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Jeep Wrangler YJ
YJ General Discussion
Awesome Hood Light Setup
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<blockquote data-quote="machoheadgames" data-source="post: 433929" data-attributes="member: 18789"><p>Figured I’d update this thread. Originally I was going to install this hood light setup and wire the power to power and the ground to a hood pin switch. the plan was to pull the ground wire if I needed to shut off the light a while. I did do that, and didn’t like the way it turned out. The switch was inconsistent and didn’t always spring all the way up, causing intermittent problems. </p><p></p><p>Haven’t been working on the Jeep much lately so I didn’t do anything to fix it until now. I wanted to improve my install any amount I could. I started at the lights and figured out how I’d get the wiring routed and such. I ordered some stainless loom clamps (bolt style) and bolted the loom down to the bolt holding the aluminum lights support bracket.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]119317[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>There is a 1/4” hole about 2/3 the way down the hood, which I fastened a stock style “rosebud clip” loom clamp to. I secured the loom at that end. </p><p></p><p>There was a hole in the hood channel right below the rosebud clip hole. I downsized the loom so it would fit and then fished it down to the hole at the very bottom of the hood (where the loom comes out).</p><p></p><p>So that gets the wiring from the lights secured and ran down to a part of the hood where I can work on it. </p><p></p><p>Next, I had to plan how I wanted the the lights to actuate. Since I was no longer using the spring loaded switch, I needed an alternate solution. The YJ factory hood lamp being removed leaves a hole to bolt to and an indexing slot to keep the light from rotating. I learned the factory TJ/JK/JL hood light will bolt right up. So I ordered one. </p><p></p><p>The TJ hood switch comes with a bulb inside, which I removed. The contacts were bent to hook to the bulb. I straightened them out and put female terminals on them. This isn’t my picture but is the same concept. I drilled a hole in the non-connector end (top in this pic) and ran my two output wires out the tilt switch housing. </p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]119318[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>The TJ switch has a backer plate which bolts up to the hood and then the TJ switch clips to it. The backer plate bolts down with a self tapper style of bolt. I used a random screw I had on hand. </p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]119319[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>I wired the pigtail for the TJ switch up to the stock YJ hood light wiring. I hooked up the KC lights to the output but the results were too jittery. The tilt switch isn’t really ideal for supporting draw from the lights. If you tap the hood at all you get lots of flickering. So back to the drawing board….I needed a relay. </p><p></p><p>I got a relay from Fastronix and fastened it to one of the hood tie-down nuts. Bolted up perfectly. </p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]119320[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>What I ended up doing was wired the factory wiring to the TJ switch and split the ground to the lights as well. The outputs of the TJ switch go to the relay to trigger it. Power comes through the TJ switch and powers the circuit that feeds the KC circuit from the relay. </p><p></p><p>The basic operation is that tilting the hood up allows the TJ switch to trigger the relay, which powers the lamps. The switch is still finicky but instead of flickering lights, I get a relay going on and off but it takes more effort to kill the relay activation than it did to make the lights flicker. So it’s a win. </p><p></p><p>The light output is great and functions well. </p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]119321[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]119322[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>And here’s a video of it in action. Works well. </p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]119323[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p>BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!</p><p></p><p>That switch is going to trip when I’m driving. I don’t want the hood light to come on when I’m going down the road, so I’m redoing the ground side. The ground currently grounds the lights and also goes through the switch to ground the relay. The relay/switch side I’m going to ground to the parking brake circuit instead. This way when I’m driving, the light can’t come on. Then when the Jeep is sitting and the parking brake is set, that will allow the circuit to ground (but still only when hood is lifted). So this will prevent the lights coming on when going down the road. </p><p></p><p>I am currently waiting on some heat shrink to arrive and then I will finish it up. Overall this project finally turned out great and the wiring is really clean. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get it that clean.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="machoheadgames, post: 433929, member: 18789"] Figured I’d update this thread. Originally I was going to install this hood light setup and wire the power to power and the ground to a hood pin switch. the plan was to pull the ground wire if I needed to shut off the light a while. I did do that, and didn’t like the way it turned out. The switch was inconsistent and didn’t always spring all the way up, causing intermittent problems. Haven’t been working on the Jeep much lately so I didn’t do anything to fix it until now. I wanted to improve my install any amount I could. I started at the lights and figured out how I’d get the wiring routed and such. I ordered some stainless loom clamps (bolt style) and bolted the loom down to the bolt holding the aluminum lights support bracket. [ATTACH type="full"]119317[/ATTACH] There is a 1/4” hole about 2/3 the way down the hood, which I fastened a stock style “rosebud clip” loom clamp to. I secured the loom at that end. There was a hole in the hood channel right below the rosebud clip hole. I downsized the loom so it would fit and then fished it down to the hole at the very bottom of the hood (where the loom comes out). So that gets the wiring from the lights secured and ran down to a part of the hood where I can work on it. Next, I had to plan how I wanted the the lights to actuate. Since I was no longer using the spring loaded switch, I needed an alternate solution. The YJ factory hood lamp being removed leaves a hole to bolt to and an indexing slot to keep the light from rotating. I learned the factory TJ/JK/JL hood light will bolt right up. So I ordered one. The TJ hood switch comes with a bulb inside, which I removed. The contacts were bent to hook to the bulb. I straightened them out and put female terminals on them. This isn’t my picture but is the same concept. I drilled a hole in the non-connector end (top in this pic) and ran my two output wires out the tilt switch housing. [ATTACH type="full"]119318[/ATTACH] The TJ switch has a backer plate which bolts up to the hood and then the TJ switch clips to it. The backer plate bolts down with a self tapper style of bolt. I used a random screw I had on hand. [ATTACH type="full"]119319[/ATTACH] I wired the pigtail for the TJ switch up to the stock YJ hood light wiring. I hooked up the KC lights to the output but the results were too jittery. The tilt switch isn’t really ideal for supporting draw from the lights. If you tap the hood at all you get lots of flickering. So back to the drawing board….I needed a relay. I got a relay from Fastronix and fastened it to one of the hood tie-down nuts. Bolted up perfectly. [ATTACH type="full"]119320[/ATTACH] What I ended up doing was wired the factory wiring to the TJ switch and split the ground to the lights as well. The outputs of the TJ switch go to the relay to trigger it. Power comes through the TJ switch and powers the circuit that feeds the KC circuit from the relay. The basic operation is that tilting the hood up allows the TJ switch to trigger the relay, which powers the lamps. The switch is still finicky but instead of flickering lights, I get a relay going on and off but it takes more effort to kill the relay activation than it did to make the lights flicker. So it’s a win. The light output is great and functions well. [ATTACH type="full"]119321[/ATTACH][ATTACH type="full"]119322[/ATTACH] And here’s a video of it in action. Works well. [ATTACH type="full"]119323[/ATTACH] BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! That switch is going to trip when I’m driving. I don’t want the hood light to come on when I’m going down the road, so I’m redoing the ground side. The ground currently grounds the lights and also goes through the switch to ground the relay. The relay/switch side I’m going to ground to the parking brake circuit instead. This way when I’m driving, the light can’t come on. Then when the Jeep is sitting and the parking brake is set, that will allow the circuit to ground (but still only when hood is lifted). So this will prevent the lights coming on when going down the road. I am currently waiting on some heat shrink to arrive and then I will finish it up. Overall this project finally turned out great and the wiring is really clean. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get it that clean. [/QUOTE]
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Jeep Wrangler YJ
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Awesome Hood Light Setup
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