underhood lights
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,661
Likes: 806
From: Saskatoon Sask.
underhood lights
Hello from the frozen North. I was attempting to fix an inoperative underhood light and discovered these lights have small gravity switches about the size of a pea. Of course the whole assembly must be purchased from GM. The simple fix would be to run a wire from one light to the next but I am attempting to keep original. Has anyone had this fault and been able to source the switch by itself?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Re: underhood lights (arbee)
Not sure on the individual mercury switches, but this guy sells the complete underhood light assembly for about half what GM charges.
http://www.corvettesalvage.com
Dino's Corvette Salvage in Louisiana. I bought my underhoods from him. Give him a call, he might sell just the mercury switches.
(888) 467-VETT
http://www.corvettesalvage.com
Dino's Corvette Salvage in Louisiana. I bought my underhoods from him. Give him a call, he might sell just the mercury switches.
(888) 467-VETT
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 504
Likes: 9
From: Youngstown Oh
Re: underhood lights (arbee)
I wish I could remember the bulb number, but while you are working on the under hood lights change the bulbs to higher wattage. Their are others, slightly bigger that fit the socket and are much brighter.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Re: underhood lights (arbee)
Since you are an electrician, here is an alternative to replacing the switches: Cut one wire leading to the fuse holder (located near the horn) and insert a 12V switch, and wire the sockets by-passing the old switch. You will have your "light" on demand.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,044
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Re: underhood lights (arbee)
..I unplugged mine because they eat the battery in a very short time...I am getting a toggle switch/kit soon from Ecklers or Corvette America...no cutting necessary...just a plugin so I can turn the lights on and off from under the hood so I dont eat the battery in the daytime when I am working under the hood... :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: underhood lights (Yello95)
What a joke.. all for a little mercury switch.
One of mine is finnicky. I'll just have to go with the external switch and wire up both lights to one mercury switch.. or maybe short out the mercury switches.
Hehe, if I did that, I put blue lens covers over the lights, and superbright bulbs in, I could switch it on with the hood shut to get some Ricey lighting effects!!!
Why didn't I think of this pimp-diddly-dee design before? :banghead:
Nobody be stealin my ideas now yo! :jester
One of mine is finnicky. I'll just have to go with the external switch and wire up both lights to one mercury switch.. or maybe short out the mercury switches.
Hehe, if I did that, I put blue lens covers over the lights, and superbright bulbs in, I could switch it on with the hood shut to get some Ricey lighting effects!!!
Why didn't I think of this pimp-diddly-dee design before? :banghead:
Nobody be stealin my ideas now yo! :jester
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,293
Likes: 240
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Re: underhood lights (arbee)
Check this place out,they deal in new and used vette parts and the take canadian money at par! :rofl: :cheers:
http://www.specialtyholdingsltd.com/
[Modified by dankai, 2:57 PM 3/3/2003]
http://www.specialtyholdingsltd.com/
[Modified by dankai, 2:57 PM 3/3/2003]
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Palmer MA
Re: underhood lights (arbee)
I have a 1987 coupe, when i bought it both of the switches were bad, I walked up to the parts counter at Central chevrolet in West Springfield Mass. and bought two of them for 5.60 each. Snapped them in and never had another problem with the lights.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
Likes: 3
From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Re: underhood lights (arbee)
Yeah they are a bad setup. One of mine works yet the other one doesn't want to cooperate. I had to cut the wires on the left side and reconnect them since they were cut somehow beforehand. The bulb work but it flickers on and off for a little bit when you wiggle the wires.. but now it just doesnt want to do it at all. I just left it alone for a while since I got tired of messing around with it.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Re: underhood lights (arbee)
Arbee....I found two mercury switches from my old lights. I tested them with an ohmmeter, and they work just fine. If you want them, they're all yours. Drop me an email or an IM with your address and I will send them to you.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 473
Likes: 8
From: Shreveport LA
Re: underhood lights (Frizlefrak)
My hood lights stay on all the time. I have to keep them unpluged until I want to use them, which isn't the greatest thing for the plug internals.
Anyone know if the gravity switch could go bad in a way that causes the lights too stay on? Any other idea for what I might look for at a glance?
The previous owner was a wire head (most excellent stereo intaller), but might have done a number on the wiring since he rigged the car for show.
[Modified by ROME, 4:39 PM 3/3/2003]
Anyone know if the gravity switch could go bad in a way that causes the lights too stay on? Any other idea for what I might look for at a glance?
The previous owner was a wire head (most excellent stereo intaller), but might have done a number on the wiring since he rigged the car for show.
[Modified by ROME, 4:39 PM 3/3/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: underhood lights (ROME)
I think if you put the bulb in backwards it could come on with the hood down. The design is such that a little blob of mercury shorts two electrodes to close the circuit and turn on the light. Which side of the bulb these electrodes are on.. i dunno.
If for whatever reason the mercury doesn't move like it should, or is contaminated, it might not work as planned. My ford's underhood light was staying on on occasion and draining my battery. That was a real pain to find the problem until I parked it outside in the dark.
If for whatever reason the mercury doesn't move like it should, or is contaminated, it might not work as planned. My ford's underhood light was staying on on occasion and draining my battery. That was a real pain to find the problem until I parked it outside in the dark.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: underhood lights (Frizlefrak)
Arbee....I found two mercury switches from my old lights. I tested them with an ohmmeter, and they work just fine. If you want them, they're all yours. Drop me an email or an IM with your address and I will send them to you.
Thanks..
