Running wires through the firewall?

[LynchburgCSI]

As a few of you guys know, I'm working on installing a security/remote start system in my '96 LE 5S-FE. Of course, i'm going to need to run wires from the engine bay to the cabin of the car. I was looking around under the dashboard today trying to figure out where to put a hole or if there was an existing hole I could use. What's the best way to get wires through the firewall?

[SexieWASD]

For large wires you should run a separate hole/grommet through the firewall, for smaller wires there is the main wire harness going through the left side of the dash that you can use.

[Jimnist]

If there's space, you could try squeezing it along with the accelerator cable ( doubt it though). Other than that, i'd just suggest drilling a new one close to the accelerator, there's space around there.

[bigbird]

best way is goin through the wheel well. youll have to take off teh drivers side wheel and well liner to get to it.

[skuttduck]

Originally Posted by bigbird

best way is goin through the wheel well. youll have to take off teh drivers side wheel and well liner to get to it.

This is what I had to do on my Gen 4 to run the wires from the fog lights. This was in the OEM instructions.

On the Gen 4 I didn't have to take off the wheel, just pulled back the fender liner (had to turn the wheels to get to the screws), and then ran all my cables next to the hood release.

[eddie926]

Originally Posted by bigbird

best way is goin through the wheel well. youll have to take off teh drivers side wheel and well liner to get to it.

+1

I just did this last night on my '95 LE.

The wheel well liner was easy to remove. Once it's out you can access the hole/boot that the hood release cable (and some other bundle) goes thru. There's plenty of room thru there to route a power cable, and there's an easy access opening from the engine bay to get down to the wheel well.

I used an ice pick to puncture a hole thru the boot from the wheel well side, then ran a long stiff wire back thru from inside the passenger compartment, taped my power cable to it and pulled it back thru. You have to punch thru both sides of the boot. Kind of like puncturing a rubber ball all the way thru.

You can find the location inside the passenger compartment by following the hood release cable up to where it goes thru the firewall.

Once you've got the wire into the passenger compartment, you can remove the plastic door sill covers, and the plastic panel that covers the drivers seat belt retractor, take out the back seat cushion and easily route the wire under the carpeting all the way back to the trunk.

Sorry, I didn't take any pictures. I saw a thread the other day though where somebody had posted some good pictures of what I just described. I can't find it now though.

[LynchburgCSI]

Originally Posted by eddie926

+1

I just did this last night on my '95 LE.

The wheel well liner was easy to remove. Once it's out you can access the hole/boot that the hood release cable (and some other bundle) goes thru. There's plenty of room thru there to route a power cable, and there's an easy access opening from the engine bay to get down to the wheel well.

I used an ice pick to puncture a hole thru the boot from the wheel well side, then ran a long stiff wire back thru from inside the passenger compartment, taped my power cable to it and pulled it back thru. You have to punch thru both sides of the boot. Kind of like puncturing a rubber ball all the way thru.

You can find the location inside the passenger compartment by following the hood release cable up to where it goes thru the firewall.

Once you've got the wire into the passenger compartment, you can remove the plastic door sill covers, and the plastic panel that covers the drivers seat belt retractor, take out the back seat cushion and easily route the wire under the carpeting all the way back to the trunk.

Sorry, I didn't take any pictures. I saw a thread the other day though where somebody had posted some good pictures of what I just described. I can't find it now though.

thanks so much! i should have remembered that from when I installed my CAI. and running wires to the trunk has been done already.
the heart of the system gets here tomorrow via UPS...so around 7pm EST. should be done by Friday night!

[JCamry94]

Do I see a DIY coming together? Takin pics of it?

I'm gonna need one eventually as I put more and more aftermarket crap in her

[ASG14]

I ran my Amp/Fog light wires though the wheel well, and I ran Bigbird's Foglight wires the same way.

[LynchburgCSI]

Originally Posted by JCamry94

Do I see a DIY coming together? Takin pics of it?

I'm gonna need one eventually as I put more and more aftermarket crap in her

of course! i said on another thread I was working towards a DIY. you dont go through an install like this and not do a DIY!

[skuttduck]

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

of course! i said on another thread I was working towards a DIY. you dont go through an install like this and not do a DIY!

If I can locate the foglight install instructions that came with my kit, I could try and PDF the pages that detail this for the Gen 4.

[smurf3]

I Agree With The Wheel Well Idea. I Run My Amplifier Power cable from my battery through my wheel well abd to my amp. it is a 4 gauge wire and fits with ease. That is the best spot to run it through in my opinion. That is where my main wiring harness runs through so it is obviously a safe spot where there is no chance of the cable being cut or shorted by road debris or any thing of that matter.

[projektvertx]

Muhahaha god I love the search function on this forum I'll be needing this tommorow for my amplifier's 12V power source Thanks to ASG14 for the pic, and LynchburgCSI for making the title an obvious one among the hundreds of hits