hood lights
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
hood lights
I have a 89 and when I open the hood the lights in the hood don't come on I bought new bulbs but some thing is missing that makes them come on when I bought the car that was the way it was
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Many people disconnect the lights to prevent draining the battery when the hood is open.
trace the wires back from the lightson either side of the hood you will find a weather proof connector. Ensure it is connected.
Next check fuses.
trace the wires back from the lightson either side of the hood you will find a weather proof connector. Ensure it is connected.
Next check fuses.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
I agree, when I bought my Vette the under hood lights did not work, so I pulled out my trusty meter and read the continuity on the bulbs, and checked for voltage. The real problem was that someone had removed the fuses. Check the fuses first!!!!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
Likes: 3
From: Fort Lauderdale FL
My wiring was bad on the left side of the hood that I tested the wire out with a voltometer and it showed it wasnt working. I went ahead and rewired both sides and they both work great and shine brighter than ever 
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
There are small cylinders with each bulb if you buy them from GM that are mercury switches. When verticle the mercury inside pours over and touches and completes the circuit therefore activating light.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,060
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
Why do you need the hood lights? I always thought this was a silly feature on a car. If the car breaks down at night, there is not much a hood light is going to do for you except wear your battery down.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
They actually light up the area pretty well on a dark night. They're kind of neat when showing off the motor or my nitrous setup at night. 
I wired two independent illuminated switches for each light and mounted them down near the headlights. That way, they're only on when needed. No battery drain when not.
I wired two independent illuminated switches for each light and mounted them down near the headlights. That way, they're only on when needed. No battery drain when not.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Originally Posted by skateparkdave
There are small cylinders with each bulb if you buy them from GM that are mercury switches. When verticle the mercury inside pours over and touches and completes the circuit therefore activating light.
Thanks
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Decatur Al
I find it hard to believe that both mercury switches would be defective. I would check those circuits again!
But if you find that you need replacements, my source shows that the part number for the underhood lamp switch is 16518071. (The dealer should understand that number; its from the fiche.)
But if you find that you need replacements, my source shows that the part number for the underhood lamp switch is 16518071. (The dealer should understand that number; its from the fiche.)
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I have a feeling they may not still be available. I found one on ebay to replace the one of mine that went bad. There's a number on the lense. It's GM16506291 10 but it may not be the fixture number, may just be the lense.
You could take them out and bypass the mercury switches and just solder the wire that goes to the mercury switch end directly to the metal part that holds the bulb end. Of course then you would have to wire up some manual switches for them which is better anyway as already discussed. Just dont forget to turn them off when closing up the hood.
You could take them out and bypass the mercury switches and just solder the wire that goes to the mercury switch end directly to the metal part that holds the bulb end. Of course then you would have to wire up some manual switches for them which is better anyway as already discussed. Just dont forget to turn them off when closing up the hood.
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
If the light housings were removed for any reason they might have been installed "upside down". This will keep the mercury bulbs from working when the hood is opened. I know this because the body shop that did my hood replacement and paint put mine in upside down, they didn't work. Flipped them over and all is well.
Just one more thing to check. Good luck.
Al.
Just one more thing to check. Good luck.
Al.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Check the weather pac connectors in the headlight wells. I found mine pulled apart from the previous owner.
Later on I installed micro-switches next to the lights. Just like skateparkdave's only next to the fixture.
Later on I installed micro-switches next to the lights. Just like skateparkdave's only next to the fixture.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 170
From: Buffalo Grove IL
For what it's worth:
I've got an '89 too, with non-functional hood lights. I took the light assemblies out (well, one, with the other the rubber grommet that the screw mounted with just spun round and round) and discovered that mice had made a home in the hood (the car sat for several years). And, they decided to make the area where the tangs that the wires hook too their.. umm... restroom.
So, the tangs towards the rear of the car totally rusted away and there's no place left to plug the wire into. I've been kinda looking for new assemblies, but haven't run into any--although I haven't been looking too hard.
Ben
I've got an '89 too, with non-functional hood lights. I took the light assemblies out (well, one, with the other the rubber grommet that the screw mounted with just spun round and round) and discovered that mice had made a home in the hood (the car sat for several years). And, they decided to make the area where the tangs that the wires hook too their.. umm... restroom.
So, the tangs towards the rear of the car totally rusted away and there's no place left to plug the wire into. I've been kinda looking for new assemblies, but haven't run into any--although I haven't been looking too hard.
Ben
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 476
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From: Tucson, AZ. L98-85 AUTO COUPE: 120k MILES: daily driver. SOUND OFF IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE. Ex-Jumpin' Junky-82nd Airborne-2/505 PIR: 1st ID-1/16th Inf: Recon Marine Retread. GOD BLESS GRUNTS.
Originally Posted by pologreen91
So is a GM Dealer the best or only source for these? I couldn't find them on Eckler's.
i think i saw the bulb and switch combo at either ecklers or mid america. i believe they were about $15 for the combo.
frog
yeah, it is at mid america--http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=3.249.827
the combo is at the bottom of the list.
Last edited by parafrog; May 6, 2005 at 11:36 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 208
Likes: 8
From: Austin TX
Originally Posted by parafrog
i think i saw the bulb and switch combo at either ecklers or mid america. i believe they were about $15 for the combo.
frog
yeah, it is at mid america--http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=3.249.827
the combo is at the bottom of the list.
frog
yeah, it is at mid america--http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=3.249.827
the combo is at the bottom of the list.