Just picked up these "retro" underhood lighting from GM Parts Direct (http://www.gmpartsdirect.com) and wondered if anyone has any experience installing them.



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I say "retro" because I think GM dropped the reel light in the mid-90's and I think the underhood lamp was up to late-90's.


So for us guys with a brand-new 2004 with "all" the "bells and whistles", we have to add this stuff.


Question is, does anyone here have a picture of any of these installed? I could sure use some tips on where to tap into the electrical on both of these.

the way I mounted my real up light was on the hoodit works for both under hood jobs and looking around the truckhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/A96_100_0443.JPGhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/ECC_100_0441.JPG http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/1F5_100_0442.JPGEdited by: socal LLy

Okay socal LLY, where did you wire that light in? How did you mount it? Weld a post to the hoodhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif ?

Jim

the light I wired to the battery distribution block the red thing with the door on it .put a inline fuse and the ground wire is on the hood as you can see in the pic the way I mounted the lite.in the picture you can see the black plastic clips that hold the heat sheild in place I removed the one close to the driver side and used a longer clip to hold the back of the lite in place behind that heat sheild there are many holes in the metal of the hood I used a bolt two washers and a nut to make a stud then pushed it thru the heat sheild lining it up with the top mounting hole on the lite and put a lock nut on it and your done I took some more pics hope this helps sorry bro I SUCK at typing http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/F17_100_0451.JPG http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/3ZA_100_0448.JPG http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/514_100_0449.JPGEdited by: socal LLy

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/36B_100_0379.JPG this pic is when I first bought the truck http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/54C_100_0381.JPGEdited by: socal LLy

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/274_100_0453.JPG http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/24C_100_0456.JPG http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/EF7_100_0455.JPG that a few new pics

no under hood light has been buggin me also and could'nt find a good place to put my "retro" light from my 95 gasser. thanks socal LLy for the good idea. only wish it would come on when I open the hood automaticlyhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif hope I don't forget to turn it offhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif

Thanks for the posts, Ive been wondering why these trucks dont come with a light but am thinking about installing one now.

Gearhead....place a in-line mercury switch. Check Napa.

You could also use a pin switch like a security system uses to detect when the hood is opened.

Gearhead....place a in-line mercury switch. Check Napa.


thanks I will call them tomarrow

Don't forget the lightless glovebox. Anybody have suggestions for that one.

For the amount I go in my glove box I could care less. There is always the spot light in the overhead console. That should shine into the glove box well.

Gearhead....place a in-line mercury switch. Check Napa.


Doesn't the OEM reel light have it's own "automatic" on/off switch?

Gearhead....place a in-line mercury switch. Check Napa.


Doesn't the OEM reel light have it's own "automatic" on/off switch?








Good point....I do not have one ...yet....I was just referencing what I had done with a custom trailer box light.....Duffy can you answer this?http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif

Yeah I guess your right Max Power. I don't notice it much yet since I still have my Z71. You go from man in suit to man with bag on head.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

the reel light does not have a automatic on/off on it.


also My 03 has a glove box light

Mine too!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

My 03 Chevy has a glove box light, I guess it was in lieu of thicker washers.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

I've used mercury switches in the past on different projects, and one source for them is in older style home heating thermostats, and if you know any packrats, finding one shouldn't be too difficult. Since most of you on here seem pretty handy, it shouldn't be much of a challenge to wire it in series in the power lead. Pretty? Maybe not, but functional yes. The only drawbacks might possibly be the glass envelope and the mercury inside. Just my thoughts.

The underhood lamp (12450086, available from Eric) has an integral motion switch in it but I can only presume how it's supposed to be mounted. This is what it looks like - anyone have pics of this thing installed for reference? Thanks.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/6F2_IMG_4004.JPG


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/325_IMG_4006.JPG

I've wired lights under several ARE bed covers and also the back deck lid of by boat and I've always went to a junk yard like "u pull it" to get my mercury switches. Most cars along the lines of a lincoln will have these switches under the hood and for the trunk lid. They have the mounting holes in them also.I don't like the integral switches because I find that they hang up or stick and you have to tap them to make them come on. (Had it on my 99' Z-71 and my wifes' Suburban has this also)

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The description of this on GMPartsDirect says it's an:






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Electronic Brake Control </TD>
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CONNECTOR</TD></TR></T></TABLE>





Are you sure of the part number? Is the description wrong?





-jj

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The description of this on GMPartsDirect says it's an:






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<TR align=middle bgColor=#eaeaea>
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Electronic Brake Control </TD>
<TD>


CONNECTOR</TD></TR></T></T></TABLE>





Are you sure of the part number? Is the description wrong?







Could be a wrong description, or could be a generic part that's used in both applications. But I have the cable in the package, with that part number, and it fits. I got the part number from Eric I believe. Sorry I don't have a pic for you to look at, but it does fit so don't worry if you order it, it'll work.

I use the underhood light off a C/K to light my toolbox. It has a built-in mercury switch and works great for this application. I have the OEM underhood light for an 01-02 to install on my 03, but have not done it yet. On 03's the mounting slot is still in the hood sheet metal, you just have to cut the sound barrier to access the hole and then run wiring.

The light that "dduffy" is showing clips into the sheet metal just like "DMF Dmax" states, it goes right where "socal" mounted his reel light.