under hood light issue
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,554
Likes: 3,302
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
under hood light issue
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
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 21,840
Likes: 140
From: When all is said and done... there is a hell of a lot more said than done. Riverside,Texas
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
I'd check to see if I had +12v at the connection near the headlite and then work back from there.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,554
Likes: 3,302
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
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?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,554
Likes: 3,302
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Just a thought, what indicates to the car that this light should turn on and off? Maybe the problem lies there.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,554
Likes: 3,302
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 427
From: Dunedin Florida
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?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,554
Likes: 3,302
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
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.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,758
Likes: 24,681
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Moved to C5 Tech.
mike v
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 465
Likes: 92
From: Riner Va
Pro
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 524
Likes: 126
From: Sandown NH
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!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
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.
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.
Last edited by GCG; Dec 23, 2017 at 02:57 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 788
Likes: 33
From: Cedar Rapids IA
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.
