Hood LED light - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

brad_i2001 · 01-24-2010, 07:25 PM

Hello!

Alright, I found this AWESOME site for LEDs and other lighting ideas. It is Ozinum.com. Anyway, there is one mod on there for a light that you install on the underside of your hood so that when you open it, it lights up. I thought this was pretty cool, but I am not sure how to do it. I was thinking about installing a switch on the inside where the hood meets the body, and wiring it directly to the battery. I figure that, God Forbid, I ever have any issues on the road, that the light will be connected directly to the battery so I should have plenty of light to see what is going on.

Does anybody have any suggestions for doing this? I don't know a whole lot, but I thought this would be quite useful.

Also, any ideas for foot well lights on the corolla? Mainly in the wiring department.

As always, THANK YOU SO MUCH! YOU GUYS ROCK!

NMGeorge · 01-24-2010, 10:02 PM

you could always grab a switch off of any number of cars at a salvage yard... that activate when the hood is raised. My 86 LeBaron has one. You could get one for a buck or two I'd bet. Then you could make it work with any type of bulb you wanted - after playing around with it.

That's my .02!

gold94corolla · 01-25-2010, 07:22 PM

The problem with LEDs is that they don't last long in heat.... so putting them under the hood makes them burn out fast.

bigdogbitu · 02-01-2010, 10:23 AM

I put them in my 03 LE. LED strip lighting in each footwell that work only when either front door is opened. I took note of the color of the wires to the dome light and door switch and found them in the wiring adjacent to the driver and passenger sills. Pull up the plastic covers and you can tap into the wires. Works just fine.............

brad_i2001 · 02-08-2010, 08:52 PM

Thanks guys! I am going to look into it further. I just ordered/received the lights. I got a red, 4.7" LED light to replace my third brake light and two smaller white 2" LEDs to either put in the footwells or over the license plate. I haven't really decided yet, and my midterms are coming up in two weeks, so I will think about that more later.

As far as the under the hood light, Some people were saying that cold cathodes are better for that. I am really not too sure about doing that. I would hate for them to break in the engine housing. I have 2 white ones in the trunk, and they work GREAT! Putting them under the hood may pose a problem though.

Can't wait to install the brake light though! I just upgraded the rear speakers, so that should be *fairly* simple. haha!

Thanks again guys!