1970s Under Hood Light

[34837]

Hello, apparently my 1973 Coupe Deville never had a light under the hood. Cannot find any reference to this in repair manual or where a receptacle may have been. This vehicle was loaded with options from the dealer, I thought most cars from this era had this standard.. Any thoughts welcome! Thanks,  A H.

[Highwayman68]

People who bought new Cadillacs never looked under the hood. If something went wrong they made a call to have the car dealt with. There wasn't a need for a light under the hood.

[Clewisiii]

I know mine is 60s not 70s. There is no light under the hood.

The trunk light sits in a cavity between the inner and outer stampings. I dont know if such a cavity exists to add a light under the hood. The light itself has a mercury switch that makes contact when raised. So if you could get wiring up the hood hinge you could probably make one work.

[34837]

Thanks for your thoughts all, easy solution is small  magnetized light bar that comes on when hood opens, auto or manual. Have them in closets. work well..A

[TJ Hopland]

So no one has an official answer to when or what models an underhood light was standard or optional?  Or did Cadillacs never have them?   By the time I get the cars they never work so I have a hard time telling which ones have em and which don't.

I would imagine they were a dealer option and I remember seeing various options in catalogs like JC Whitney.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I cannot say for sure, but I do know that the proliferation of underhood lights came at the time of the introduction of the Japanese cars.

Whenever I saw one of these cars in a wrecking yard, I removed many, as I always carried a screw driver with me when visiting these wonderful places.

The thing about the Japanese ones was that when one unclipped the front part of the light, it came out, revealing a length of cord wrapped around the internal hook, so one could move the light to where it was needed.

I still have some here.

Bruce.

PS.   Never recall seeing one in any American car here.

[35-709]

They were an option on Pontiacs for many years, the lens was half white and half red so you could mount the red side toward oncoming traffic if you broke down at night.  It was on a retractable cord with a magnetic base.  Don't remember ever seeing one on a Cadillac.

[TJ Hopland]

The Gm trucks had em in the early 90's, similar to what was mentioned above where it had a magnet base and a cord reel.  After they quit doing that they went to a fixed one mounted to the hood.