When did the under hood light vanish? (2014, auto, air bag)

[Dburger]

My '73 Gran Torino has an underhood light. Part of the "Visibility Group" package that included the under hood light, ashtray/cigarette lighter light, far rear interior light for wagons (I have it in my case), "lights on" buzzer, courtesy lights for 4 doors/wagons, and a high beam light in the dash. Glad Patrick Ford Inc ordered my car with it...

[Rynldsbr]

It is also important to remember that in the days when these under hood lights were common, only a very large 6v or over-sized mag-light offered more than flicker of light anyway. Today, an led mini or a clip-on light can offer more light than we ever dreamed of 20 years ago.

[JONOV]

My 89 Silverado had it. My 99 Crow Vic didn't.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by victimofGM

I remember a time when you popped the hood and a small light was attached to the underside of the hood and the light turned on. Today's vehicles don't have this light. Looking back, one would need the eyes of a cat to see under the hood by the light of that little bulb. The light in the trunk back then wasn't much better,...if it had a light. Today's trunk light is very bright as is the interior lighting when turned on. When did we need so much light, but not under the hood?

They were almost useless to begin with, if they worked. Everything about hood lights conspired against them. The wires had to be flexible enough to go along with the opening and closing, the environment was hot, and on a lot of cars there was no belly pan to keep road salt and moisture out, so the bulbs usually ended up grimy, lessening their performance, and the fixtures were often corroded after one or two winters, making the lights inoperative.

[Ultrarunner]

My 91 Silverado has one and it detaches with a cord so you can move it to where you need it.

My 2002 BMW comes with a rechargeable flashlight stored in the glove-box... have not used it much... when I did, it was fantastic to have.

[snowtired14]

They disappeared when engines got so complicated that you weren't going to fix them on the roadside or in your driveway, and especially at night. I just bought a new car, the salesman went to open the hood saying, "let me show you this engine", I said don't bother because if anything's wrong with it you guys are working on it, not much I can fix on them anymore.

[Rescue3]

It disappeared about the same time my ability to fix anything under there was replaced by computers, fuel injection and a turbo-something-or-other.

[Macgregorsailor51]

Originally Posted by robr2

It disappeared in an effort to reduce cost and weight. Yeah, yeah both are tiny but every penny and ounce saved is important.

They also disappeared because other than putting washer fluid in, most people have no idea what is going on underneath that giant plastic cover.

This ^^^^^ and there honestly isn't much you'd be prepared to do even if you knew how and even had the parts hahhahaha

[eddie1278]

My 97 chevy tahoe has a light but i don't have a bulb in it. It also has a box from the factory under the hood to hold a quart of oil, rags or whatever you want.

[City Guy997S]

My 1995 Chevy Silverado had a light but better yet it was detachable and had about a 15 ft cord attached and it had a magnetic base so you could essentially take the light as far as the rear fender and the magnet would let it stick to the body and you would have light while changing any tire on the truck!