Fire in the hole!....i mean Hole in the Firewall!

[Omarvelous 10+ year member]

Ok guys....

I'd like to put a hole in my firewall as to bring the power in.

Who's done it? Pros? Cons?

What's the right way to do it? Links? Writeups?

I'd use something like this

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=263-720

to make sure it's leak/air proof.

Click to read more...

 

[prioracy 10+ year member]

I have done it to my 01 corolla, pros i would have to say is that it give you an easier way to run the power wire to the battery depending on location, instead of trying to find a hole to push the power wire threw, one of the cons is drilling the hole, u wanna make sure u don't drill it to far in where u puncture someting on your engine or what not. I haven't had anything leak in threw the hole i just bought some rubber seal stuff from lowes to put over the wire and hole. If i were to do it again, i would probably try to put a piece of wood or something behind where i'm drilling just in case i push the drill bit 2 far so that it won't damage anything in the engine compartment

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Yep that's about it. before you drill your hole make sure you aren't drilling into anything Then drill your hole and use a grommet //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[NhustlaR 10+ year member]

i just make a grommet out of my existing grommet it will save you a few bucks and a lot of time

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

i usually look for a plastic "hole cover" when i do it at circuit city.

see if you can find one near your break pedal on the inside, and try to find it on the engine side. if you do, and its clear on the other side, just drill thru that and fish your wire through.

i doubt you will have water damage. i usually just drill a hole about 1\16" bigger than the wire. but if you want to do a gromet, go for it.

 

[Omarvelous 10+ year member]

I guess i needed the reassurance! Kinda pu$$y about the hole thing.

What you guys use to dril the hole? hole Saw Drill bit? I'm thinking that might be the choice.

EDIT: had whole instead of HOLE

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

just a regular drill bit is fine. Something that the wire that you are using can easily fit through.

 

[Blunt 10+ year member]

I just cut a small slit in the steering rubber and slid the wire in there a little silicon and its great.

 

[KaeZoo 10+ year member]

Here's a trick: Use a self-tapping metal screw for your pilot hole. It will make a 1/8" hole and then you can stick a piece of wire or something through and look for it on the other side. Once you're sure about the hole location and that everything's clear, enlarge the hole with the right size bit. A step drill bit is the best tool for the job.

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

I had a rubber plug already in my fire wall. I just popped it out and cut a hole, then ran the wire through it. Nice and easy.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Rodge 10+ year member]

I had a rubber plug already in my fire wall. I just popped it out and cut a hole, then ran the wire through it. Nice and easy.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

That's what I had on my old 91 Toyota Pickup. I cut a very small slit it in, and shoved the power wire through so it pretty much sealed itself. I use to take this truck into snow covered parking lots and beat the crap out of it, and always had snow in the engine compartment because of it, and it never leaked.

Rest in piece, long live the new 06 Tacoma. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Here's a trick: Use a self-tapping metal screw for your pilot hole. It will make a 1/8" hole and then you can stick a piece of wire or something through and look for it on the other side. Once you're sure about the hole location and that everything's clear, enlarge the hole with the right size bit. A step drill bit is the best tool for the job.

Good point about the step bit. It makes this kind of job really easy. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[96Cherokee 10+ year member]

My best practice is assuming that you have an automatic...go through the clutch cover plate. Since you would have no clutch, there would be a plate covering the factory hole.

 

[kingsxman 10+ year member]

Just curious why everyone doesnt run it through where the rest of the wires come through? WIll it not fit?

 

[KaeZoo 10+ year member]

Just curious why everyone doesnt run it through where the rest of the wires come through? WIll it not fit?

On many vehicles, the wiring doesn't run through a rubber grommet. Often there's a plastic plug instead, and it's not possible to run another wire through. On other vehicles, like newer Eclipses, the wiring runs into the kick panel and under the fender to come out near the front of the engine bay, which makes it very difficult to fish the wire. Also, the stock wire grommet may not be on the same side as the battery, which means if you go through with the stock wiring you have to waste several feet of wire to get around the engine and over to the battery post.