Engine compartment light mod

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LEDs installed in engine compartment

Installed Oznium.com LEDs in the engine compartment today. They look awesome! Can't believe the 2010 t4r didn't come with a light under there. Anyways, I ran a wire up the right hood support arm, and then up to the area just aft of the the hood latch. This part actually faces inward and down, so it is a perfect place to put some lights and not have them blind you and also be out of the way. I also put in a switch in the front. Right now it is just a toggle, and it is not high enough to be pushed in and out by the hood, BUT I plan on changing that...this switch is all I had at the time. The one Oznium sent for this was a total piece of junk. Pics are not that good sorry!

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Very nice!!!

Would you mind putting up a link for the LED's?

Thanks, and great job
 
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iirc, only the 2010 Limited's come with the hood insulation standard... ???
another weird little choice by Toyota a'la roof rack crossbars...
 
engine compartment LED lights under the hood

Titanpat57 said:
Very nice!!!

Would you mind putting up a link for the LED's?

Thanks, and great job
Click to expand...

Here ya go:
Tiny LED Modules : High brightness surface LEDs

I would caution that these are really small...so look at the exact measurements before you buy. I thought that they were gonna be a little bigger because I didn't look at the fine print...I still think they are great, but I had to use four of them instead of two, which actually turned out looking really awesome!

What I put in my hood is TWO of the round ones on the outer edges, and then TWO of the long ones for the middle ones. I got the white ones with black housing. All four of them put out the same amount of light roughly...if I had to say which one puts out more light, and it is really close, I would say it is the long ones...both have 6 HP LEDs in them...

Also, I bought this switch, but it is a piece of crap.
Adjustable Door / Hood Pin Switch

It is made for a pre-tapped 5/16th hole, which I didn't realize til after I got it. Tried to retrofit it with a nut and a washer, and the threads are just not long enough to mount it like a regular switch. I am headed to Radioshack to see what they have, or maybe auto parts store...in the meantime I mounted a toggle switch and mounted it lower than where the hood comes down. I just turn it on and off with my finger when I need it. Once I get the right switch, I will raise its position so that the hood engages it when closed.

More on the switch: The location of this switch that I mounted is right next to the rubber stopper, and it is flat under the hood right there, which should make for good contact with the right switch. This did involve me drilling a hole in the panel there, but only in the plastic, not in the metal underneath...there was already a hole there! It is very tight underneath it, and it might involve removing this switch to access the light housing but I AM NOT SURE...didn't try!

Thanks for comment!
 
ralphpolo88 said:
Did you put that insulation under the hood or did your 4R come with it already?
Click to expand...

It was already there! Although I must say that I bent it near where the lights are, and I may have to put a sheetmetal screw with a washer in there or something. The mounts for it are not right on the edge in that location!
 
Snoop - Great mod, and definitely on my "to do" list.

Any recommendations now that it's been up for a while? Is the adhesive on the LEDs holding tight a few months in? Which fuse did you tap (I'm sure there's a constant on in the hood fusebox)?

I think I'll go with a toggle switch instead of the pressure switch...seems easier for us novices!

Thanks again!
 
Just noticed this and it looks great!! I have a 4th gen and this will be gettin put on soon. But when looking at the website. Why not just go with 1 or 2 of the flood LED lights. It would cost the same and you wont have to worry about wiring 4 lights together. Just a thought. Anyway. Thanks for the idea.
 
SeattleMike said:
That is one of the coolest mods I have seen on this forum. Awesome!
Click to expand...

:iagree:

Very nice - It is annoying that it does not have one, then again the popped the hood on the Escape the other night to top off the washer fluid - like a cave, had to get a flashlight so it is just not Toyota.
 
Scuba6 said:
Snoop - Great mod, and definitely on my "to do" list.

Any recommendations now that it's been up for a while? Is the adhesive on the LEDs holding tight a few months in? Which fuse did you tap (I'm sure there's a constant on in the hood fusebox)?

I think I'll go with a toggle switch instead of the pressure switch...seems easier for us novices!

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I actually didn't tap any fuses, but I need to do that. I ran the thing right off the battery. My plan is to just put a little in-line fuse in there somewhere...just haven't done it yet. They have not come unstuck yet, but I figure they will at some point, but it is just not that hard to reaffix them, so I am not worried. They were originally stuck onto the painted metal finish, so it was a solid place to stick them (versus on textured plastic, or fabric).

The mod is really nice to have at night. The light that is emitted is far superior to a single bulb like most vehicles have. People who have seen it in person are usually awe struck (like they have never seen an engine compartment light before???).

Regarding the switch, I never did replace my toggle switch with a better pressure switch mainly because I have been unable to find a good one. Now that I have had the regular toggle switch, I really don't want a pressure switch any more, because rarely do you need to use these lights anyways. The location of my button is perfect and it is a snap to turn it on. Unfortunately I cannot tell you the model or type of toggle switch I used because I found it in an old parts box from decades ago.
 
ryangab said:
Just noticed this and it looks great!! I have a 4th gen and this will be gettin put on soon. But when looking at the website. Why not just go with 1 or 2 of the flood LED lights. It would cost the same and you wont have to worry about wiring 4 lights together. Just a thought. Anyway. Thanks for the idea.
Click to expand...

Well, I basically agree with you. I had originally planned on putting only two in there, but I it wasn't enough light, and I already had the other two modules, so I went for it because that was easier to wire up than waiting another five days for larger lights to come in the mail. I ended up liking how they are spaced out and it provides a cool light over everything...very few shadows.
 
Snooperstyle said:
Well, I basically agree with you. I had originally planned on putting only two in there, but I it wasn't enough light, and I already had the other two modules, so I went for it because that was easier to wire up than waiting another five days for larger lights to come in the mail. I ended up liking how they are spaced out and it provides a cool light over everything...very few shadows.
Click to expand...

I can see your point. You should know since you already have them up. I think I am going to stick to what you have done and get 4 lights instead of the flood light LED's. You can never have enough light especially when you need it. Thanks again!!
 
Ive used a mercury switch for a hood light ive done before. I dont remember where i got it but it was just mounted to the hood and when its opened the lights turned on. No real moving parts to break and no big holes to drill. The switch i used was in a plastic housing and was mounted in a space i cut in the heat shield so it had some protection.

I really like your setup and may have to copy it for my 4th gen.

Thanks for posting this and the links.
 
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