Running wires through firewall

[MountainManJoe]

I discovered this convenient little trick for running wires between the cabin and under the hood, so I thought I'd share pics. No drilling needed. I used coat hanger wire to thread some string through, which I will later use to pull my wires through.

It starts right behind the battery ... a bonus.


Following the string...
And there we can see some wire loom going through a hole in the firewall. There's room for more!


And here's my string coming out the other side, next to the parking brake.


Voila! From there you can run your wires (hidden from view) under the carpet, into your dashboard, up the pillar, or wherever else you need. You're welcome.

[JaxSPL]

I'd almost say that's the hood release cable, but, it has a different type of wrap on it. Hmm, I may have to go look in my van cause if I remember right, that's exactly where the hood release cable is.

Good job though. Pics are great. I like the fact you didn't take the shortcut and run the wires through the doors. Talk about a fire waiting to happen.

[CaptSquid]

It's STILL an accident waiting to happen. There's NO grommet to protect the insulation from abrading against the hole's edge.

[MountainManJoe]

As I was composing my topic, I had a thought at the back of my head: As soon as I put this up, CaptSquid is going to remind me to put a grommet in the hole... sure enough.

Thanks for not disappointing me Cap!

[JaxSPL]

You know, I should have noticed that. OOOOPS!

Yea, that's a bad thing. Fire waiting to happen. But it does look like there was a grommet of some sort there but the wire is still touching the metal.

Good catch CaptSquid

[MountainManJoe]

What you saw in the photo is only a white piece of string. If you read my post, I said I haven't run my wire yet. The stuff already in the hole encased in wire loom is there from the factory and lasted 11 years so far without so much as a scratch.

Don't worry my van won't catch fire. I'll use grommets or wire loom, or maybe I'll just wrap it a few times with electrical tape, but these wires don't move very much so it's unlikely they will rub through. If they do, they will be fused, and I inspect things under the hood fairly often. Either way you'll see the end result. I appreciate your concern

[CaptSquid]

The grommet is on the north side of the "string" (actually a cord). It protects the hood latch cable. You're much better off boring a new hole and installing a grommet in that hole.

[MountainManJoe]

The grommet is on the north side of the "string" (actually a cord). It protects the hood latch cable. You're much better off boring a new hole and installing a grommet in that hole.

LOL, nylon string, cord, rope, whatever you want to call it, I put it there. I'm going to use it to to pull my wires through. I didn't see the hood latch cable but I'll check again. You guys are funny.

[reaper]

This is not only a bad idea for a wire run
it will send thru possible fumes & constant cool airflow.

[MountainManJoe]

Why would there be fumes under the hood? It's constantly scooping fresh air through the grill. I doubt the tiny pinprick of a hole is going to let much air in, and if anything, the wires I add will plug the hole and make the opening smaller than before. Maybe you didn't notice, but air constantly, slowly flows through the cabin anyways. Frankly, I couldn'y think of a better way to run wire. The easy accessibility makes it perfect.


what else ya got?

[reaper]

What I have is I see it as a unsafe practice.
-Good luck with it.

[MountainManJoe]

Unsafe because ... ?

[CaptSquid]

The air for the heater/air conditioner comes from the low pressure area at the base of the windshield, NOT through the grill. THAT air is for engine cooling only.

There ARE better ways to run wiring through the firewall.

1. Run a bulkhead connector http://www.amazon.com/Bulkhead-connecto ... B003NUUKCW through the firewall.
2. Drill a NEW hole and put a grommet in place and run the wires through the grommet.

Not using a grommet runs the risk of the wire insulation being abraded and may result in a massive short to ground, not to mention the possibility of an electrical fire.

[MountainManJoe]

The air for the heater/air conditioner comes from the low pressure area at the base of the windshield

Exactly. "constant cool airflow" as reaper calls it.

I already said I will use some kind of protection against sharp metal edges, plus fusing, so again, I've got that covered. So why should a drill a new hole, which is not an easy task, when there's a perfectly good one already there?

[CaptSquid]

Are you an electronics technician or an electrician? If not, listen to those who ARE!

The hole you are suggesting is NOT a perfectly good hole. The existing cable running through that hole exerts pressure on the side you wish to use (or any side, for that matter). The ONLY protection that you suggest (wrapping the wire with electrical tape and fusing) will result in abraded insulation and popping many fuses.

DRILL A NEW HOLE AND DO IT RIGHT

As for constant cool airflow through said hole, you're dead wrong. Fumes STILL build up under the hood despite the airflow through the grill. You still run a risk of getting fumes in the cabin that are not conducive to humans.