Hey folks,
I have a problem while installing an after market amp to drive the subwoofer that I have just installed a day ago. The problem that I am having right now is how do you get the power cable through the firewall ?
I have found the grommet that is close to the E-brake but trying to get the power cable through the grommet is h*lla hard !!! . I have also tried pushing the cable from the engine bay but still unsuccessfull.
BTW, I am using a 10gauge cable to drive the 200W amp.
If anyone has any good tips of getting the cable through the firewall, I will greatly appreciate it.

Thanks !!! :

 

I think I found the answer. Too bad the search does not work anymore. I ended up have to go through every single post since last year.

 

drcookie:
Sucks dude...wish I had seen your post earlier but my email notification isn't working. You will have to cut a hole in the grommet to put the wire through...soap the grommet up beforehand so it will cut easier.

Austin519

 

Austin519,
Hey man, the search feature does not work anymore so I have to go through all the posts but fortunately I found your reply to a few posts back in a few months ago. :
All I can say is trying to get the cable over the grommet is a b|tch. I have spent more than 1 hour last night trying to figure out how the heck you guys did it. There is not a lot of room in the engine bay to move my hands around and the it is hard to reach the grommet from inside the car. I will try to get a sharp razor today and work from inside again. Just hope that I do not cut any of the wires.

BTW, could you please confirm the position of the grommet again so that I actually cut the right one ? Is the grommet that located at top left of the e-brake ? I could feel the grommet with my hand and there are lots of cables going through it as well. I did not check the other side of the brake pedal.

 

drcookie:
Yeah dude no problem at all. Getting the cable in there is a *****...you're absolutely right. You most likely won't cut the wires unless you try to. They are sheathed...and you'd know if you were. Depending on how small your hands are you may want to work at cutting and feeding the wire through from the inside. I don't know of a grommet to the left (driver's side) of the e-brake...of the brake yes but not e-brake...the grommet you want is on the right side of the wall between the brake and e-brake....feel your hand up along the right (passenger) side of that wall...then do a 45 degree turn left (driver) with your hand. You should feel the wires protruding. If you want to be sure...have a friend feel the grommet from the outside while you pull on the wires from the inside...if he can feel it you have the right one.

Austin519-X

 

I just ran power through my firewall this weekend. I used a small screwdriver and poked a hole in the grommet. I then pushed one of those wire snakes through the grommet and pulled the 10 gauge through. The hardest part was making sure that what I was poking a hole in was indeed the grommet. The next hardest part was trying to figure out how to get the back seats out so I could tap into the amplifier.

 

Oh yeah... There is this plastic thing near the ebrake that looks like a grommet, it is actually just protecting a bolt protruding into the cabin.

 

How did you get to the grommet? I reached it by going up the left side of the e-brake pedal and then I felt the bundle of wires next to that metal thing (which cut my hand to pieces)...but I couldn't get the wire through to save my life. Screwdrivers, awls, coat hangers....nothing would get it through.

 

Yeah... my hand got cut up in a couple of places, I guess it's to be expected. The grommet should feel like a spongy rubber, there is a 1/2" bundle of wire going through it. I could only get my index finger through the small hole to get to the grommet. You can also feel the grommet from under the hood, look for the 1/2" bundle of wire about 1 foot from the top of the engine bay (its a tight squeeze but your hand should get in there).

I tapped into the amplifier behind the rear seat, if you need help with that let me know.

 

I'm really getting angry now...

First try to run the wire through the grommet....no problem at all. Shoved a coathanger through, taped the wire to it, and pulled it through. What the hell?!? I spent 3 hours last week cutting my hand up.

Now the problem is the wiring in the back...the stock sub no longer functions, neither does the stuff I put in.

I cut open the brown wire, tapped the orange/blue and blue/green wires inside and reconnected the shielding from the brown wire, since I had to cut it to undo the 2 wires inside.

Then, I tapped the blue wire running from the plug to the stock amp for the remote wire.

The stock sub doesn't work anymore, and the amp I put in doesn't turn on.

I removed the taps, and it did penetrate the wire...so there was a proper connection...

Grrr

 

ouch... you wiring sounds right. the stock sub doesnt work even with your mods unplugged?

 

Yeah...everything was taken off and it doesn't work now.

 

Maybe when you cut the shielding around the twisted pair of wires you dropped some of shielding inside the amp thus causing a meltdown??
Are you sure that the two wires are not shorting out at the cut (tape 'em with some electrical tape).

 

Hey SwampGas,
At this stage, I would suggest to get a multi-ammeter and check to see if you have any power going to your new sub. You could get a cheap multi-ammeter from Radio Shack for about $10+battery (that's what I have). I would also check the remote on wire (blue cable) to make sure the voltage is close to 12 or more when your HU is turned on. Also check your grounding that connects to your new amp. Those are 3 things needed for the new installed amp to come up.

Hope this helps.

Cheers !!!

 

If the stock sub didn't turn on, I think it may be related to the remote wire...

I should take a pic and post it...

 

Oy vey....

I retapped the remote wire and now the stock sub works...but the amp I put in still doesn't turn on.

It's cold and dark out...so no more work today. I get to drive around with no back seat...yeesh.

Remind me to call a professional next time