DIY LED light under hood / Engine bay

So this is my first real contribution to the site. This is not a VERY detailed description and DIY tutorial to installing an LED flood light to the underside of the hood. I didn't take many pictures but will try my best to explain. It took me a good amount of time because I didn't have all the parts and tools at arms reach. It took several trips into the garage and back out. The pictures were taken with my cell phone quickly so they are not great, but should give you an idea. Thanks to TACO RON for the link for this BRIGHT LED and the idea.
His Post: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/64973-underhood-lighting-project-complete.html


YOU ARE DOING THIS MOD AT YOUR OWN RISK. I AM NOT LIABLE FOR ANYTHING YOU SCREW UP.


You will need:
LED flood light: http://www.oznium.com/high-intensity-led-floodlight
2 #4 x 3/4" Pan head screws
Cable (to elongate the power and ground wires)
Sodering iron or crimps (dunno what they're called) to join wires.
Electrical tape
1 In-Line fuse
Electric drill (with smallm Medium & large drill bits)
1 Universal Pin Switch http://cgi.ebay.com/Alarm-Hood-Trun...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c0d2b4903


First, You will need to decide where you want to mount the LED light.
Since I only put one LED light instead of two like TACO RON did, I put mine in the center of the hood.
The below picture points where with the arrow. It's RIGHT in front of the weather stripping.



CLOSE UP:
Hold the LED up where you want to mount it and put the small drill bit through the hole on the LED and start the drill. This will make a scuff or scratch on the paint where your screw will need to go. Take the LED off and start drilling the hole with the drill. Once you punch through, put the LED up and put one of the metal screws through the hole and screw it into the sheet metal. This will hold the LED on there and allow you to place the drill bit through the other hole on the light to scuff where the other hole needs to be drilled for the other screw. You can also see where you will want to drill the slightly larger hole in front of the LED to run the wires through and out of sight. Take the LED off & drill the other hole for the second screw as well as the hole for the wires. Now you can run the wires through the hole in front and out of sight. Once you have the wires through the hole, screw the LED onto the sheet metal.
I made a hole where i shouldn't have, it's only obvious in the pic.


IMPORTANT NOTES:

* MAKE SURE the drill bit is smaller in diameter than the small screws you are using. If the hole is larger, the screws will not hold the light on.

* Make sure the drill bit is not long enough so that when you punch through, it'll go and hit the underside of the actual exterior hood sheet metal.
BE VERY CAREFULL when you're about to punch through. Take your time.





Run the wires down the hood supports and out of sight.
RED LINE in the below picture shows where I ran my wires. Behind the bracing of course.




There are two holes at the bottom driver side corner. Choose one to have the wires come back out and run down the hood's hinge.




Then run the wires under the pinch weld of the fender (green line shows where I ran my wires). The power wire I ran directly to the battery but you can run it to the fuse box or any wire with constant power running through it, whatever tickles your pickle.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to put an In-Line fuse at some point in the power wire. The closest to the battery, the best. The green arrow shows where mine is.




Run the GROUND cable to the Universal Pin Switch. When the hood is closed, the pin disconnects the ground and thus shuts the light off. When the hood is opened, it makes the pin touch ground and thus turning the light on.




I'll update with night pictures later today but here is the finished product:
You can't even tell the light is there.





Light on!

 

Nice job! Thinking about doing this in the near future so thanks for the write up!

 

No problem. It only cost me about $30 after ordering the light & the pin switch online with shipping and everything. Bought the screws at home depot. And just used wire I had lying at home. The light is VERY bright. I'll update with night pictures later.

 

If a Moderater could change the title to DIY LED light under hood / Engine bay, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks Chris!

 

Nice job..Just ordered 2 flood led,s and will be putting these baby,s under ze hood soon

 

I was actually thinking of putting 3 of those same lights in, so please let us know how usable it is at night. Maybe I can save a few bucks.

 

I opened up my hood last night and i'm Very happy with how the amount of light. The single flood light lights up the entire engine bay. The camera on my phone wasn't doing the light ANY justice so I'll have to wait until I get a camera from someone else to take a night pic.


MANLAAN - 3 of these in the engine bay will be overkill, it's going to be SUPER BRIGHT. If you really want to put more than one. Just put two and do it like TACO RON did. There's a link to his thread at the top of my thread. He has one one each side of the hood. Look at the pix he posted. Two of these lights will be more than enough in my opinion.

 

Suggestion: instead of using that push pin, use a mercury tilt switch:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mercury-Tilt-Switch-Pin-Alarm-Door-Trunk-Hood-NEW-/110445124029?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19b70ad9bd#ht_1012wt_1139



The one you used will eventually rust and have a hard time coming back up.

 

I always heard if you park on a hill those things will drain your battery.

Nice job man.. i likey..

 

Nicely done. Might end up in my truck soon.

 

I have one for my alarm. I park on a 20 degree driveway, no issues. It wouldn't drain anything in my case. My alarm sends a low voltage signal through the wires to let the brain know when the hood is not closed all the way when I arm the truck. If you are using it for an LED (like the one in this thread for example), the LED would not draw enough power to drain the battery dry, even within 48 hours.

 

I read on a different thread about the LED light coming on when accelerating or on a hill with the mercury tilt switch as well. Though it will not be enough to drain the battery as you mention. I bought two of those pin switches in Ebay for under $5, and it's extremely easy to switch out. If and when it does begin to rust, i'll just put a new one in. But thanks for the recommendation VIET.

 

Nice! Check out what I did
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/95593-led-hood-lights.html

 

Can you also use small screws on the strips?
Job well done.Very clean.

 

I didn't. Don't believe you can put a screw through it as it has to be sealed. They can be cut to size though. Just have to dab some silicone in where it was cut to seal it.

 

Good to know.

 

where did you pick up the in-line fuse and how many amps do you recommend?

 

I had the same idea but used the led strips from autozone two 12" strips from $20 and a $3 door pin.