Why don't most car makers install an engine bay light?

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

Jeep have them.

Mine didn't. I don't think so anyway, I never looked because it never broke down.

[marlin351]

I was alwas told a engine bay light was a sign of unreliability in a vehicle. My jeep had one so did a range rover I owned. Old vw passat i owned had a light also.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

I have a light inside my oven in my Kitchen (as most people do), and my oven can reach temperatures that far exceed my engine bay temperature on a hot day, and I've never had to replace or had a failed oven light

My oven has a light also...but the pos has the hinge on the door breaking after only 2 years.....funny enough none of my falcons have a light but the bonnet hinges were/are still perfect.

Seriously a led light with a magnet on the back is like $10 and it would be easily better then an oem light in an engine bay.

[jmack]

Originally Posted by Pedro

I hash a vhsle de zame when I leffsh de pub.

?????

[arronm]

Must be Latin.

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

I have a light inside my oven in my Kitchen (as most people do), and my oven can reach temperatures that far exceed my engine bay temperature on a hot day, and I've never had to replace or had a failed oven light

Jeeps run pretty warm under the bonnet.

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Seriously a led light with a magnet on the back is like $10 and it would be easily better then an oem light in an engine bay.

But would you leave it permanently attached in the engine bay (maybe double sided self adhesive tape)... And I'm assuming you are referring to those that take AA or AAA batteries.

How safe would it be to leave the alkaline batteries in it with high under bonnet temperatures.... What if they exploded ?

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

Jeeps run pretty warm under the bonnet. image

So do Everest!

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

The joys of a new car is that if anything did do wrong there are little lights on the dash to tell me.

A lot of times when some of those lights that can come on it could be too late as the damage has been done.

[jimt3te50]

Originally Posted by trublu

So do Everest!

Touché

[SYZ]

My P76 had one.

[CoupeKing]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

I have a light inside my oven in my Kitchen (as most people do), and my oven can reach temperatures that far exceed my engine bay temperature on a hot day, and I've never had to replace or had a failed oven light

And I have one in my fridge too. But if I shut the fridge/oven door like I do with a bonnet, I'd be cooking and selecting vegetables with a torch.

[Kingsley]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

I've often wondered, especially in this day and age with all the tech, gadgets and options available in new cars, why car makers don't offer a simple under bonnet engine bay light?

It's to keep the rabbits out. Too many rabbits in China.

[Sprint]

Great idea however I'm sure Ford or any of them don't want to promote working on your own car when there is a ford service department handy $$$

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

But would you leave it permanently attached in the engine bay (maybe double sided self adhesive tape)... And I'm assuming you are referring to those that take AA or AAA batteries.

How safe would it be to leave the alkaline batteries in it with high under bonnet temperatures.... What if they exploded ?

Leave it in the glovebox. If its portable them it can be used in other places. Maybe start a thread about why they dont put a light under the car so you can see when changing the tyre.....or doing you brakes....hubs etc.

[Legit290]

I think it is a good idea

[auxr]

I keep a small led light located just inside the door - comes in handy at night so I can find and tie my shoe laces - damn hard to find your feet at night, also can be used whilst filling up washer bottle, top up oil, check spark plugs, replace engine mounts etc whilst on the roadside with no sun.

[BFGasUte]

Hello,

I think it is mainly cost. A few things do add up, and I have also noticed some of the cars mentioned that come with one, do need it.

[Olbucko]

My 1958 Fiat 1100 had one, and it was used regularly.
Fiat - Fix It Again Tony

[mechanic]

Those that were fitted with an under bonnet light that came on when the bonnet was lifted had the major flaw of flattening the battery if the switch malfunctioned.
I know this because a WB statesman that I owned [ yes I know I know, serves me right for buying a GMH product ] had a slow discharge. I couldn't find the problem and it took the auto leccy quite a while as well because neither of us realised the the light had been dislodged and disappeared inside the heat/sound proofing under the bonnet.
They were practically useless anyway as the bulbs were of such low wattage.
These days a couple of LED strips would be usefull I'd think, would have to shut down when the ignition was off though.
One other point about under bonnet activities, what % of the population would use them?
As long as the sound system and the AC are working it's all good isn't it?

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

So you've never topped up your windscreen washer reservoir in 1.5 years?

I haven't, because I clean my windscreen every time I fuel up or when its gets washed on the weekend. So it rarely get used.
Most people would get theirs topped up when the cars gets serviced.
so I think you'll find its quite common

[Carrion]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

We all already carry an engine bay light in our pockets.

I think because most new cars are near bullet proof and 99% of owners don't have a need to open their bonnets.

Actually - come to think of it my own car is 1.5 years old and has near 30k km on it and I have NEVER opened the bonnet.

And it saves the manufacturers many millions of dollars!

I believe those new FGX XR8 need a light in the engine bay.

Most people the first thing they do when they bring them home is open the bonnet and just stare at it.

But who can blame them really.

[Lukeyson]

All the cars mentioned in this post that people have said they have them, my first thought is "Yep, they would need one"

[Bill M]

The WW2 jeep has headlight brackets that are able to be tilted to illuminate the engine bay.

[Spammy]

One rumour was that SAAB Turbos had a emmisions friendly fuel map that was triggered by the under bonnet light was on so they could pass EPA tests.

[The Yeti]

personally I feel a fixed light would simply cast shadows where you wanted to actually see, you could fit several lights or flexible lights but why?

Manufactures want you to take it back to their circus department for everything up to an including topping up the washer bottle why would they want to give you a light to see by

[Vesper Martini]

I think I've come across cars with a light in the fuse box, which would be handy.

[Whitey-AMG]

If it was an option...
Where would it go to be useful enough.

[Matty4]

Datsun 240z has one

[Spammy]

When we had our subi Forrester I remember thinking we had owned the car for 2 years and I had not opened the bonnet.