Under hood lighting

Any recommendations for lighting for the engine bay. I cant believe that Toyota didn't put lighting under the hood.
Recommended lights? Wire? Switches?
Install notes.
Thanks in advance.

 

Resurrecting an old thread, but I just ordered this LED light strip kit from Amazon, should have it in a few days. I'll post up more info once it's installed. There are two things I like about this kit: one, the fuse is on the power side; and two, it has a manual switch, so you don't have install the plunger switch.

$21 Under Hood Light Under Hood Led Light Kit for Car Engine Bay Led Light kit Car Hood Work Lights Inspection Lights with Automatic On/Off, Universal Fits Any Vehicle 12V 1Set

Amazon.com: Under Hood Light Under Hood Led Light Kit for Car Engine Bay Led Light kit Car Hood Work Lights Inspection Lights with Automatic On/Off, Universal Fits Any Vehicle 12V 1Set : Automotive

 

I use a flashlight or a headlamp to admire my engine at night.

Actually a magnet attached work light would be a simple solution that you can position where it’s needed.

 

There was a guy that did it on a Tacoma with the KC Cyclones but I can’t find his vid. Here’s one from a wrangler sorry.

https://youtu.be/NYYvAxQTUQA?si=nzLEDfa1XGMS2rXv

 

Found it, it was actually on a 4Runner. Nice set up.

https://youtu.be/Lsqn6NVkLZQ?si=p0aQt8G8LhXcZpkh

 

My guess is if you don’t want to use the magnets to activate/deactivate the light you can just get a a simple hood switch from Amazon and hook it up that way also.

 

I just bought some of those KC Cyclones for the exact same purpose and to check out the lights. I wired up one to check it out last weekend and I need to tap the second one. I'll take some pictures this weekend. It's really nice. I almost want to add 2 more just because!

 

Not sure if new kits are magnetic attachment or is that just Aiden’s kit.

 

It's an optional kit:
https://www.kchilites.com/cyclone-v2-led-light-magnetic-mount-2pc-1372.html

I was able to install mine using longer plastic push pin thingys. I think I'm going to add some rivet nut inserts and make it a little more permanent and off-road proof.

$25 EilxMag Rivet Nut Tool Kit, 400pcs SAE & Metric Rivet Nut Assortment Kit, Carbon Steel Flat Head Inserts Nutserts for Metal(Standard #6 to 1/2, M3 to M12, 14 Sizes)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09C5PKBXL?ie=UTF8

 

Nice, yeah rivnuts would make it pretty solid especially if doing some hard wheeling. I’ll probably use the magnet set up as my driving is a bit more tame.

 

KC Hilites;

 

Nice set up emmantik.

 

Thanks! I like hidden wires for a clean setup. More pics of the backside;

 

Interesting. You mounted it straight to the fabric/insulation. I didn't think of that.

 

Ya didn't want to drill any holes

 

Yea, I get that. I used one of these out of this kit and it worked OK. I pulled on the light pretty hard and it didn't get yanked out, but I still want to add some rivetnuts and a bolt to hold it securely. I have this image in my head of the light falling and getting caught in my fan shroud area.

$15 Sunplustrade 240 Pcs Bumper Clips Car Clips Plastic Rivets Fasteners Push Retainer Kit Most Popular Sizes Auto Push Pin Rivets Set for GM Ford Toyota Honda Chrysler

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MEHSLZT

 

That’s all good info as I didn’t think mounting it there would actually work.

 

I added my second light and intended to add the rivet nuts but learned my tool doesn’t have the adapter for the #5 rivet nut fits. So I bought this and it comes tomorrow.

AIUITIO 8" Rivet Nut Tool, Rivnut Tool Kit with 9 Metric and SAE Mandrels, Nutsert Rivet Tool Set with 90Pcs Rivnuts, Sturdy Case Packed, Designed for Tight Space

AIUITIO 8" Rivet Nut Tool, Rivnut Tool Kit with 9 Metric and SAE Mandrels, Nutsert Rivet Tool Set with 90Pcs Rivnuts, Sturdy Case Packed, Designed for Tight Space

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W216HZS

I also used different retainers when I put the skirt back up. I used “skirt blind rivets” instead of the factory retainers to make it easier to pop down.

I have 2 more of these KC HiLites coming too. I want to see how 4 lights does. I’m hoping it illuminates the ground area in front of the 4Runner.

I also ran the wires to the same switch as my compressor. I figured this was an easy way to save a switch and likely using both at the same time anyways. The compressor only takes 2 seconds to shut off if you’re not using it.

 

Nice,
Was it easy to pop the clips of the hood insulator? I just don’t want to start prying on them and have them break as I’ve done that before.

 

Most of mine broke but I intended to replace them with something different anyways. The ones I put in are the same ones you find all over the fan shroud area, just smaller diameter.

 

Engine Compartment Light Mod

This was so easy, efficient and wasn't expensive!
No drilling, pulling down hood insulator...... just run some wires and install a led strip.

 

That's what I'm planning on doing. The LED strips that I have on order have the fuse in the power wire, instead of the negative wire, so those will get spliced together and run to battery positive. I'm thinking of not using the plunger switch, and splicing the ground wires together and go thru a regular on/off switch, then to ground. I'll mount the switch in an obvious spot under the hood, so it'll be easy to find even when it's dark.

 

Rivet nut tool came and I went a little crazy with it.

 

What exactly we are fixing in an emergency at night out in an open? Just asking trying to figure out do I need this mod or not.

 

If you don't go far out into the pitch black nowhere or use an underhood compressor its probably not worth doing. I have a compressor under there and also had a breakdown in the middle of nowhere at night while in double digit negative weather so I am installing some lights as it will be a lot easier to work on it if that happens again.

 

I've had the kc lights with the plastic push pin things for a few years no, heavy off-road with no issues. Rivnuts are a bit much here

Superuseful when you need them. My biggest problem is finding a switch that will survive in dust in the engine bay

 

Definitely don’t need it, but this forum isn’t for needs. It’s for wants. Haha.

 

100% overkill. Took me 10 minutes once I had the tool in my hands though.

 

Like the old saying goes: "it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it". Seems that engine bay lighting has gone the way of ash trays, and with modern LED lighting, they draw hardly any voltage for their light output. I'm sure most of us carry a flashlight or something similar in our vehicles, but having hands-free lighting in the engine compartment is an added plus.