Underhood Light

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Jun 28, 2009 | 06:46 PM

#16

81-F-150-Explorer

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From: Northern California

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipklos

Used a toggle switch on my 96 XL. Worked fine. never had a problom remembering to turn out the switch. Everytime I forgot the glow under the truck gave it away.
The circuit will ground through the hinge. Try it. Please, please, dont argue worthless info.

The hood Ground strap on a 1996 is apart of the right hinge itself. You will see the strap bridge the two pieces of the hinge together.

This is not the case for 1980-1986. (although you can use 1992-1996 hinges on a 1980-1986), the original 1980-1986 hinges does not have the built in ground strap and needs the seperate one.

Please don't give incorrect info...

This is the 1980-1986 Forum, 1992-1996 are different.

Jun 28, 2009 | 08:50 PM

#17

flipklos

Cargo Master

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From: Wahpeton ND

Got an 85. Aint got no strap. Got a extendeble underhood light in it. It works!

Last edited by flipklos; Jun 28, 2009 at 08:52 PM. Reason: Wrong info

Jun 28, 2009 | 09:09 PM

#18

81-F-150-Explorer

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From: Northern California

You just said you had a 96 XL in the post before this last one.

Which is which? or do you have both a 1985, and a 1996?

Jun 28, 2009 | 09:18 PM

#19

flipklos

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From: Wahpeton ND

I had a 96 without a factory hood light. I installed two. I put a toggle switch in it. Worked good.

I own an 85. It has the factory light in it. The groundstrap was thrown when I rebuilt the engine. Light still works.

Jun 28, 2009 | 10:13 PM

#20

81-F-150-Explorer

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From: Northern California

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipklos

Thanks for the clarification.

Why you would throw it away is beyond me though. What I say is correct, it won't ground through the hinges very well, if at all, and it's a loose connection. You can't argue that it's tight, otherwise it wouldn't pivot.
Removing it can also affect your radio antenna and reception, because it uses the hood as a ground plane. There was a reason why Ford put it there, and it wasn't just because they wanted to for no reason

Unless you replaced and have a right side 1992-1996 hinge on your truck,...

1992-1996 Hinge with Ground strap riveted on it.

1980-1986 Ground strap

Underhood Retractable Lamp. Working and Very Brightly lit. With it's ground hooked to that pesky ground strap.

Jun 28, 2009 | 10:24 PM

#21

first today

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Joined: Mar 2008

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From: Prairieville, La

I think you may have solved why my radio stations are weak. My light works on and off. I do not have that ground.
I have a 93 hinge out in my pasture. Would I do better with that hinge or get a strap.

EDIT - I just looked and I do have that strap. I am going to check the ground tomorrow.

Jun 28, 2009 | 10:37 PM

#22

81-F-150-Explorer

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From: Northern California

Either one should work fine.

My original hinge was bent so I replaced it with the 1992-1996 one.

Less labor intensive to just get a strap though IMO. You wouldn't have to alighn the hood etc...

Jul 4, 2009 | 01:12 AM

#23

whatthencuz

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Joined: Sep 2008

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where is the "switch" for the underhood light? how does it know when to turn on? I wanna put white led lights under the hood and I would like for them to turn on when I open the hood