Under Bonnet Light

[mike.perry]

Ever broken down at night and found that the batteries on your torch are also flat?
Here is the answer which makes nightime repairs so much easier.
Drill and fix a suitable light capable of running a 21W bulb to the bonnet cross brace. Note, the light must be insulated from the cross brace.

Drill and fit a door courtesy light switch to the inner wing seam, the bit where you rest your spanners etc., where the bonnet cross brace meets it.
Run a wire from the fuse box to the light and the earth return back to the courtesy light switch. Cut the wires and re join them with bullit connectors so that you can disconnect the light when necessary.
The light will switch on when the bonnet is open and off when it is closed, leaving you with two hands to change the fan belt, plugs, points etc.<br><br>

[d_harris]

Thats a good idea Mike.

[paulhumphries]

If you look at Volvo's in the scrap yards you will find the older models (240 / 740) had underbonnet and boot lights that the switch is built in as it's a mercury tilt item.

Paul H

[Peetee]

Nice idea.
I have some handy stuff too that would make it even more user friendly. Some adhesive ally tape that can be stuck inside the lense or on the back of a torpedo bulb to direct the light away from your eyes and toward the engine bay. Very handy stuff for boosting the courtesy light in-car.

[alanworland]

Good idea, it saves all that torch holding with the teeth!
Do you lay under the car to make sure it goes off!

[bmcecosse]

I would advise a cut-out switch inside the car - to minimise flat battery risks!

[RogerRust]

Do you lay under the car to make sure it goes off!

I, for one, am willing to bet he does!

[mike.perry]

I look through the gap in the bonnet shut. See earlier topic!!!!!!!!!!!
The courtesy switch always works.

[alainmoran]

I have a bunch of 12V flourescent lights which I used to use in my garage for lighting, I keep meaning to fix one under the bonnet and one in the boot - they have an integral push-button switch which means you only switch them on when you need it, and when you do they take very little power ;D

One of these: http://cpc.farnell.com/_/mh103/22-fluor ... dp/CP03260

They are pretty bright, and you could leave it switched all night and still have enough charge to start the engine (I used to charge my garage battery about once a month with 5 or 6 of these running for a few hours a night)

[rayofleamington]

I've got far too many cars for this to be practical - I'll keep my LED head torch for now ;-) 12v recharger lives in the Eurobox, so am never without charged batteries... unless the job takes all night!

12v flourescent is a very good idea though.