Make your own underhood light with Rock Light LEDs

Pyro:
Parts received early on Friday. Good service; good quality. Thanks.

 

Pyro
Parts received early on Friday. Good service; nicely done. Thanks.

 

Thats a great idea, nice work!

 

Going to to try and get another 10 sets powdercoated this comming weekend.

Between the 100+ degree days and prepping the house for sale as part of the divorce, been a bit busy.

 

Hey guys, loving this mod... although I did my own version of it with KC Cyclones. Very useful addition.

Just a couple of notes that may be of help.

If you already have a hood pin switch for a remote start or alarm like I do you don't need to install another one for the lights. You can just tee in a pigtail to the existing wire. But make sure to install a diode between that connection and the remote start control box. I just cut the wire, installed the diode, then ran the 2 branches to the pin switch and to the black light harness ground connection from there.

If you don't have a pin switch they can be a bit of a PITA to deal with. over the years I have found that mounting as in the OP's photo did not work well because the Tacoma hood has some curved sheet metal where it would contact that switch. It sorta worked for a while but bent the switch which eventually gets sticky or breaks. Better to make a little bracket out of aluminum, or whatever as in my photo below to push the switch inboard towards the engine which lines it up with the flat part of the hood sheet metal so it hits square and pushes the pin straight down. Anyway, this is what I needed to do on my 2009 to make it super reliable.

Before you connect it all up adjust the pin switch height using a multimeter on ohms. Adjust its height so that it opens the circuit when the hood is open and resting on the latches and you just start to push down gently.

It is another good idea to install a waterproof switch on the + side of the harness so you can turn these off manually when you want, for instance when your pin switch gets bent or sticky... or for when the hood will be left open for a long time. Interesting that the KC kit came with the toggle, but no pin switch. I like having both.

Good luck. Great mod.

 

Great reply only thing missing is a picture of your lights

 

Didn't really want to hijack the thread, just post some universal tips. My lights are here:

Another underhood light install | Tacoma World

 

just wanted to let everyone know I have not forgotten about this. Been VERY busy and have not had much time to do much of anything outside of work and handle the divorce.

BUT.. I am hopeful that I can make some time to get finally get these powder coated and ready to go for those who wanted them. I will update once they are done

 

Please add me to your list for the next batch. Thanks!

 

you still making these

 

Will be shortly, the chaos from the divorce is over an i just need to find everything again an get them finished.

There will be an update soon.

 

Hey! I found this thread. Super interested. Please let me know when they become available again. Would prefer Powder coated, but if it'll be a delay there, I don't mind powder coating it myself.