I have a 1979 oldsmobile regency 98. I notice that the light on the underside of the hood only comes on when the hood is open AND either the parking lights or headlights are turned on. I've followed the wire back & also checked the service manual I have & it appears this is the way it was designed.

Can anyone confirm if this is right? Or am I missing something & something isn't working right on my car?

Seems a little odd to me to be designed this way - if the light is to be able to see under the hood, I can think of a lot of reasons someone wouldn't want the headlights and/or engine running most of the time, right? I guess the flip side is it makes it a lot harder to leave the hood open with the light on & walk away/drain the battery.

Not a real big deal because obviously that light doesn't do much & i'm using a shop light when I do anything under the hood but always thought this was a little curious.

 

Don't lose sleep over this. It's the same for the early years too. You don't need the engine running for that light to be on. It's not high lumens, and is not intended as a trouble light. More like a convenience to see where you're checking your oil or adding things like coolant/oil in the dark - like on an expressway, at the lake, backwoods road when that nasty "hot" or "oil" light goes on. Saves fumbling around in the complete dark.

Some of the new cars have pressure switches that will also advise you when the hood has been left open.

And, if you do close the hood and walk away from the car with the park lights on? Don't worry about it. They go out by themselves when the battery dies.

 

Yup, If you need to go under the hood at night, just turn on the parking lights. If you're broken down on the side of the road at night, it makes you more visibale anyway

 

X3. This is how the car is designed.

 

Thanks guys

Happy Oldsmobileing

 

The trunk light on my 67 442 also is wired thru the light switch