I'm always on the lookout for interesting OEM equipment when I'm at the Pull-a-Part, and I always check the GMT400 trucks/SUVs for their OEM underhood lights.



Roughly 75% are in good shape (rarely used?) and some of them are in remarkable condition. The other day I decided I was done with the random LED (leftover from doing the bed lighting) under my hood with a magnetic switch, so I installed one of the retractable lights I'd scored at the junkyard.




I replaced the incandescent bulb (1156) with an LED replacement from eBay.



The GMT400 ('88-'96? Chevy/GMC full size) usually has this light on the passenger side firewall or fender, I chose this spot on the hood because...

1. The light is pretty useful even if not unwound
2. With the hood closed, it doesn't come close to interfering with anything
3. It fits.

The lamp has a magnet on the base and approximately 16' of cable (I can reach my license plate with it).



Just thought I'd share! If you don't have a junkyard nearby with piles of relatively decent GMT400's to scavenge from, you can always get a light off eBay!

 

I just got some of those stick on daytime running lights (LED) and stuck them under the hood in two spots. They are water proof, have great 3m double sided tape and should outlast me. It is like daylight under the hood when they are plugged in. put a 12 volt power receptacle attached to the battery and on the light end a male 12 volt plug. 10 bux total.

Yours is a nice install. Any light when you need it is good light.

 

That's pretty dope. I think I'll pick one up and do the same.

 

If you get one from a junkyard or eBay, try and nab the whole harness... if the light is on the passenger side fender the harness runs to a distribution block on the passenger side firewall. The ground is right next to the distribution block so after you disconnect those two, there are just two clips holding the harness to the truck. I have the whole harness installed in the picture, and it was plenty long to reach the starter solenoid and the ground next to the battery. So my installation was (after figuring out where to put it) about two minutes. Three self-tapping screws for the light, one nut R&R on the starter solenoid, and one ground, I didn't have to cut or splice any wiring. I have seen some GMT400's that have this light on the firewall, and they have a really short harness that plugs into another light I think... so that would probably require a little actual wiring. Another thing to look for, if you see my first photo there is supposed to be a small plastic arm that "locks" the light to the base... mine is broken off... most are. They are made out of the same plastic that Ford used on the OBS instrument cluster bezel, but they are also pretty unnecessary IMHO. If you keep the cable wound up tight with the reel, the light isn't going to go anywhere (hopefully). I have thought about making my own "locking arm" out of a paper clip or something... but haven't been motivated enough yet.

 

Neat idea, the nice thing about having an LED light hooked up to your trucks battery... even if the battery doesn't have enough juice to start the truck it will probably be enough to power an LED for a year.

 

Very nice mod. Hope you don't need it but if you do, you are set. Sandy

 

I have one of those on a shelf in the garage. That is one GM part that is better than the Ford counterpart.

 

And it was made by Hobbs, so you don't need to worry about having a GM branded part

 

Nice install! I've got an LED panel with a clip on the back and a stretchy phone cord in place of the stock light on ours, but it doesn't reach the wheels. Still really nice to have. Looks like yours has a magnet on the back?

I did up my daily similar to Zombie's DRL setup, except I used self-stick LED strips. One strip across the underside of the hood and one on each fender wall, under the flange where the fenders bolt on. It really does make the truck nicer to work on.

 

I'd like to see that!

Yes, these come with a magnet on the base... I ordered a stronger one from China that I'm going to test (in 3-6 weeks when it gets here). Here's a picture of the stock magnet...

 

LSCRX! That is cool as the other side of the pillow! And the magnet would be great if you had flat, instead of "Hunny! you to got to hold the light down here so I can see! Its a coyote he will bring you back if he gets yous...I promise.....really" now the light!

 

Very cool, and yeah, a stronger magnet is always better. I showed off my hackjob under-hood light in this video (should start at the right part).

 

Neat idea! The relevant clip starts @ 6:15 if anyone is interested.

I had an LED leftover from my bed lights...


That I had wired to a magnetic switch, but I wasn't really happy with it (although it did work). The stock light (at least this one) uses a mercury switch... not terribly bright, but I figure I'll leave it since the new light has an on/off switch.
LED bed lights on

Factory and LED underhood lights.

 

Where you have your LED light is where I put one of my stick on DRL's the other is in the large section about middle of the hood then I ran the wiring to the left all the way back towards the hinge and hen along the fender towards the battery where it plugs in.

With the one LED facing the way yours is it aims the light towards the back of the engine bay and the other in the center of the hood facing the front of the truck the whole engine bay is flooded with super bright light.