[faelchu11]

Every vehicle I've ever owned has had a light inside the the engine compartment ... all but one was attached to the hood. All of them turned on when the hood was opened and off when closed.

Now, I buy a $40,000 Chrysler 300C and it doesn't have a light in the engine compartment. I understand that they wanted to save money to help get a very quality car for a reasonable price, but come on ... how much would it cost to have a stock OEM light fixture in the engine compartment?

Does anyone know of a quality (I don't want cheesy wiring running to the top of a fuse in my fuse box) light fixture or a light kit that will work just like every other quality vehicle on the road?

If so, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[faelchu11]

Also, if anyone has any links for good quality engine compartment lighting, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[GoldNnasty]

Here is one thread:
http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/18360-engine-light.html?highlight=hood+light

 

[glhs837]

The Charger police cars come with underhood lights, so maybe thats a source for OEM type stuff.

 

[faelchu11]

Here is one thread:
http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/18360-engine-light.html?highlight=hood+light

Thanks for the reply. The light will work perfect (it's an OEM light for the Police version 300), but that thread stated that the factory harness was too short. I've already found a good location to land the ground, but did anyone find a good location for the power wire?

I looked in the Service Manual CD ... it shows that on the Police version, the "underhood" light is fed from the underhood fuse #5. I spoke with Joel at the Mopar SuperCenter and he wasn't aware of a longer harness (the one he has is for a Jeep I think ... looks like the Police version has a wire for that light thats part of an overall harness ... though the Service Manual shows a single jumper ... hey, if the engineers can't even add a light to a $40,000 vehicle, why would I expect the Service Manual CD to be correct.)

Anyway, per the discussion on the thread that GoldNnasty directed me to, the harness needs a bit of additional help to actually work. So, if anyone has any additional recommendations - like how to get the wire that's too short to the INSIDE of the fuse box to fuse #5 - or an even better location to direct the power wire, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[1fastsedan]

agreed

While I agree that the car should have an underhood light, I don't think I'm going to put an OEM one in. Every OEM hood light I've seen is dim, off to one side (and always the wrong one), and not useful enough to spend the money on to replace/add. When in a garage at night, I use a trouble light. When on the road, should I need to look under the hood I bought two of these:
http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting/Products/Dotitlights/

I totally understand wanting to use MOPAR parts and attempting to look stock, but this is one where I think aftermarket makes a lot more sense.

 

[faelchu11]

While I agree that the car should have an underhood light, I don't think I'm going to put an OEM one in. Every OEM hood light I've seen is dim, off to one side (and always the wrong one), and not useful enough to spend the money on to replace/add. When in a garage at night, I use a trouble light. When on the road, should I need to look under the hood I bought two of these:
http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting/Products/Dotitlights/

I totally understand wanting to use MOPAR parts and attempting to look stock, but this is one where I think aftermarket makes a lot more sense.

I thought about something like that, but the original thread I was directed to stated the light was bright for an underhood light (it is for a Police vehicle afterall) so I've already ordered the light and the harness (as well as a dozen underhood insulation connectors.) Now, I just need a good place to get the power from.

 

[Driven2WIN]

I installed the Mopar underhood light. But, I have only used it once since I installed it. If I had to do it over, I would have left alone and not spent the money.

 

[HERMINIO]

I thought about something like that, but the original thread I was directed to stated the light was bright for an underhood light (it is for a Police vehicle afterall) so I've already ordered the light and the harness (as well as a dozen underhood insulation connectors.) Now, I just need a good place to get the power from.

I took the power on mines from the red + post on the front relays/fuses box.

I placed the extended positive cable inside the black plastic covering running to that post. And yes, its brighter than any underhood light I'd ever seen.

 

[faelchu11]

I took the power on mines from the red + post on the front relays/fuses box.

I placed the extended positive cable inside the black plastic covering running to that post. And yes, its brighter than any underhood light I'd ever seen.

That's how I was leaning, but I was hoping there was a better, cleaner route. I haven't checked yet, but is there a way to actually run a wire inside the fuse box to the fuses?

 

[faelchu11]

I did some digging in the service manual ... I found that in the Police version, the wire runs from fuse #5, though the main right side wiring harness, breaks out and runs up the same route as the washer fluid line to the underhood light. So, it's part of the LARGE main right side wiring harness in the Police version.

So now, I just need to find an unused wire or connection that always has power ... has anyone found any power wires that would fit this description? (I'd prefer to not have to run a wire to the main positive terminal.)

 

[dynodon]

At the risk of saying something nasty, a Chevy Tahoe I had some time ago had the best underhood light since the 1957 Pontiac. It was mounted to the side, had an on/off switch, the light come out on a wire long enough to reach the back of the vehicle, and had a little crank to wind it back in.

Later Chevy trucks didn't have room for it, but I have always thought that I would like to find a spot for it under the hood of my 300C.

Yes, a $30,000+ car SHOULD have an underhood light. A maglight in the console is a good secondary accessory and works to bonk intruders with too!

 

[faelchu11]

I'm still hoping that someone on the forum has some information regarding the routing of the underhood light's wiring ... anybody?

 

[SRTHILL]

I did not know it did not have a light under the hood. That is just lame. Good thing I will never be working under there in the dark...but if something should go wrong on a dark deserted highway....hmmm.

 

[FreebirdSRT]

I started this thread awhile back.

http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/14367-what-40-000-car-no-hood-light.html

Then a few of us found the Mopar hood light. DCX discontinued the hood lights on all of the vehicles except there Dodge Ram Trucks. It is also available as a Police package hood light. It is the same lights for the truck and police cruisers that used to be in our cars.

This is a thread I started once we found the hood light. The install was done.
http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/14393-update-mopar-hood-light-found.html

 

[Bo'sRT]

I'm still hoping that someone on the forum has some information regarding the routing of the underhood light's wiring ... anybody?

I don't recall which specific wire I tapped into..... I just looked in the service manual, found a large gauge 12 volt wire on the bottom of the IPM, and tapped into it. I placed a 5a fuse inline with the power wire...... Yes, I cut a wire in the factory harness. No, I'm not worried about it. :biggrin:

FWIW,

--Bo

 

[faelchu11]

Actually, I just had a brilliant idea (if I do say so myself) ...

The factory "alarm" system is a bit anemic ... it only works if the doors are opened. On my other vehicles, the quality alarm systems, in addition to doing what they normally do also roll up the windows.

I'm going to have an alarm system installed in a few weeks such that it has all the doors, hood, trunk, glass break, motion, backup battery, etc ... but it will roll up the windows, close the sun roof AND use the stock key alarm buttons.

Anyway, the brilliant idea is since they will be in my car running wires and will HAVE to get constant power from somewhere (and make it look stock), I'll have them connect the underhood light at that time ... it'll look like it came from the factory.

I'm a genius. :usa:

 

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

looky what I found......

magnet mounted....


http://www.pfyc.com/store/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PFYC&Product_Code=GN3007&Product_Count=3&Category_Code=VTUNDER

 

[Millard mayfield]

I took the power on mines from the red + post on the front relays/fuses box.

I placed the extended positive cable inside the black plastic covering running to that post. And yes, its brighter than any underhood light I'd ever seen.

Get a flashlight..problem solved..keep INSIDE trunk..like me

 

[CtCarl]

Get a flashlight..problem solved..keep INSIDE trunk..like me

Hey, that's a great idea.

Shame the OP won't see it, since he hasn't posted here since 2008, and probably doesn't even own a 300 anymore.