Hi Guys,

Its that time of the year when we all have to tinker with our cars...

This weekend, I ran a lovely thick power cable from the battery in my Octy vRS Combi to the boot where my amps are.

Firstly thanks to Quinten's previous pics/thread and funkyjutel's almost patented method for the cable. OKay, here's what I did...

Firstly as per the old thread, I removed the scuttle panel and removed the Pollen filter (using the two clips on the front)

Next, I found the grommit at the back left corner of the pollen filter holder thingy.

I poked it through with a bit of wood and straightened coat hanger. I then fed the cable through to the hole and eventually found it on the other side. Please note that a second pair of hands are needed for this. After poking around behind the glovebox for a few minutes, and loosing the mandatory bit of skin! I located the cable behind the metal strip and then guided it out from there...See the next pic!

From there, I went back to the engine bay and bolted the new fuse near to the battery. And then rain stopped play.

On Sunday morning I went out and resumed at the glovebox. I decided to run the power cable down the centre console, as I already had RCAs running down the RHS of the car and speaker cable down the LHS, so the centre console was the obious choice. I took out the surround and foam bit at the gearstick and guided the cable as far as there.

From there I removed the centre console around the handbrake. This took a bit of time as I had to base my dismantle on a VW Golf centre console that I found with pics on the web. Suprisingly it was almost identical. From the back, I took off the plastic coverings for the armrest and then took off the handrest by taking out the bolt and wiggling it free.

Next I removed the ashtray from the console and then its cover. It takes a bit of brute force to remove this - Just pull hard!!!

This then revealed two torx screws that hold the console to the floor. I removed this and removed the console.

I then routed the cable from the gearbox to the handbrake using the trial-and-error method. Eventually when the cable came through I routed it around the handbrake, taking car not to go near the mechanics of it.

Its a lot more tidy when I was finishedd with it, but you can see the rough outlay of the path - although it eventually ran the other side of the handbrake itself. Next I removed the plastic cover of the front passenger rail thingy, which freed up the carpet and let me run the cable quickly and easily. Also I removed one of the rear seats for easier access. At which time I left the cable here...

I've left it at this position until I can get an extension for the cable as 5m is not enough!!!

Hope this helps everyone who's trying it !

More to follow.....new headunit and amp to be installed in 2 weeks time.

Right...an update...

Got an extension for the 8-guage cable and installed it with the new Amp Head unit. Plumed everything in and reinstalled the ground cable (more 8-guage). And all I can say is wow! what a difference, everything is so much clearer.

The Old alternator whine decided to re-emerge even louder than before when I replace the ground cable (before the new power) - as a test before I connected the new power cable. Installed the new cable and the whine is now virtually gone..so comes my question....

Anyone know of a different grounding point in the back of the Octy Combi (besides the one near to the rear left lights) ???

I saw that TaviaRS drilled through the boot floor by the CD changer, make it nice and shiny with a dremmel and put a 10mm bolt through Other alternative is near the fuel pump, under the carpet under the back seats as you can drill through and still get at the nuit and bolt (same as through the boot floor)

Quality grounding point i find is where the rear seat belt buckles bolt down into the floor, nice strong bolt, no messing required.

:confused: :eek:

OMG what a palaver for running cable....

fair do's its work so what elese do you want... lol

Joel