I'm to the age that whenever I have a car on the lift and am working underneath it if it is not well lit then I can't see worth anything. Right now I use either a rechargeable Mag Lite or a rechargeable Streamlinght Strion. I've tried the lights that you can get from Harbor Fright that are on tripods but did not like them because of the amount of heat they put off. I typically have to jury rig the flashlights (on a transmission jack of all things) to aim them to the area where I'm trying to work. Anyone have any good solutions to lighting up underneath the car?

On a side note the wife did say I do my best work in the dark.

__________________
Jim

There are creepers that have built in lights




Also, those flexible "gorilla" type stand can hold flashights.

Clamp on trouble light...

__________________
1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I have used one of those torches that strap on your head. Shines the light where ever you are looking.
Make sure its off though when a young female customer shows up!!!!

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

I have one of those too. It works okay sometimes, but it isn't a bright as I'd like. I more often use an old school drop light hung on off something near what I'm working on. That and an LED mini Maglite.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

LOL

I've got one of those manufactured by Streamlight. As already stated it is not really bright enough in my opinion.

__________________
Jim

The one I have is made for night bike riding, it has a battery pack you ware on your belt. 4 D cells. It has a quartz globe like some Big Jim flash lights.
In the cool weather 150 watt mains powered flood lights are good.
I have found with age, you do need a little extra light to see things clear. Part numbers are a test at times.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

In fact I do. (see below.)

She *DID*!!!???


Here's what you have to do to fix it.


Tell her:



"Honey, come here.

Hold this light, for me, will you please?"




Problem solved.

You're welcome.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I can't do that...my wife likes to look at things other than what I need to see...she's always moving the danged light on me!!

__________________
1987 560SL
85,000 miles

LOL

__________________
Jim

I have seen some small banks of LED powered "blocks" having maybe 50 LEDs in them, which were pretty bright. A place near me called Kitts Industrial Sales usually has them, they are dual power (batter and 110VAC) and they go fast at 30.00 but I can check and get you product info, the next time I'm there. They are neat because the have a plain screw-on tube handle which acts as an adjustable stand.

Recently I have been impressed with how bright the Ryobi and DeWalt 14.4v or 18v flashlights are. In close quarters when working they put out a lot of light.

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

I got the wrong impression when I read the title of this thread - I was ready to tell you story of the bloke I knew who fitted lights under his car to give it that UFO effect whilst driving along...

...now I won't bother...

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

It's not the cheapest one out there, but I've been positively impressed by the lighting provided by an ATD Saber LED work light.

I have the model with 90 LEDs - looks like this one.

The same outfit makes similar models with 60 LEDs (like this one) or 30 LEDs (like this one). Less light, but longer run time, and could obviously be handier in really close quarters.

I appreciate that it has a blue LED that comes on to warn you that you're approaching the end of the battery charge - and that it shuts itself down when the charge is too low in order to not unnecessarily abuse the battery.

Am I the only one here that can't stand the light emitted by LEDs? To me, it's as bad as flourescent lighting for work lights. Incandescent has always allowed my eyes to see things better.

On second thought...it may be because my pupils don't dialate like a normal person's does. I am easily blinded for periods of time due to bright lights, but can see VERY well in the dark.

__________________
1987 560SL
85,000 miles

The trouble with direct lighting under a typical car is there is so much in the way of what you're working on, including yourself, that cause shadows. Maybe you need one of those photo studio umbrellas or those low-glare balloons they use now when they do roadwork at night. A photographer might have some better ideas to try.



Sixto
87 300D