MWWarlord

Hey guys I bought my car a few years ago, and the under hood light has never worked. It is a very minor issue, so I never really worried that much about it. I figured the bulb wsa probably burnt out. The other day I was ordering something else for my car, and noticed a cheap LED conversion for the under hood light. I figured, why not...I'll just replace the burnt out bulb. However, when I pulled the cover off the light, I noticed that there was no bulb there at all. I went ahead and disconnected the light (down next to the passenger headlight, and installed the LED (which hooks in the same way as the stock bulb). I went ahead and plugged the light back in, and nothing happened. I can't seem to get the light to turn on. I once again unplugged the light and flipped the LED around (just in case that made a difference). I plugged the light back in...still nothing. I did some research to see if it might be the fuse. However, I understand that if the glove box light uses the same fuse, and the glove box light is working fine. Does anyone have any idea as to why the underhood light isn't working? How would I fix this issue? Thanks

ben dover

I'd check to see if I had +12v at the connection near the headlite and then work back from there.

C5VetteKing

Just make sure your glovebox door is closed and the underhood light should work/operate.

pjdbm

There is also the connector at light assembly too, look where the wires are coming into the the light holder

MWWarlord

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. The glove box was definitely closed, so that's not the issue. I just went out and checked the connector at the light assembly, there don't appear to be any issues there. I don't currently have a voltmeter, and I'm not sure fixing the under hood light would warrant the cost of one. Since the previous owner seems to have pulled the bulb entirely, I was concerned that there might be a bigger issue that it was causing. For now, I've left the LED bulb in place. Do you guys think I should remove it?

pjdbm

Also, the hood light will automatically go out in 5 or 10 minutes so if you have been working with the hood up, that may be an issue. Try to close the hood and re open it

66dts-v

Side note, anyone know where I can get a lens? Mine fell off who knows where. Light works, just need the plastic lens.

MWWarlord

Thanks, I tried that too. Still no luck.

Just a thought, what indicates to the car that this light should turn on and off? Maybe the problem lies there.

MWWarlord

Check ebay?

Crosis

They are $12.

MWWarlord

I suppose I could get a cheap one. I used to work as a theatrical electrician, the ones we had at work were $50-$75 bucks apiece. However, for this purpose I wouldn't need one that expensive as I'm dealing with relatively low power output. To tell the truth, I kind of feel a bit guilty not owning one.

Vetteman Jack

Moved to C5 Tech.

mike venth

Address:

Vette Nuts
11182 Christiana Fosterville Rd
Bell Buckle, TN, 37020

Contact Number:

615.896.6100 or 615.801.2711

mike v

jjc508520

There is a fuse for the underhood like - I believe in the box under the drivers side floormat...

v6turbo87

They ask stupid money for just the lens! The Cadillac line used the
same under hood lights. I got the whole light for less than what others were asking for a just the lens for a Corvette off Ebay. BEWARE...I put the lens on my light assembly only to find out it fell off again! Check to make sure the new lens if firmly attached!

66dts-v

$12 shipped. THANKS!

jrprich

Meters are pretty inexpensive these days and can be very helpful tracking down problems

GCG

You will need one to be able to troubleshoot situations like this one. You certainly won't need a top-of-the-line one.

In this case, your starting point would be to establish the presence of 12v at the underhood socket, and if not, at the upstream connector and take it from there.

voda1

A timer in the circuit does. If the interior lamps on the back of the inside mirror are working ie they turn off after short period of time after door is closed, shows that timer circuit is okay. Take the connector at the shroud (about 12 inches below the lamp)apart and check for corrosion.

StrangelovesM6Vert

I added some LED strips and bulbs and used a toggle switch