How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

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stan21
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How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by stan21 »

Is there a way i can get a self made cable from the engine compartment into the vehicle ?
Its a 2006 407 coupe 2.7hdi.
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by Dormouse »

Depends on the thickness and importance of the cable. I fed a thin temperature probe wire out the driver's door under the door edge trim with a bit of thin rubber sheet for protection and fed the wire, probe and all, between the A pillar and the bolt on wing to allow me to mount an outside temperature gauge sender in the front grille. The usual method is to look for a grommet in the bulkhead/firewall behind the glove box area and fed wires into the car there. Hopefully someone has more precise instructions for your 407.
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by Dormouse »

What is it you need to feed through?
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by Gibbo2286 »

Back in the day when no radio or heater etc were fitted, to get a cable though from under bonnet to inside we found a suitable spot on the bulkhead and punched a hole through with a sharp pointed steel rod, this left a nice round hole that was swaged making it less likely to chafe on the wires, once the wire was in a dab of body sealer finished the job. :)
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by Peter.N. »

Coat hanger wire is good for pushing/pulling wire through. How about through the gear lever aperture?

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stan21
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by stan21 »

Dormouse wrote: 15 Sep 2021, 08:32 Depends on the thickness and importance of the cable. I fed a thin temperature probe wire out the driver's door under the door edge trim with a bit of thin rubber sheet for protection and fed the wire, probe and all, between the A pillar and the bolt on wing to allow me to mount an outside temperature gauge sender in the front grille. The usual method is to look for a grommet in the bulkhead/firewall behind the glove box area and fed wires into the car there. Hopefully someone has more precise instructions for your 407.
If i could only see how it could be done on my 407 coupe...this sounds easier than finding the firewall hole as i cannot seem to find it, those who do find it says thete is a lot if ducting you cant see where the wires go?
Last edited by stan21 on 16 Sep 2021, 17:08, edited 2 times in total.
stan21
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by stan21 »

Gibbo2286 wrote: 16 Sep 2021, 09:18 Back in the day when no radio or heater etc were fitted, to get a cable though from under bonnet to inside we found a suitable spot on the bulkhead and punched a hole through with a sharp pointed steel rod, this left a nice round hole that was swaged making it less likely to chafe on the wires, once the wire was in a dab of body sealer finished the job. :)
I want to put the radiator fan on a switch.
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by Dormouse »

When I fed the wire behind the wing, the cable followed a pressing the A pillar and was fed using a welding rod to a gap between bolt mounting flanges - not all wings will have a gap so you could cut/drill a hole in the inner wing and use a grommet in the hole. Removing/peeling back the inner wheel arch cover might help locate a suitable route.
I would suggest filing a small U shaped clearance slot on the edge of the metal lip and using sleeving to reinforce the cable at any points where crimping or chafing might occur. The push on door seals are reasonably pliable so fitting a single cable per clearance slot could be possible. I used self adhesive plastic clips to support my cable.
stan21
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by stan21 »

Thank you sir i will take a look at the door and see if there are any possibilities.
Maybe finding the firewall hole will be easier but with this car nothing is easy :(
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Dormouse
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by Dormouse »

If your 407 is as crammed under the bonnet as pictures suggest then trying to locate a suitable bulkhead aperture is going to be time consuming unless someone comes up with a suitable idea to cut out the trial and error. never worked on a 407 so I don't know.
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by Dormouse »

A thought has just occurred to me.
Try finding a car with its engine removed or pictures of one That will show the locations of bulkhead fittings.
If I find a suitable one, I will post it here.
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by white exec »

Things going through the (twin) bulkhead/firewall would include clutch cable/hose, two coolant hoses for the heater, and two metal pipes for the A/C. The rubber grommets for these can be difficult though #-o .

This is cable route that I have used on an XM, where going through the twin firewalls proved too difficult:
http://www.club-xm.co.uk/forum/viewtopi ... 001#p64138
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stan21
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by stan21 »

Dormouse wrote: 16 Sep 2021, 21:18 A thought has just occurred to me.
Try finding a car with its engine removed or pictures of one That will show the locations of bulkhead fittings.
If I find a suitable one, I will post it here.
A great idea... battling to get a picture like that but i'll keep trying !
stan21
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by stan21 »

Dormouse wrote: 16 Sep 2021, 21:09 If your 407 is as crammed under the bonnet as pictures suggest then trying to locate a suitable bulkhead aperture is going to be time consuming unless someone comes up with a suitable idea to cut out the trial and error. never worked on a 407 so I don't know.
Indeed the engine compartment is cramped :(
stan21
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Re: How can i get wire from engine to inside car ?

Post by stan21 »

white exec wrote: 16 Sep 2021, 21:31 Things going through the (twin) bulkhead/firewall would include clutch cable/hose, two coolant hoses for the heater, and two metal pipes for the A/C. The rubber grommets for these can be difficult though #-o .

This is cable route that I have used on an XM, where going through the twin firewalls proved too difficult:
http://www.club-xm.co.uk/forum/viewtopi ... 001#p64138
its an automatic so i guess no clutch cable...
But it doesnt make things easier i guess... #-o
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