while it's stored in the garage. When you first open the hood, light goes off automatically after...10 or 15 minutes.

Rabbitman

So does anybody actualy know if and where the mercury or other type switch might be. It sounds like there must be one if the hood has to go up a ways to turn the light on other than just the hood release. I'm curious too. Mine doesn't light either and I've never even checked the bulb as far as that goes but I would like to see it work.

Forcedvert

A mechanic may have disconnected it, I find my bulb out after my car has been at the shop for any major repairs.

You can respond as you wish.....it's your thread but IMO the info about the manual was helpful and not at all insulting...maybe a little poke/jab with a smile.

Forcedvert

Sometimes the bulb is loose in cover, as I said in the other post mechanics sometimes take them loose.

Tsumi

The mercury switch is in the light housing itself.

Also, the light is tied to the light sensor if the Corvette came with one. It will not turn on in broad daylight, but sometimes does in overcast weather.

Choreo

So what keeps the light from coming on with the hood closed if driving/parking on a incline? Just curious?

Forcedvert

That would be a pretty serious incline, I think? I live in flat Florida so I would not have a good perspective on this. Plus it would only stay on for 15 min or so.....right?

o2bnkc

If it's not the bulb, check the connection on the front passenger side below and next to the headlight. That's the main reason if your bulb is good.

Tsumi

All I know is that it is tied to the approach lights and interior lights system. My approach lights do not turn on in broad daylight when unlocking the car. My interior lights also do not turn on in broad daylight, something that caused me to chase down fuses and whatnot for an hour before an internet search revealed that the approach and interior lights do not turn on in daylight. If the interior lights did not turn on, then the hood light would not turn on. I have also noticed that the timer for shutting off the hood light is directly connected to the interior lights. Having the hood open until the light timed out, and then opening a door caused the hood light to turn back on.

A timer will shut it off after a while. I would also seriously worry about your car rolling downhill if it was on a greater than 45 degree angle, though I guess the angle differs depending on the car.