KC Hilites Cyclone Under Hood Lighting System Jeep JL JLU Install and Full Review
Ever found yourself needing to jump-start a car, check your fluid levels, or diagnose an under-hood problem after dark? It can be a real pain without bright lights to see what you’re doing!
Enter the KC Hilites Cyclone under hood lighting system. This kit includes everything you need to mount some seriously bright lights anywhere in your engine bay. KC Cyclone lights are truly universal and can be used for many other purposes: rock lights, camping scene lights, or reverse lights.
In this article, I will walk you through the installation of these lights on my Jeep Wrangler JLUR and give you my thoughts after using them for the past few months.
Find It Online
- KC Hilites Cyclone Universal Under Hood Lighting System: Check Price
Tools & Materials
- Drill
- 1/8″ Drill Bit
- Phillips Head Screwdriver
- Adjustable Wrench or Ratchet
- Tape Measure
- Wire Clothes Hanger
- Electrical or Masking Tape
Unboxing
KC includes everything you need to create an awesome underhood lighting setup including 2 KC Cyclone lights, a waterproof toggle switch, switch mount, fused wiring loom, zip ties, and mounting hardware. The KC Cyclone lights feature an IP68 rated aluminum housing, meaning they are sealed from water and dust. They provide 516 raw lumens each and can be mounted almost anywhere with their universal fastening system.
Step 1. Determine Light Mounting Locations
First, your need to determine where to mount your KC Cyclones and their power switch. For the lights, I found a spot on the hood where the bare metal was exposed and not covered by the hood insulation. Depending on whether or not you want to remove some of the hood insulation, there are many places where the lights can be mounted. Keep in mind, you need a location where there is space between your mounting surface and the outer skin of the hood. You do not want to accidentally drill completely through your hood when mounting your lights.
Step 2. Determine Switch Mounting Location
Determine where you’d like to mount the switch. I chose a location near the cowl, just above the fuse box, that would be easy to reach when the hood is open. This location is also close to the battery making wiring everything up a breeze. Make sure that you have enough wire length to reach the battery and the lights before finalizing your switch location.
Step 3. Mount the lights
After determining where you’re going to mount the lights/switch and ensuring that you have enough wire length to reach everything, drill a small pilot hole with your 1/8″ drill bit. Be sure not to drill through both layers of metal or you’ll end up with a visible hold in the outside of your hood!
Install the lights using a phillips head screwdriver (this is easier with a phillips driver on your drill) and one of the provided self-tapping screws and washers.
Step 4. Run the wiring
Run the provided wiring down the hood towards your switch. I straightened out a wire coat hanger and pushed it behind the hood insulation. After taping the wires to the clothes hanger, I simply pulled it out from behind the hood insulation towards the front of the hood. Boom, your wires are ran.
Note: make sure that your hood does not pinch the wiring when it opens and closes. Secure them they have room to bend and move.
Step 5. Mount the switch
Just as you did for the lights, drill the pilot hole using your 1/8″ drill bit and mount the switch bracket using the provided self-tapping screws. Next, slide the switch into the bracket from the back. Then, place the ON/OFF cover onto the front of the bracket, followed by the lock nut, and finally the rubber switch cover.
Step 6. Wrap it up
Plug your lights in via the bullet connectors and tidy up your wiring using the provided wire loom. Connect the red battery connector to your positive battery terminal and the black battery connector to your negative battery terminal or chassis ground.
You’re done! Step back, grab a cold beverage, and admire your work.
Final Thoughts
After using the KC Cyclone under hood lighting kit on a number of off-roading trips now, I can confidently say it is a must-have. The convenience of having super bright lights under your hood cannot be overstated. I’ve used them for checking and topping off fluid levels at night, airing up my tires, and even for area lighting while setting up my winch to recover another vehicle. This install went smoothly and these small lights seriously pack a punch!
