Brighter Underhood Light Bulb??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Likes: 45
From: St Paul, MN; Orlando, FL
Brighter Underhood Light Bulb??
Anyone found a bulb that fits the stock housing that lights up the engine compartment better than the 561?
I've searched here & tech with no luck.
Thanks in advance!
I've searched here & tech with no luck.
Thanks in advance!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,520
Likes: 5
From: Long Island NY
I too searched for a brighter light and can not find one that fits the stock housing. GM should have put one on the other side too that would have solved the issue. If you come across one let us know and I'll do the same. Good Luck Bro!
P.S. I have a BMW X5 and guess what, no under hood light at all. Most Japanese and German cars don't even put lights under the hood anymore, I guess most folks who buy those cars don't open the hood much!
P.S. I have a BMW X5 and guess what, no under hood light at all. Most Japanese and German cars don't even put lights under the hood anymore, I guess most folks who buy those cars don't open the hood much!
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There was a recent post that had an LED replacement that looked really good (and bright). Hopefully the OP will chime in.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Likes: 45
From: St Paul, MN; Orlando, FL
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 892
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From: Oswego IL
I searched all over the internet for an led bulb that would work with no modifications to my 2001.
I believe I orderd the type B so that the lights would shine down. Looks great and matches the color of my other led bulbs.
http://www.dav-electronics.com/DAVCa...products_id=85
I believe I orderd the type B so that the lights would shine down. Looks great and matches the color of my other led bulbs.
http://www.dav-electronics.com/DAVCa...products_id=85
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Likes: 45
From: St Paul, MN; Orlando, FL
I searched all over the internet for an led bulb that would work with no modifications to my 2001.
I believe I orderd the type B so that the lights would shine down. Looks great and matches the color of my other led bulbs.
http://www.dav-electronics.com/DAVCa...products_id=85
I believe I orderd the type B so that the lights would shine down. Looks great and matches the color of my other led bulbs.
http://www.dav-electronics.com/DAVCa...products_id=85
I tried one of these a few weeks ago (the type B), and it is much, much dimmer than the standard bulb--with and without the stock lens cover on. Maybe I got a bad one?
Anyone else tried these?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 892
Likes: 166
From: Oswego IL
Did you find this to be brighter(i.e. cast more light) than the stock light??
I tried one of these a few weeks ago (the type B), and it is much, much dimmer than the standard bulb--with and without the stock lens cover on. Maybe I got a bad one?
Anyone else tried these?
I tried one of these a few weeks ago (the type B), and it is much, much dimmer than the standard bulb--with and without the stock lens cover on. Maybe I got a bad one?
Anyone else tried these?
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Likes: 45
From: St Paul, MN; Orlando, FL
Sorry I have nothing for that. All of the versions I've tested has the leds facing the inside of the housing instead of out where you need them.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,793
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From: Santa Maria Ca.
Note that if you do install an LED array,or any other LED in place of the incandescent lamp,you will need to load the circuit with either a small(as in tiny) incandescent bulb or a resistor, for the LED to operate and time-out properly.
While the underhood lamp appears to be a simple on-off arrangement,it is actually powered off a load monitoring circuit from the BCM,and without enough of a load on the circuit when the hood position switch turns it on will either illuminate at a very low voltage,or,if it does seem to work when the hood is opened,instead of turning off when the time-out is reached,it will just go to about 50% brightness and stay that way.
My '98 did the "dim when the hood is opened" thing until I installed a tiny 115volt(you don't want light or heat,just the load) bulb behind the array to load the circuit properly.
I believe the later models will do the "doesn't go all the way off" thing without an adequate load on the circuit.
While the underhood lamp appears to be a simple on-off arrangement,it is actually powered off a load monitoring circuit from the BCM,and without enough of a load on the circuit when the hood position switch turns it on will either illuminate at a very low voltage,or,if it does seem to work when the hood is opened,instead of turning off when the time-out is reached,it will just go to about 50% brightness and stay that way.
My '98 did the "dim when the hood is opened" thing until I installed a tiny 115volt(you don't want light or heat,just the load) bulb behind the array to load the circuit properly.
I believe the later models will do the "doesn't go all the way off" thing without an adequate load on the circuit.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Likes: 45
From: St Paul, MN; Orlando, FL
Note that if you do install an LED array,or any other LED in place of the incandescent lamp,you will need to load the circuit with either a small(as in tiny) incandescent bulb or a resistor, for the LED to operate and time-out properly.
While the underhood lamp appears to be a simple on-off arrangement,it is actually powered off a load monitoring circuit from the BCM,and without enough of a load on the circuit when the hood position switch turns it on will either illuminate at a very low voltage,or,if it does seem to work when the hood is opened,instead of turning off when the time-out is reached,it will just go to about 50% brightness and stay that way.
My '98 did the "dim when the hood is opened" thing until I installed a tiny 115volt(you don't want light or heat,just the load) bulb behind the array to load the circuit properly.
I believe the later models will do the "doesn't go all the way off" thing without an adequate load on the circuit.
While the underhood lamp appears to be a simple on-off arrangement,it is actually powered off a load monitoring circuit from the BCM,and without enough of a load on the circuit when the hood position switch turns it on will either illuminate at a very low voltage,or,if it does seem to work when the hood is opened,instead of turning off when the time-out is reached,it will just go to about 50% brightness and stay that way.
My '98 did the "dim when the hood is opened" thing until I installed a tiny 115volt(you don't want light or heat,just the load) bulb behind the array to load the circuit properly.
I believe the later models will do the "doesn't go all the way off" thing without an adequate load on the circuit.
That's probably why that LED I tried looked so weak.
If the Corvette Mod solution does not include the bulb/resistor thing, where can I get one, and how do you wire it up?
Thanks for the info!!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria Ca.
I used a tiny incandescent bulb out of an appliance indicator light, (115 volt does the trick,with very little heat produced)but I believe a 470 ohm resistor will do it also(credit goes to forum member seoulbrooks for the resistor info)
The bulb (or resistor) needs to be wired between the 2 terminals or contacts that powered the original bulb.
piece of cake.....only took me 2 days to figure it out when I installed my LED array.....
edit: turn the key on with the hood open to see how bright it will be when you get it working right
The bulb (or resistor) needs to be wired between the 2 terminals or contacts that powered the original bulb.
piece of cake.....only took me 2 days to figure it out when I installed my LED array.....
edit: turn the key on with the hood open to see how bright it will be when you get it working right
Last edited by Carcass; Apr 3, 2011 at 01:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Likes: 45
From: St Paul, MN; Orlando, FL
O.K. We've got a winner here! 
Take the DAV electronics 6 LED bulb (Type B is the orientation you want) from the link Ron posted and then follow Carcass' advice and solder a 470 ohm resistor lead to each end of the bulb and you do have a bulb that is significantly brighter than stock and plugs right into the stock socket!
I'll try to get some pics tonight.
Picked up 5 of the resistors for .99 and a soldering iron for $8 at Radio Shack---you don't need to be an electronics guy to do this if I did it with minimal damage: somehow I blew the fuse that contols this light--10 amp in #2 position pass footwell box. So thanks for the help everyone!
P.S. Never did hear back from Corvette Mods.
Take the DAV electronics 6 LED bulb (Type B is the orientation you want) from the link Ron posted and then follow Carcass' advice and solder a 470 ohm resistor lead to each end of the bulb and you do have a bulb that is significantly brighter than stock and plugs right into the stock socket!
I'll try to get some pics tonight.
Picked up 5 of the resistors for .99 and a soldering iron for $8 at Radio Shack---you don't need to be an electronics guy to do this if I did it with minimal damage: somehow I blew the fuse that contols this light--10 amp in #2 position pass footwell box. So thanks for the help everyone!
P.S. Never did hear back from Corvette Mods.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Marathon Fl.Keys Florida 2001 Vert
I installed these in the housing with the sticky tape that comes with it.
just solder them to the brass contacts. works really well and brighter than
the factory bulb( and also a lot cooler temp)
No need for resistor circuit
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ht_10463wt_950
just solder them to the brass contacts. works really well and brighter than
the factory bulb( and also a lot cooler temp)
No need for resistor circuit
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ht_10463wt_950
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 955
Likes: 4
From: Union City, CA
I installed these in the housing with the sticky tape that comes with it.
just solder them to the brass contacts. works really well and brighter than
the factory bulb( and also a lot cooler temp)
No need for resistor circuit
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190513778789 &viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT# ht_10463wt_950
just solder them to the brass contacts. works really well and brighter than
the factory bulb( and also a lot cooler temp)
No need for resistor circuit
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190513778789 &viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT# ht_10463wt_950
I used a similar LED array on a small board in my Yukon to replace the dome lights. They projected a beautiful clean, white light.