I am in the process of trying to install a carPC, to replace my stream mp3 radio. At the moment the biggest problem for me is trying to feed the wires through the bloody car. I have knackered knuckles, sore fingers & have been swearing like a trooper, and that was just trying to get a cable from the passenger side footwell into the dashboard where the radio sits! [Who's smart idea was it to build this cars so fracking well!!?].

Now my task is to try and get the AMP power cable from the battery to the boot. Once again i can't find any nook or cranny to get the cable from the footwells into the engine bay, does anyone know of a grommet located somewhere accessible? Alternatively, I have access to a service pit, so can get under my car. One option is to feed the wire under the car, but I don't know how I would get the wire from under the car into the boot, once again, does anyone know of any grommet or drainage hole in the boot I could use?

Thanks guys

Oh this doesnt look good, please tell I'm not going to have a £300 carPC I can't connect up to the battery!

I am in the process of trying to install a carPC, to replace my stream mp3 radio. At the moment the biggest problem for me is trying to feed the wires through the bloody car. I have knackered knuckles, sore fingers & have been swearing like a trooper, and that was just trying to get a cable from the passenger side footwell into the dashboard where the radio sits! [Who's smart idea was it to build this cars so fracking well!!?].

Now my task is to try and get the AMP power cable from the battery to the boot. Once again i can't find any nook or cranny to get the cable from the footwells into the engine bay, does anyone know of a grommet located somewhere accessible? Alternatively, I have access to a service pit, so can get under my car. One option is to feed the wire under the car, but I don't know how I would get the wire from under the car into the boot, once again, does anyone know of any grommet or drainage hole in the boot I could use?

Thanks guys

Hi Andehh

If you are running a cable to the boot from the battery, I would run it down the chassis leg, and clip it to the fuel pipes with cable ties

and there is usually a way up from underneath into the boot, or if not (watch where you are drilling) but make the hole big enough

and put a rubber grommet (and if you relay want is just spray a bit of paint where you have drilled it)

Radiotwo

Thanks for the response, having spent over an hour dismantling the dash looking for holes & gaps and coming up with blanks (damn build quality!), I went under the car (grandparents have a service pit) and figure that's the way to do it. For future reference there are 3 rubber grommets under the spare wheel in the boot, using a Stanley knife I have made a small slit in one and plan to run the cable underneath the car (fuel lines sound like a good idea!) an then up into the engine bay.

I am going to duck tape the cable for adding weather proofing, keeping in mind the exhaust can get a tad toasty!

Thanks for the advice

Usual method is to run it through a grommet behind the glove box. Then you can go down the middle of the car or as with my last Octy, along the side, under the plastic trim above the sills.

I am in the process of trying to install a carPC, to replace my stream mp3 radio. At the moment the biggest problem for me is trying to feed the wires through the bloody car. I have knackered knuckles, sore fingers & have been swearing like a trooper, and that was just trying to get a cable from the passenger side footwell into the dashboard where the radio sits! [Who's smart idea was it to build this cars so fracking well!!?].

Now my task is to try and get the AMP power cable from the battery to the boot. Once again i can't find any nook or cranny to get the cable from the footwells into the engine bay, does anyone know of a grommet located somewhere accessible? Alternatively, I have access to a service pit, so can get under my car. One option is to feed the wire under the car, but I don't know how I would get the wire from under the car into the boot, once again, does anyone know of any grommet or drainage hole in the boot I could use?

Thanks guys

There is a gromit in the corner of the scutle on the n/s just below the screen made for the job ,

Its a faf to get to ,remove the trim over the wiper motor and wiper arms and the wether sheald infront of the heater intake and its there !

Usual method is to run it through a grommet behind the glove box. Then you can go down the middle of the car or as with my last Octy, along the side, under the plastic trim above the sills.

The problem with that way of doing it that way is its hard work taking all the parts to bits, and then getting the cable in the right place, so

as to not hamper the refitting of the trim, where as dropping it down from the battery, along the chassis leg, and atatch with cable ties, much

quicker and easer

I have done this on numerous cars for things like tow bar wiring etc, and then into the space in the boot and take off what ever power I need, in fact I disconnected the ign feed to the rear power socket, and put a permanent feed to it, so if I want to charge any thing while I am away from the car I can without the key .

Radiotwo

... in fact I disconnected the ign feed to the rear power socket, and put a permanent feed to it, so if I want to charge any thing while I am away from the car I can without the key .

Radiotwo

My rear power socket (estate) is permanent live...

Alan

My rear power socket (estate) is permanent live...

Alan

Sorry Alan

Are you trying to make a point ?

Radiotwo

I took the glovebox off and spent ages searching, and after catching my knuckles having a jolly good grope of the ol' girl I gave up and put everything back! Running it under the car sounds much easier, not sure if I should run it near the fuel lines though, just in case the wire was to over heat & catch fire but going to try and plan out a good route for it either way.

edit: Running the cable down the back of the engine & trying to get it as close to the bulk head as possible, are there any noticeable hot spots I should be careful of?

Edited 25 July, 201015 yr by Guest

Inside the car you have to take off the glovebox.

In the engine compartment you have to take off the battery, the battery holder and the air intake. Then you will see all the cables that go inside the car from the engine compartment. You will have there some rubber "tits". You have to cut one of them and pus the cable through it inside the cabin.

After you pushed it go inside the cabin and pull the cable. You will also need to take off the side plastic covers all the way to the boot in order to mask the cable under them.

Keep in mind that you will need to run the signal cables from the amp to the player on the oposite side of the car in order to keep away from interferences from the power cable.

Don't forget to use a fuse as close as you can to the battery.

I did all this for my custom subwoofer instalation.

You will have there some rubber "tits".

Sorry Alan

Are you trying to make a point ?

Radiotwo

Yes - power socket is supplied as permanent live and is NOT switched with ignition.....

So don't understand your point....

Alan

On 28/07/2010 at 00:09, barlborough said:

Yes - power socket is supplied as permanent live and is NOT switched with ignition.....

So don't understand your point....

Alan

The problem is amp draw, that power socket is not rated to supply the 50 to 125 amps your average subwoofer amplifier will draw at full power! 

Holy thread resurrection...10 years later, I'd hope he has sorted it by now 

lol my bad, just don't want people doing the wrong thing if they come across this thread! While were at it, you NEVER run a power cable outside the cabin, no matter how difficult installation will be! Car audio no no