Firewall Passthrough
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 444
Likes: 4
Firewall Passthrough
Greetings,
I have wired a few car stereos in my life and even a couple on this body style truck but for some reason I can't find a good place to come through the firewall for the amp power cable to the battery.
Some trucks have unused grommets that are available on the firewall but I don't even see a factory grommet that I can poke a hole through.
Should I just drill a new hole and put in a grommet?
Thanks
I have wired a few car stereos in my life and even a couple on this body style truck but for some reason I can't find a good place to come through the firewall for the amp power cable to the battery.
Some trucks have unused grommets that are available on the firewall but I don't even see a factory grommet that I can poke a hole through.
Should I just drill a new hole and put in a grommet?
Thanks
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
There was a grommet in mine that I ran through on the driver side. It was right behind the dimmer switch or somewhere in that area. I used a coat hanger and pulled the wire through. I ran my wire from down through the firewall, along in under the plastic trim, in under the kick panel, and then under the seat.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
Use a grommet...if you don't, the wire can and will rub against the sharp edges of the hole, eventually shorting it out, possibly causing a fire.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville FL
Run the power wire down the frame and pull it through the rubber grommet in the floor.
This is 0 gauge and 4 gauge.
This is 0 gauge and 4 gauge.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Freehold
Thats what the silicones for, your basically making your own grommet this way. Its worked fine in many a tow truck I put lights on and other electrical use and those guys ABUSE them to no end so if it was gonna short and fail or worse it woulda done it by now.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,431
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From: Ohio
Remind me not to buy a used vehicle from you...
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,008
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From: Freehold
Hey, no worries here bud. It has worked on countless vehicles for years for me without a hitch. The wire CANT rub thru cause the silicone acts like a grommet and seals it up all at the same time.
Good example: How do you think the cops, fire dept, and emt squads lights and such are done up? They rarely use grommets, how do I know cause ive seen it.
Good example: How do you think the cops, fire dept, and emt squads lights and such are done up? They rarely use grommets, how do I know cause ive seen it.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
I will second that. Our PD units use silicone to act as a grommet and seal it. As long as the hole wasn't tight on the wire, silicone (used properly) will do a good job.
Just thinking, my brother's tow truck is done that way too.
YMMV
Ray
Just thinking, my brother's tow truck is done that way too.
YMMV
Ray
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
My cousin owns a shop in Ohio that sets up police cruisers with lights and such, and they ALWAYS are done with grommets, then silicone over top of that to create a water tight seal.
I had a hack job done to a stereo install on a car of mine years ago, where grommets weren't used. It fried the power line (idiot didn't use a fuse at the power source) and in turn fried the amps. Cost me over $2000 in replaced electronics and such. This was done by a reputable shop in the Dayton, Ohio area back in the early 1990's.
Silicone being used WITH the grommets is the only way to go.
I had a hack job done to a stereo install on a car of mine years ago, where grommets weren't used. It fried the power line (idiot didn't use a fuse at the power source) and in turn fried the amps. Cost me over $2000 in replaced electronics and such. This was done by a reputable shop in the Dayton, Ohio area back in the early 1990's.
Silicone being used WITH the grommets is the only way to go.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Freehold
^ whatever works for ya.
All i can say is I NEVER had anything fail I installed my way. This is b/c the silicone MUST go into the hole and act as your grommet-otherwise the metal could cut the wires and FRY.
All i can say is I NEVER had anything fail I installed my way. This is b/c the silicone MUST go into the hole and act as your grommet-otherwise the metal could cut the wires and FRY.
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