Tacoma World Forums GreySky72's 2008 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4, covered in mud and PackerfanXD's 2007 Tacoma TRD at the Phoenix Meetup

Go Back   Tacoma World Forums > Tacoma Discussion > 2nd Gen. Tacomas
Register Site Information Glossary Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


All Those Mods!!! -> Lights under the hood

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 07-26-2008, 12:21 PM   #1
Senior Member
apexbill will become famous soon enough
 
apexbill's Avatar
Joined: Apr 2008, #5992
Location: Apex, NC
Age: 45
Posts: 114
apexbill's Tacoma Gallery Send a message via Skype™ to apexbill
All Those Mods!!! -> Lights under the hood

Hey Guys and Gals, I have been busy doing a lot of the great mods to be found on this site. My wife gave up on me for now for doing any house projects

I installed these lights under the hood. I used an Add-A-Circuit in the fusebox and added onto where the Dome Light circuit comes from. I ran the power out of the fuse box to run my under truck lighting, my hood lights, and my spare 12V socket installed under the hood mostly to power my magnet light I bought at Walmart.
I purchased the LED lights from oznium. I choose the ones already encased in aluminum. I choose to mount these on the sides of the engine compartment instead of on the hood. I'm really glad I did this since the light radiates up off of the hood and provides adequate lighting on top. Plus, you need the lighting on the sides to see what you need to see.
Here are some pics:


Note the little round light above the yellow portable light:


Picture taken indirectly


Because they are so bright!!!


Hood Pin Switch (grounded); as soon as I pop the release in the cab, the lights come on:


Final Result with underbody light kit turned on and under hood lights installed.


Oh ya, I got the multi-color led light kit from VMInnovations:


  Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2008, 12:33 PM   #3
Yes I am a rookie member.
w8n4mud is on a distinguished road
 
w8n4mud's Avatar
Joined: May 2008, #6831
Location: San Diego,CA
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 319
w8n4mud's Tacoma Gallery
I wish you were my neighbor. With two tacomas in the picture, our wifes would think we had something going on in the garage. LOL. Dude love the mods. What's next? How about a remote window roll down feature like that of other Lexus models?
__________________

Look all you want at the menu, just don't place an order. Dang it! I really, really want to.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2008, 01:08 PM   #4
Western Aliance: Fix it Division
chris4x4 has a reputation beyond reputechris4x4 has a reputation beyond reputechris4x4 has a reputation beyond reputechris4x4 has a reputation beyond reputechris4x4 has a reputation beyond reputechris4x4 has a reputation beyond reputechris4x4 has a reputation beyond reputechris4x4 has a reputation beyond reputechris4x4 has a reputation beyond reputechris4x4 has a reputation beyond reputechris4x4 has a reputation beyond repute
 
chris4x4's Avatar
Joined: May 2008, #6497
Location: Tempe ,Az
Posts: 4,676
chris4x4's Tacoma Gallery
Looks good!
__________________

The simplest solutions are often the most clever..............they are also usually wrong.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2008, 02:19 PM   #6
Member
Spacedude is on a distinguished road
 
Spacedude's Avatar
Joined: Aug 2007, #2353
Location: Campbell, CA.
Age: 55
Posts: 62
Spacedude's Tacoma Gallery
As an amateur astronomer, I absolutely love the night vision red light underneath. I could read my star charts with that! Very cool.
-spacedude
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2008, 02:34 PM   #7
TW Mid-Shift: The Architect
eordonez has a reputation beyond reputeeordonez has a reputation beyond reputeeordonez has a reputation beyond reputeeordonez has a reputation beyond reputeeordonez has a reputation beyond reputeeordonez has a reputation beyond reputeeordonez has a reputation beyond reputeeordonez has a reputation beyond reputeeordonez has a reputation beyond reputeeordonez has a reputation beyond reputeeordonez has a reputation beyond repute
 
eordonez's Avatar
Joined: Mar 2008, #5340
Location: Chihuahua, Mexico
Age: 27
Gender: Dude
Posts: 5,130
eordonez's Tacoma Gallery
nice lights!
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2008, 06:22 PM   #8
Northern Alliance: Mod Guru
piercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond repute
 
piercedtiger's Avatar
Joined: Oct 2007, #3284
Location: Newark Valley, NY
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,636
piercedtiger's Tacoma Gallery
Very nice! How's that pin switch working out for you? I have a similar one (smaller contact head that your's) and the damn thing keeps missing the contact point on the hood. So I've had a dead battery 3 times now due to my hood light staying on all the time. I used a portable like your yellow one. What are the lights you used? I've never seen them before.


Did you put some of the VMInnovation tubes in your bed too so you can see in there at night?
__________________

Like when daddy plays with mommy on her "woman week", I've caught you red handed.

Cheap/free mods - Tacoma World Forums
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2008, 06:45 PM   #9
Senior Member
apexbill will become famous soon enough
 
apexbill's Avatar
Joined: Apr 2008, #5992
Location: Apex, NC
Age: 45
Posts: 114
apexbill's Tacoma Gallery Send a message via Skype™ to apexbill
Quote:
Originally Posted by piercedtiger View Post
Very nice! How's that pin switch working out for you? I have a similar one (smaller contact head that your's) and the damn thing keeps missing the contact point on the hood. So I've had a dead battery 3 times now due to my hood light staying on all the time. I used a portable like your yellow one. What are the lights you used? I've never seen them before.


Did you put some of the VMInnovation tubes in your bed too so you can see in there at night?
I used this pin switch. The design and placement leaves no room for error. Seems like it is a quality switch.
http://www.oznium.com/pin-switch
Mine has a close tolerance, pop the hood release and the lights come on with just 3/8" opening in the hood. Push the hood closed and off they go.

I got these lights from oznium. They're $15 each, so a bit spendy.
http://www.oznium.com/high-intensity-led-floodlight


I'm not sure what I'm going to put in the bed. I installed a switch in my dash that I bought from oznium (it is for a scion but fits well in my dash. I have a switch that does nothing right now!) Will likely make that the bed light switch. I'm thinking about installing 2 or 3 of the led's I used under my hood. I would probably opt for the cooler white for the bed though. The more yellow for under the hood was for the practical purpose of seeing better to do some work / maintenance item.

I bought some high quality, very small stainless steel screws to install them. Wish I could rivet them, but the holes are small and very close to the body of the light. Just doesn't work.

I see that they are backordered for 5 weeks for the white ones. I think I put the warm white under the hood.


I've been waiting 5 weeks to receive some prewired 3mm LED Orange lights that I'm going to install in my cup holders. I just saw on their web site that these show 1 day lead time? I'll have to bug them as my next mod is being held up waiting for these orange leds.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2008, 07:03 PM   #10
Northern Alliance: Mod Guru
piercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond repute
 
piercedtiger's Avatar
Joined: Oct 2007, #3284
Location: Newark Valley, NY
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,636
piercedtiger's Tacoma Gallery
Quote:
Originally Posted by apexbill View Post
I used this pin switch. The design and placement leaves no room for error. Seems like it is a quality switch.
http://www.oznium.com/pin-switch
Mine has a close tolerance, pop the hood release and the lights come on with just 3/8" opening in the hood. Push the hood closed and off they go.

I got these lights from oznium. They're $15 each, so a bit spendy.
http://www.oznium.com/high-intensity-led-floodlight


I'm not sure what I'm going to put in the bed. I installed a switch in my dash that I bought from oznium (it is for a scion but fits well in my dash. I have a switch that does nothing right now!) Will likely make that the bed light switch. I'm thinking about installing 2 or 3 of the led's I used under my hood. I would probably opt for the cooler white for the bed though. The more yellow for under the hood was for the practical purpose of seeing better to do some work / maintenance item.

I bought some high quality, very small stainless steel screws to install them. Wish I could rivet them, but the holes are small and very close to the body of the light. Just doesn't work.

I see that they are backordered for 5 weeks for the white ones. I think I put the warm white under the hood.


I've been waiting 5 weeks to receive some prewired 3mm LED Orange lights that I'm going to install in my cup holders. I just saw on their web site that these show 1 day lead time? I'll have to bug them as my next mod is being held up waiting for these orange leds.
Thanks. Maybe I just need to relocate my switch... Your's is closer to the headlight than mine...

__________________

Like when daddy plays with mommy on her "woman week", I've caught you red handed.

Cheap/free mods - Tacoma World Forums
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2008, 07:09 PM   #11
Senior Member
apexbill will become famous soon enough
 
apexbill's Avatar
Joined: Apr 2008, #5992
Location: Apex, NC
Age: 45
Posts: 114
apexbill's Tacoma Gallery Send a message via Skype™ to apexbill
Quote:
Originally Posted by piercedtiger View Post
Thanks. Maybe I just need to relocate my switch... Your's is closer to the headlight than mine...
I put mine as close to the inside and to the front as possible. It catches the thicker part of the hood.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2008, 07:19 PM   #12
Northern Alliance: Mod Guru
piercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond repute
 
piercedtiger's Avatar
Joined: Oct 2007, #3284
Location: Newark Valley, NY
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,636
piercedtiger's Tacoma Gallery
Quote:
Originally Posted by apexbill View Post
I put mine as close to the inside and to the front as possible. It catches the thicker part of the hood.
Yeah, I thought mine would too, but it just flexes to the side enough to not get pushed down..... So I think tomorrow I'm going to steal your location idea. And update my cheap/free thread....
__________________

Like when daddy plays with mommy on her "woman week", I've caught you red handed.

Cheap/free mods - Tacoma World Forums
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2008, 07:20 PM   #13
Senior Member
apexbill will become famous soon enough
 
apexbill's Avatar
Joined: Apr 2008, #5992
Location: Apex, NC
Age: 45
Posts: 114
apexbill's Tacoma Gallery Send a message via Skype™ to apexbill
Quote:
Originally Posted by w8n4mud View Post
I wish you were my neighbor. With two tacomas in the picture, our wifes would think we had something going on in the garage. LOL. Dude love the mods. What's next? How about a remote window roll down feature like that of other Lexus models?
Next up are Orange LED's for the cup holders, under seat LED's, center console light, 2 rear 12V outlets, TRD Skid Plate.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2008, 02:40 PM   #14
Senior Member
Marc M is on a distinguished road
 
Marc M's Avatar
Joined: Jun 2008, #7441
Location: Washington, Pennsylvania
Posts: 119
Marc M's Tacoma Gallery Send a message via AIM to Marc M
Not to be an a$$, however, I'm guessing your underhood lights are just for looks, because I don't see any benefit for under hood inspection or repair if needed. Unless that was your intention to light the underside of the hood.

Marc M
__________________
'06 Tacoma Dbl-cab, 4X4, V6, 6-spd, SR5 / TRD Off Road
'00 Echo 5-Spd
'90 4Runner SR5 5-Spd
'86 Shortbed 4X4 5-Spd,SAS'd ASAP
'82 Supra 5-Spd

Take your automatic and "Stick" it........
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2008, 03:24 PM   #15
Northern Alliance: Mod Guru
piercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond reputepiercedtiger has a reputation beyond repute
 
piercedtiger's Avatar
Joined: Oct 2007, #3284
Location: Newark Valley, NY
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,636
piercedtiger's Tacoma Gallery
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc M View Post
Not to be an a$$, however, I'm guessing your underhood lights are just for looks, because I don't see any benefit for under hood inspection or repair if needed. Unless that was your intention to light the underside of the hood.

Marc M

So how do you see to hook up jumper cables at night when a dumbass buddy left his lights on too long?

Or, in my case, clip my air compressor leads to the battery.
__________________

Like when daddy plays with mommy on her "woman week", I've caught you red handed.

Cheap/free mods - Tacoma World Forums
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2008, 08:25 AM   #16
Senior Member
mvega1969 will become famous soon enoughmvega1969 will become famous soon enough
 
mvega1969's Avatar
Joined: Nov 2007, #3469
Location: Behind you...
Posts: 446
mvega1969's Tacoma Gallery Send a message via MSN to mvega1969
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc M View Post
Not to be an a$$, however, I'm guessing your underhood lights are just for looks, because I don't see any benefit for under hood inspection or repair if needed. Unless that was your intention to light the underside of the hood.

Marc M
You are right, a proper inspection will no be able to be done with this lights positioned on that place, the product is great, I'm ordering it to replace my tilt lights they really flood my underhood area, but at least one of them start to fail (they are from a GM truck -junkyard-) and I already removed the bulb from it to avoid any death battery on the future. I have not find any replacement until now. Great mod, not a good location to apply it.

__________________
08 SILVER STRIKE MICA DC LB 4X4 TRD Sprt Pkg, Side Steps, Front Skid Plate, Roof Rack, Bed Extender, Bed Mat, Bed Rug, Bed Net, All Weather Mats, Tow Pkg, Exhaust Silver Tip, Tail gate Pop&Lock, XPel Headlight Protection Film, XQ 100 Leer Cap -Browning Pkg-, Bed Rug, THULE MOAB Safari Rack. MODS: Belt Chime, DRL, 4x4 Illum Dial, Red Line Hood Struts, Fumoto Valve Power Points: 2 in Bed, 1 Underhood. FOG; All-time on, Yellow Bulbs. LIGHTS: 2 Remote Controlled in camper, Hood Tilt, Hood Corded Reel, 2 Reverse. TACOMAWORLD.COM Sticker.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2008, 11:23 AM   #17
Can You feel That
longbow is a glorious beacon of lightlongbow is a glorious beacon of lightlongbow is a glorious beacon of lightlongbow is a glorious beacon of lightlongbow is a glorious beacon of lightlongbow is a glorious beacon of light
 
longbow's Avatar
Joined: Jun 2008, #7586
Location: Indiana
Gender: Male
Posts: 704
longbow's Tacoma Gallery
man alive....now something else that is neat and I have to do.
I had thought my list of mod's to do was getting smaller, but noooooo, it growing.

ps. how do you guys keep under the hood so clean? or are these newer rides. I clean it up, but a day in the wood ands its a complete mess again.
__________________
"Never lay down, Never say die, Never tap out"
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2008, 11:51 AM   #18
Senior Member
apexbill will become famous soon enough
 
apexbill's Avatar
Joined: Apr 2008, #5992
Location: Apex, NC
Age: 45
Posts: 114
apexbill's Tacoma Gallery Send a message via Skype™ to apexbill
[quote=mvega1969;149039]not a good location to apply it./quote]

The picture doesn't show how much light is on top. You have plenty of light on top and all around and extra light on the sides.
__________________
__________________________________________________
My Mods Factory DRL's, Anytime Fog Lights, Illuminated 4WD switch, Under Hood LED Flood Lights, Red Line Tuning Elite Hood Struts, PIAA 4100K H4's, Luminics JDM Yellow H10's, AFE Dry Pro S Drop In, Sirius Sportster 5 w/antenna through third brake light and Aux plug in factory HU, iPod Interface, Multi-color Underbody lighting, A/C off w/Window Climate Mix, Seat Belt Chime OFF, Sill Protectors, Bed Net, Front Bed Tie Downs, OBX Sport Pedals
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2008, 11:53 AM   #19