I'm so mad I could spit (underhood light)

[Eddie Greenlee]

Ok so who knew ( and didn't tell me) that the (under the hood) light does not have a switch ,,but rather some kind of a built in gravity or positional switch in the light socket it self so when the hood raises the light comes on and once it passes a certain point closing it goes off??

 

[weldedcambolt]

I am one of them, but need to put a switch in so when the hoods up, an you dont need the light, you can shut it off. I put a new one on, but was going to disconnect it, to shut it off to leave the hood up for a while, but can't get it disconnected again, trying to crawl up onto the motor to get a good disconnect pull method is a chore. might be better to relocate it, to get better acces to it, with a switch installed. an on that note it might be good to demand from all manufactures to use acouple universal electrical connections, so thers not 5000 out there, that all are trying to figure out how to disconnect, to pull the red, green, black, purple, tab or not it would have to be in the billions saved on mechanical labor if all went with a universal connection application, instead of the many out there. is there a mechanics lobby page on wranglertjforum, to submit ideas to the manufactures an demands

 

[Squatch]

Ok so who knew ( and didn't tell me) that the (under the hood) light does not have a switch ,,but rather some kind of a built in gravity or positional switch in the light socket it self so when the hood raises the light comes on and once it passes a certain point closing it goes off??

Old school cars used to have mercury switches. The liquid mercury would flow into place to make the connection (hood up), and away to "disconnect" (hood down). I don't know what the newer switches are using these days. Could still be mercury, but I rather doubt it.

 

[L J]

Even when it's on it may as well be off. :smile: The OEM underhood light is even less effective than the OEM Wrangler headlights and that's saying something.

Old school cars used to have mercury switches. The liquid mercury would flow into place to make the connection (hood up), and away to "disconnect" (hood down). I don't know what the newer switches are using these days. Could still be mercury, but I rather doubt it.

I believe it's a ball bearing in a cage type of setup.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

Old school cars used to have mercury switches. The liquid mercury would flow into place to make the connection (hood up), and away to "disconnect" (hood down). I don't know what the newer switches are using these days. Could still be mercury, but I rather doubt it.

thats exactly what it is. i took the switch apart and the positive spring connector has an enclosed metal bulb with Mercury in it and when its up its on and down its off. very efficient . but dang figuring that out the hard way was hilarious. the dang thang would work upside down but not upright. so its all good now. ill send a picture.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

 

[Squatch]

From Wiki:
Automotive uses
Automobile manufacturers once used mercury switches for lighting controls (for example, trunk lid lights), ride control, and anti-lock braking systems. Scrapped automobiles can leak mercury to the environment if these switches are not properly removed. Since 2003, new American-built cars no longer use mercury switches.

 

[Squatch]

thats exactly what it is. i took the switch apart and the positive spring connector has an enclosed metal bulb with Mercury in it and when its up its on and down its off. very efficient . but dang figuring that out the hard way was hilarious. the dang thang would work upside down but not upright. so its all good now. ill send a picture.

I usually try not to laugh at someone else's struggles, but that one has me chuckling, for sure. Glad you got it figured out, buddy! :thumbsup:

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

Lol went through 8 wire connectors taking things apart and Checking current. Reminded of the old joke about screwing a light bulb in

 

[Squatch]

Lol went through 8 wire connectors taking things apart and Checking current. Reminded of the old joke about screwing a light bulb in

Stay away from the refrigerator door/light conundrum, then. You'll go nuts!

 

[RussTJ]

I have a '97 SE and started thinking about upgrading the under hood light when I noticed that there isn't one on my TJ. I always use a drop light so I hadn't noticed before and there's a factory plug right where it should be. I'm wondering if the light had been removed by the PO or what? Thought I'd chime in with this.

 

[Eddie Greenlee]

I have a '97 SE and started thinking about upgrading the under hood light when I noticed that there isn't one on my TJ. I always use a drop light so I hadn't noticed before and there's a factory plug right where it should be. I'm wondering if the light had been removed by the PO or what? Thought I'd chime in with this.

Very well could have been removed. you can get the oem pigtail and light socket too. or you could wire a LED light with a switch underneath the hood.

 

[SpikeMaul]

I have a '97 SE and started thinking about upgrading the under hood light when I noticed that there isn't one on my TJ. I always use a drop light so I hadn't noticed before and there's a factory plug right where it should be. I'm wondering if the light had been removed by the PO or what? Thought I'd chime in with this.

My 97SE didn’t have one either, but like you said it did have the connector. Might’ve been an additional option that SEs weren’t ordered with frequently?

 

[Skully]

I have a '97 SE and started thinking about upgrading the under hood light when I noticed that there isn't one on my TJ. I always use a drop light so I hadn't noticed before and there's a factory plug right where it should be. I'm wondering if the light had been removed by the PO or what? Thought I'd chime in with this.

To the best of my knowledge 97SE's didn't come with an under hood light. Mine has never had one, although I've never even thought to look for a connector. They might have included it as part of the Sport package, but not the SE's.

 

[glwood]

Yup. You had to order one of those high-fallutin' Sports or Saharas if you wanted the option for an underhood light.

 

[Skully]

Yup. You had to order one of those high-fallutin' Sports or Saharas if you wanted the option for an underhood light.

If I only knew at the time that if I paid for the under hood light I'd get two extra cylinders, I might have sprung the extra money

 

[glwood]

If I only knew at the time that if I paid for the under hood light I'd get two extra cylinders, I might have sprung the extra money

Live and learn.

 

[05 Blue Unlimited]

I know this is a bit late but here is a great mod for the light from a few weeks ago.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/upgrading-the-underhood-light.8393/#post-150439

 

[MexiJeeper]

Old school cars used to have mercury switches. The liquid mercury would flow into place to make the connection (hood up), and away to "disconnect" (hood down). I don't know what the newer switches are using these days. Could still be mercury, but I rather doubt it.

Our switches use a rolling metal ball for contact.

 

[KCsTJ]

My 97 SE has the same connector just hanging in the center @ the firewall.
I'm going to wire up some sort of Underhood LED with mercury switch.
The under hood center support is a perfect place to mount a light