Under-hood Light Missing???
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 4
From: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Under-hood Light Missing???
I had to stop on a dark roadside to add windshield washer fluid and just noticed there is no light under the hood of my high-end Lariat that I thought was missing nothing! Had one on my '03, so did they forget to install it on the '06 or was FORD intentionally cheap?
Has anyone else got one, and what are the options to add this? I think my old one had a mercury switch loaded bulb base that sensed the hood position and shut off when closed.
Has anyone else got one, and what are the options to add this? I think my old one had a mercury switch loaded bulb base that sensed the hood position and shut off when closed.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia, TX
You're not missing it - FORD thought is would be a nice cost cutting step and took them out starting in 04.
I'm going to make my own using 12V LED's mounted on the underside of the hood.
CMOS
I'm going to make my own using 12V LED's mounted on the underside of the hood.
CMOS
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,117
Likes: 8
From: Over Yonder, MN
Ya, I noticed the missing lights the night I brought the truck home. Thought it was a cheep shot on a $40,000 truck. I would of gladly paid the $20 those lights are worth. Oh well, I have a flashlight.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 200
From: southeast PA
You could probably score a mercury switch in a junkyard, and just wire it up from 12v to fuse to switch and then to the light. It wouldn't be too hard to do. Or you could probably locate a new vehicle that uses one, and call up their parts department and order a new one(mercury switch).
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 6
From: Ketchikan, AK.
or instead of a mercury switch, you could use a switch that most alarm/remote starters use to prevent operation when the hood is open. they just drill into the upper radiator support, and are spring loaded to provide a ground when opened, or "popped up". just wire the light directly to a constant +12 and bingo. i have actually been thinking about installing on on mine as well, but wiring it into 2 lights to see better.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
I have the same complaints. add to that a lack of illumination in the dash cup holder areas. The '93 Suburban I replaced with my '06 F-150 had all kinds of lights, so I guess I am spoiled. Based on searching last night for an underhood light it became apparent that GM made the same choice as Ford in deleting the underhood light. Give me my light!
As a temporary measure at least I bought a hocky puck sized LED light that I plan to add a magnetic base to. I can then stick under the hood as needed without having to hold a flashlight.
As a temporary measure at least I bought a hocky puck sized LED light that I plan to add a magnetic base to. I can then stick under the hood as needed without having to hold a flashlight.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia, TX
Originally Posted by Big-Red-Lariat
cool but what will you do for a position-sensitive switch?
Easy. I can get some mercury contact switch bulbs that will "turn on" the circuit when the hood is raised.
CMOS
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 69
From: land of 10,000 lakes
Originally Posted by Big-Red-Lariat
I had to stop on a dark roadside to add windshield washer fluid and just noticed there is no light under the hood of my high-end Lariat that I thought was missing nothing! Had one on my '03, so did they forget to install it on the '06 or was FORD intentionally cheap?
Has anyone else got one, and what are the options to add this? I think my old one had a mercury switch loaded bulb base that sensed the hood position and shut off when closed.
Has anyone else got one, and what are the options to add this? I think my old one had a mercury switch loaded bulb base that sensed the hood position and shut off when closed.
Josh
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 152
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by tooldad
As a temporary measure at least I bought a hocky puck sized LED light that I plan to add a magnetic base to. I can then stick under the hood as needed without having to hold a flashlight.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by dbtx
Tooldad - these trucks have aluminum hoods. You thinking to mount it to the side of the engine bay?
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
From: Denver USA
Yeah I found out about the missing lights about 1 week after purchase. Of course it was a stupid cost cutting move, I sure would have paid the additional cost for the lights.
My 2002 F150 Lariat had the lights, but I figured the lights weren't offered on XLT models, but it sounds like it effects all models.
My 2002 F150 Lariat had the lights, but I figured the lights weren't offered on XLT models, but it sounds like it effects all models.
Last edited by V8EXPLR; Jan 10, 2007 at 02:26 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Okay, further research reveals that the elimination of the Mercury switches was tied to environmental issues and went into affect in model year 2003 for domestic autos. Imports started earlier. Here is a link to the article if interested, http://www.cleanairfoundation.org/sw...ehicles_so.asp .
What about an alternative? Apparently there is one, but I am not sure about volume availability and cost, which I presume is the reason they were omitted altogether.
What about an alternative? Apparently there is one, but I am not sure about volume availability and cost, which I presume is the reason they were omitted altogether.