Hood Light
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 50
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From: Sublette USA
Hood Light
Hey Guys, I have a 1976 F-150 and I just got all of the lights working except for the hood light. It has all the wires hooked up to the light but when you put a bulb in it it does not work. It's no big deal but it would be nice to be able to see where your putting the oil in at night instead of pouring it all over the exhaust manifolds. Any help would be appreciated Thanks 76Fordman
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Hood Light
Dave,
Factory Hood lights are turned on by Mercury switches.
I suspect the one you have is faulty.
Lifting the hood .. Turns on light>
Closing the hood...turns off the light
I suggest finding another one.
Tons of Cars out there have them.
They are the same.
Dennis
"Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As I'm Saving My memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
1978 F-150 429CJ 4v,C6 Silver w/explorer package
1968 Mustang 289-2v Sunlit Gold 80,892 miles
1964 1/2 Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
1964-Fairlane 500 S/C
Soon to be with a 390-4 spd.
Factory Hood lights are turned on by Mercury switches.
I suspect the one you have is faulty.
Lifting the hood .. Turns on light>
Closing the hood...turns off the light
I suggest finding another one.
Tons of Cars out there have them.
They are the same.
Dennis
"Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As I'm Saving My memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
1978 F-150 429CJ 4v,C6 Silver w/explorer package
1968 Mustang 289-2v Sunlit Gold 80,892 miles
1964 1/2 Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
1964-Fairlane 500 S/C
Soon to be with a 390-4 spd.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,992
Likes: 2,741
From: Virginia
Hood Light
They are usually made into the light. Make sure you have 12 volts on the wire leading to the socket first.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Hood Light
>do you where the switch is located? thanks.
Like Franklin stated >
They are part of the Light fixture.
You need a good ground and power to it.
You can test it manually by rocking it back and forth while touching the bracket to the - post, with of course the power wire on the + post
of the battery
Dennis
"Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As I'm Saving My memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
1978 F-150 429CJ 4v,C6 Silver w/explorer package
1968 Mustang 289-2v Sunlit Gold 80,892 miles
1964 1/2 Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
1964-Fairlane 500 S/C
Soon to be with a 390-4 spd.
Like Franklin stated >
They are part of the Light fixture.
You need a good ground and power to it.
You can test it manually by rocking it back and forth while touching the bracket to the - post, with of course the power wire on the + post
of the battery
Dennis
"Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As I'm Saving My memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
1978 F-150 429CJ 4v,C6 Silver w/explorer package
1968 Mustang 289-2v Sunlit Gold 80,892 miles
1964 1/2 Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
1964-Fairlane 500 S/C
Soon to be with a 390-4 spd.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Hood Light
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-Jan-02 AT 09:44 PM (EST)]The same way an OLD thermostat in you house works
It has Mercury in it.
When it *Tilts one way* the mercury makes contact and turns on the light(closed circuit)when it tilts the other way is opens the circuit and shuts the power off.
So when the hood is level the light is off(mercury is away from contact.
When the hood is raised,the mercury touches the contact and
turns the light ON.
Dennis
"Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As I'm Saving My memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon
It has Mercury in it.
When it *Tilts one way* the mercury makes contact and turns on the light(closed circuit)when it tilts the other way is opens the circuit and shuts the power off.
So when the hood is level the light is off(mercury is away from contact.
When the hood is raised,the mercury touches the contact and
turns the light ON.
Dennis
"Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As I'm Saving My memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 997
Likes: 0
From: Corydon US of A
Hood Light
ahh now i see, why dint they just put a swich on somewhere, where went the door hit it it went off and let off of it then it came on? like on the doors? also since they work like that, if you were going up a steep hill wouldnt the light come on?
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Hood Light
Yes, Stay away from San Francisco unless you disconnect it.
Dennis
"Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As I'm Saving My memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon
Dennis
"Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As I'm Saving My memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Hood Light
Kinda like the old proverb..."Does a tree that falls in a woods when no one is around make a sound...hee-hee
I guess you would have to lay under the hood and have a buddy drive it to see if it comes on while going up a steep hill...it would have to be an awwwwwwwwwwwful steep one though.
Ken
I guess you would have to lay under the hood and have a buddy drive it to see if it comes on while going up a steep hill...it would have to be an awwwwwwwwwwwful steep one though.
Ken
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: U.S.
Hood Light
Some things to check would be your ground, 12 volts and check your switch for any obvious damage. If it is a mercury switch, take it off, tilt it, and check for continuity through it, if there is no continuity then your switch is bad.