under hood lights
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Joined: May 2012
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under hood lights
OK just got my 1996 Vette 3 weeks ago. Open the hood, lights under the hood do not go on. Started the car and turned on the headlights still no lights. Could be a switch or bulbs but first I need to know when they normally come on? All the time with the hood open or only at night with the lights on?
Last edited by Silent Thunder; Jun 27, 2012 at 09:29 PM.
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Racer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 269
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pulled my entire bulb socket assemblies out. i`ll be changing to leds, using the original bulb holder so the gravity switch still works. thinking about using led driving lights. and i may wire a switch where fuse is so it can be shut off if hood will be up for really long time, when i find the fuse.
Last edited by tntwolt; Jun 27, 2012 at 10:21 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
I put a black rocker switch in the circuit on both sides to turn off the lights (and ran the wires inside the hood reinforcement). The round thing below the switch with the 3 dimples is where I plugged the hole that the rubber grommet was in. Sorry for the fire extinguisher powder everywhere -- I had this little fire...
Nice idea, Cliff 
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 241
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From: Chicago Ill
St. Jude Donor '12
Follow the wiring back into the nose area. There is a connector for each, that the previous owner may have disconnected.
Common practice.
Common practice.
Question, why is this common practics? Is it to save the battery? Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,316
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
My hood has been open for 8 months.
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 202
Likes: 18
From: South Jersey
On the 96 there is a fuse holder on the driver's side by the front side marker light. It allows you to take the fuse out so you don't run the battery down with the hood open. Check it to make sure there is a fuse in it.
T
T
Advanced
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 76
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mine on my 93 are not working as well, took lens off, took test light from neg side of battery and touched terminals on both lights , hot on both sides of bulb and mercury switch, so i suspect a ground issue, where should i look for ground? thks
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,429
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From: Minneapolis Mn
When I bought my 86, the mechanic left the hood up over a weekend resulting in a full dead battery. I don't remember exactly where I got it but might have been Ecklers, I found a wiring harness with a switch in it that's a plug-and-play installation. You unplug the 2 wires from the existing lights and this plugs in. There are weatherpack connectors on it so no modifications were needed. One connector plugs into the power wire on one side, there's a plug that seals off the other power connector. Next are 2 connectors that plug into the existing wiring harnesses to the lights on the hood. There's a weather tight switch in it that turns power on and off to the lights assuming the hood is up. The most difficult part was getting the wiring around the radiator as the light connectors are one on each side of the radiator. It's worked out great, I leave the switch off unless the lights are needed so whether the hood is up or down there are no lights until desired.