How to get amp power cables through my firewall?

[hans030390]

Does anyone know the best way to get the power cable for an amp through the firewall of my 95 Civic? I looked around for any areas I could stick it through, but really didn't notice any. I know some people have to drill holes through the firewall for cables like that.

Does anyone have any sort of experience or knowledge about this issue (and this car)? I just need to know the best way of going about installing this stuff before I actually do it.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Home Depot and Lowes sell all sorts of rubber grommets....I'm sure they have one the size of the cable you want to run. Get one, and drill a hole for it. Easy.

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Home Depot and Lowes sell all sorts of rubber grommets....I'm sure they have one the size of the cable you want to run. Get one, and drill a hole for it. Easy.

Alright, but are there no holes already in the firewall (even if plugged up)?

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: hans030390

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Home Depot and Lowes sell all sorts of rubber grommets....I'm sure they have one the size of the cable you want to run. Get one, and drill a hole for it. Easy.

Alright, but are there no holes already in the firewall (even if plugged up)?

Possibly...but the only way you'll know that is if you look for one. You might find a hole that's there for some option your car doesn't have, so it's plugged up by a solid grommet.

But you're better off just drilling one and getting the correct grommet for your wire.

 

[zoiks]

I drilled a hole in the firewall of my mazda6. I was running 4gauge cable and couldn't find a pre-existing grommet to drill through. For a 4gauge wire, I had to use a 3/4" grommet.

 

[jagec]

Sure, there's a hole for the accelerator cable, a hole for the clutch, a hole for the brake, a hole for the lines in and out of the heater core, a hole for the lines in and out of the AC evaporator, a hole for the steering assembly, and holes for various wiring bundles.

These holes are filled by the accelerator cable, the clutch piston rod, the brake piston rod, the lines in and out of the heater core, the lines in and out of the AC evaporator, the steering assembly, and various wiring bundles.

Just drill it d00d.

You might be able to find enough space to run the wires through a prexisting hole, but it would probably be a squeeze and increase the risk of chafing both for the wire and for whatever's already there.

 

[hans030390]

Alright, thanks everyone.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

I have an 05 Neon that I just took it to a audio shop and had them use their unibit to poke a hole for 0/1 ga wire to fit through. Got some rubber sealant to put around the hole and called it a day.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
I have an 05 Neon that I just took it to a audio shop and had them use their unibit to poke a hole for 0/1 ga wire to fit through. Got some rubber sealant to put around the hole and called it a day.

What kind of system are you running with a 0/1 gauge wire? That's pretty thick, how many amps, wattage? Did you have o deal with more batteries/caps and an upgraded alternator?

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

I am currently just running 6.5 comps that are 150 watt RMS. However, I bought everything so I would only have to run the cables once. I know 0/1 ga is overkill even with the 16 inch sub (500 watt RMS) I plan on putting in there. The other thing is I was initially going to add a PXA-H701 and carputer for digital media storage among other things.

Needless to say I took the Texas approach to wiring. Go big or go home.

 

[alkemyst]

Same here, ran 1/0 mostly in case I ever relocated my battery. I am running 600WRMS, fuses rates at 90A on the amp itself. I drilled my firewall. If one can avoid it it's best...4g should be able to slide through any firewall grommet, you just run a punch through it and then feed the wire.