No-Drill Subwoofer/Amplifier installation

[metalliqaz]

I found a way to install my new subwoofer and amplifier without drilling through the firewall. The power cable is threaded through the driver's side door jam. First I used a flash light to observe where there was space to fit the cable, then I just pushed it through and grabbed it on the other side. No drilling, no fuss.
Observe...

[popsicle]

Isn't that coming through where the door will close on it? That's how it looks anyway.

[metalliqaz]

I thought that might happen too, but I checked, it doesn't. The cable is squeezed against the bumper pad that goes all the way around the doorway when the door is closed, but the pad is way too soft to allow any damage to the cable. I may add a drop of hot glue somewhere to keep the cable from moving around, but its quite safe.

-d

[newbiestyle]

I did that with my old 92 grand prix. I drove with it hooked up like that for years and never had a problem. The door seal is too soft to really do any damage to the sub cable.

[popsicle]

If it works, that's cool.

[Interfire]

Looks good!

But just some thoughts... it may not seem like it now, but it will put added wear on your weatherstrip. And take it from someone who has had it replaced several times (under warranty but still) it is not fun... expensive and time consuming and that wouldn't be covered under warranty. Also even if it pinches a tiny bit over time it will wear through, and add that to the fact that it's not sealed away from weather that's not a good mix. Also it isn't allowing the weatherstrip to completely seal, so you have the hazard of potential water leaking. Plus it looks tacky and unprofessional imho.

Don't take any offense to this, I'm just stating my opinion on what I have come across many times. The very first time I ever installed an audio system in my first car I did the same thing with speaker wires, later when I realized what I did to the full effect I re-routed them the proper way. Was more work but the end result is much more satisfying.



Just to add... there are places where you can piggyback through the firewall. Usually there are several openings already with grommets in place so you can just feed them through that way. It's really not a big deal as people think, even if you have to drill a whole which alone scares a lot of people.

[rollin20s]

i think that you should take the time to run it through the firewall, Interfire is right you might have some problems in the future by it going through the door jam, with it opening and closing all the time you dont want the wire to get pinched and short out

[ElecBlueG6GT]

^Read Forum rule 8 please.^

[metalliqaz]

You say you're worried about leaking into the car? Well, as for me, I'd be more worried about that if I had punctured a grommet or drilled a big hole into the underside of my dash. Sure, you can properly seal a hole, but I hardly have the experience or tools to do it right. This took all of 90 seconds to do, and will be very easy to undo if I want to get rid of the car.

-d

[ginuwine]

there should be a hole already down on floor behind pedals at least in mine there was
if it works then great that would bug me seeing that all the time i did that in my first car i had cause i had no idea what i was doing b4 never had any trouble then but they way from firewall looks more clean

[mclonedogmcwad]

first real post and it is to rant!

Please change that as soon as possible! There are plenty of places to run through the firewall and if not it is not that hard to add another grommet.

I personally have seen a friends car go up in smoke because he did shortcuts like that. Not only will it eventually rub out and ground out. Since your running a amp/sub off it more then likely it will create a nice little spark when it does ground out.

I have been in audio for quite a few years now please don't do shortcuts that are dangerous

-mc

[metalliqaz]

Haha, ya I'll get right on that, thanks.

Tell ya what. I'll come back on new years next year and post a picture of it, and then again the year after that. We'll see how "rubbed out" it is.

As usual with internet boards, I expect people to be hostile to different ideas, but your post takes the cake.

You'd rather quote some horror story of some unknown "friend" than believe whats in front of your eyes. You'd rather send inexperienced, unprepared internet geeks into their car with power tools to drill a friggin hole through the guts of the car. Thanks for your concern for my safety, but I'll stick with what I've got.

-d

[Puh_Fifer]

Actually, his point along with several others was that there's enough holes in our firewalls that you don't have to drill. Why do it half assed when GM has already left you the holes to do it the right way?

But way to go not reading and just getting mad at people trying to help you.

[bluegtp33]

i went thru right where the steering wheel comes thru...it is your car, it might not look that great to us, but we arent driving it either. same with any mod


if it works, good install

[Vandie]

ya i find that to be pretty trashin imo...if it wasnt a bright blue wire then prolly wont look so bad

and i dont get why you would post pics and then when people, who even as you stated, have far more experience in that field tell you there are better and safer ways to do it you get pissed at them...lol you keep going on about not drillin holes yet just about everyone has made a comment on a hole that they went through or where one is for easy access, i dont get the point of this post if all your gona do is get mad that people giving you other options of how to do it