Engine Bay LED Install

Here's my LED install for the engine bay. I wanted to illuminate the whole engine compartment and separately light up the winch area using one discreet switch.



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PARTS USED:

(2) 12" Cool White Waterproof ribbons from Ozium.com (found HERE)
(1) 6" Cool White Waterproof ribbon from Ozium.com (found HERE)
(1) On-Off-On SPDT Rocker Switch (I used one exactly like THIS)
(1) Add-A-Fuse (I used one like

$7 Bussmann BP/HHM 30 Amp Mini Fuse Holder with Protective Cap

THIS)

TOOLS NEEDED:

Wire-Strippers / Crimpers
Philips head screwdriver
Flathead screwdriver
10mm wrench -or- socket
12mm wrench -or- socket
Soldering Iron / Solder (optional)
Butt Connectors
14-16awg Wire (2-colors recommended)
(1) Quick-Splice connector
(1) 1/2" Ring terminal connector
(1) 1/4" Ring terminal connector
(3) .187" Female Quick-Connect terminals
Heat-Shrink tubing
Electrical Tape
Coat Hanger / Wire-puller
Zip-Ties
Drill with 3/4" drill-bit -or- hole-saw
LIGHT!!!

STEP 1: Mount The LEDs

!!!Disconnect the Battery!!!

I mounted the (2) 12" LED strips on the underside of the hood (First, clean the mounting area with water and/or rubbing alcohol, let dry)



Connect the (2) 12" strips using the pre-wired pigtails. You can clip off the last pigtail on the passenger side, as it will not be used.



I stuck the 6" strip on the underside of the hood latch shield thing. Again, clip off the passenger side pigtail, and leave the driver's side.





STEP 2: Install the Switch

Using a skinny flat head screwdriver, remove all the clips on the top plastic cover above the radiator.

Drill a 3/4" hole on the driver's side of the plastic piece, centered above the last hole.
NOTE: I had to make small notch at the 9 o'clock position of the hole (driver's side). Test fit the switch







STEP 3: Wire it up

*I used (2) Male pigtail plugs that came with the LED strips. The WHITE is the +POS and the BLACK is the GROUND

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For the hood LEDs:
I soldered my +POS and GROUND wires to the male pigtail that came with the LED strips and heat shrinked them. Run the +POS wire until it reached the switch. I then measured the GROUND until it reaches the common ground by the battery (near the fusebox).

Leave yourself a few extra inches and trim the wire.

After you have your wire lengths measured and cut, run them through the recesses of the hood, and out the hole in the bottom corner near the windshield on the driver's side.



I wrapped the wire in electrical tape near the hole, and pulled it back through to insulate it and keep it in place. I also used my Relentless CB mount to keep the wire from getting pinched in the hood and insured it wouldn't move.


After insuring the +POS lead reaches the switch, crimp on a .187" female quick-connect terminal.


For the winch LED:
I plugged in the other pigtail and soldered a length of wire for the GROUND. This is going to the same ground point as the hood LEDs. Measure it and trim the wire.

I crimped on the 1/4" Ring Terminal and connected this GROUND wire to the Hood LED GROUND using a Quick-Splice connector. Now all the LED strips share the same common GROUND point.

On the +POS lead (white wire), I crimped on a .187" female Quick Connect terminal for the switch.


For the 12v Battery Lead:
I crimped on the 1/2" ring terminal on the in-line Add-A-Fuse and soldered an extension wire to reach the switch. Then I crimped on another .187" female Quick-Connect terminal to connect it to the switch. I used a 2 amp fuse.




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STEP 4: Clean it up & Plug It In

After checking that all the wires will reach the switch and ground point, start tucking them in and cleaning them up with zip-ties, electrical tape etc.

I tried to tuck the wires up into the fender area as much as possible, but be careful to avoid sharp edges and pinch points. Zip-ties and electrical tape came in handy here.














Give everything a once-over and plug it all in. Don't forget to put a fuse in.



STEP 5: Turn Them ON!!!















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That is awesome! It reminds me of my mod I just did. Mainly because of the last picture. Haha

 

Clean install!!

I have a rats nest of wires surrounding my battery..

 

Subd good job man

 

Interesting. And nice switch location. I wouldn't have thought of that. No one will know it's there unless you're looking specifically.

 

Thanks man, the LEDs are badass. I thought about cruising around with the grille lit up, but then I remembered I don't live in S-Cal, and I drive a truck

I try to keep it tidy. I may look into getting an aux. fuse block before I add anything else.

Thanks Tony, check out my other installs too!

Thanks Nick. I like being able to control the lights independently. The install was pretty straight-forward. It took me about 1.5 hours total. Shit..it took me longer to the write-up...

 

Awesome!

 

Nice writeup. For future reference, if you want an even cleaner install with less wire, remember that everything metal in your truck is a ground, assuming its bonded. You could have saved a few feet of wire by using the hood bolts, or whever the closest bolt/screw to your lights are. Looks good man. I'm starting on my bed LED's here in a few minutes, and seeing this gives me an idea to do some under hood lights as well. Just not enough light in this truck!

 

I agree

Nice, thanks Brian. I may just be OCD, but I prefer to use the same ground point closest to the battery, same as my CB install.

Good luck on the bed LEDs

 

Damn, I'm loving the LEDs! Combined with the interior (map/dome) it makes me want to swap all of 'em. Maybe do the gauges too

 

Subscribed! I like the detail in this DIY.

 

You ever use a gas prop switch? I have a couple I am installing for my frone and rear lights/..

 

I was debating it, but I went with the 2 position switch so I can control the winch area or engine bay lights independently.

 

Tying mine into the Alarm system / Door switches too.

 

Check this out

https://youtu.be/0TVZe-YInrg

 

It says it's private

 

Try again

 

Thought I'd share mine I did a while back. Did basically the same. Absolutely love all the light. And these suckers could stay on forever with minimal drain. I want to put another one under the engine for when I need to crawl underneath at night for whatever reason.

 

Awesome, dude! That works like a charm, great job!

 

How do you think they'll hold up due to engine heat? Most cheap LEDs can't sustain much heat, so they burn out quick, or flicker.