2tTHEMAX

How easy is it to get through the fire wall on a 5th generation. I have a 2002. Is there a pre-drilled hole or do you have to drill it yourself? Curious for installing aftermarket driving lights.

Thanks!
2tTHEMAX

N1sMO

The hood release cable is the best way to go. You have to remove the driver side wheel well cover (the one toward the rear) and it should be self explanatory.

Greg's2kGLE

There are no pre-drilled holes, at least on my 2000 there aren't. Never tried the hood release cable, it's worth a shot instead of drilling.

mdeal

iTrader: (2)

There is a large cluster of wires that go through the firewall to the left of the steering column and upwards. The wires exit the cabin into the firewall, going towards the engine bay, in the fender well. You'll need to remove the wheel well lining as N1sMO stated. There is a "membrane" that surrounds the opening, but you can use a screwdirver or pointy device to "open" the hole to stick stuff through.

BigDogJonx

iTrader: (7)

Problem with that whole deal is that getting the wire on the inside aint no joke, all them wires there and it sort gets stuck there also it sorta falls down into the crank and you never see it. Just takes some patience to find the wire on the inside also.

Dixit

ToYLeT902

iTrader: (12)

lets see.... it took me 2 hours to drill a whole in my firewall.
and i also broke 2 drill bits, but they were old anyways.

N1sMO

The easiest way to get the wires through is to wrap it around a screw driver and poke it through. I ran a wire into the car to control the radiator fans and I used the hood release cable hole because it seemed to be the lowest point as I think the wiring harness is higher up and harder to get to inside the cabin.

BluLite

got any pictures of the hood release cable? i dont want to drill a hole in my fire wall if i dont have to

N1sMO

There's some illustrations toward the middle of this page: http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/gauges.html

2k1maxgle

iTrader: (1)

just one question...may be off topic...but why would you want to control the radiator fans???

N1sMO

It's just so I can turn them on before the ECU decides to do it, on those hot summer So Cal days. It helps keep the car cool when I'm doing city driving (no need when going at highway speeds). The other way of keeping engine temp down is to turn on the A/C to low setting (which will turn on both radiator fans also).

BluLite

cool! thanks

Punch84

Is this the only way to get to the firewall? I already have my fog light wires going through the hood release "membrane", and dont want to send some amp wires through there. Whats a good place to run amp wires into the engine bay?

thomasd cook

iTrader: (7)

I found the best way to run the wire is to drill a 3/8" hole mainly depending on wire size. Be sure you have a gromet to put in the hole with the wire so it doesn't get cut on the metal edges. Preferably find a plastic grommet. If you look up under steering wheel you'll see to the left a little notch out in the blacl firewall. Pull the knock out out and drill being extremely careful. Pull wire through with grommet. Then you should run your power wires(12 volt from battery and remote wire) on same side you came through the wall. Then run your RCA's on the passenger side. The panels pull straight up. By the way I really don't think it would be too great to pull maybe a 10-16 gauge wire through a small hole with vital wires that may get burned from wire pulling through tight hole. Wires will rub and burn insulation off of wires going through holes.