Ok, so I'm in the middle of fitting 3 extra gauges to the Fabia. I've bought a pod that I'm going to customise so that I can fit it in the middle of the dash above the middle heater vents. The pod will be sitting towards the back of the dash, i.e. on the rougher surface (on later models only) if that makes sense.

 

The issue I have is that I need to make a hole in the top centre of the dash big enough for all the wiring to go to. Glovebox and vents are out, and I've tried to see what is underneath that section, but can't quite see.

 

Does anyone have any information on what is underneath the centre section, and is it ok to drill the plastic and feed some wiring through?

 

I can't see anything important being directly underneath there, as the heater unit I thought was further down. I'm just a bit nervous about putting a hole in my dash without knowing for certain if I'll be able to feed the wires through.

 

Can anyone help please?!! Pictures of the dash skin removal would be awesome if there's any about...

 

Thanks

Hmmm - I just got my mate to drill a hole  It was more down the front, but from memory of having a dash top out before, there's nothing really there as such.  Just the further back you put the hole, the more tricky it will be to feed through.

This is why on mine the hole/s is nicely in full view and down toward the front.

 

Pic (this is old but layout is essentially the same)

 

Do yo mean like this?

If so I don't think there's much behind it. The screws on mine only go in the dash 5-10mm

Thanks Jason. I remembered you had gauges up there too, but couldn't remember how far.

 

Mine are being mounted from the line in the dash upwards if that makes sense?...

 

I've got in there with a bright light as much as I can, but can't see an awful lot. There's something there, but I'm thinking it may just be some sort of plastic support. Can anyone confirm please?!

 

For feeding the wiring through, I'm going to feed something in from the top and drag it back up.

Yeah Stevo that's exactly where I'll be putting mine. I want to feed the wiring in up to that point in the dash though.

Then from what I remember there's not much there, just go slow with the drill lol. I like the way Gee wired mine as there's no nasty big hole, just 4 small ones if I ever sell or remove the gauges. Hole doesn't need to be more than 4mm or so.

The thing that's worrying me is that I drill a hole and I drill into something important. Or I physically can't get the wires through :/

 

My hole needs to be at least 10mm to get everything through.

 

I'm custom fitting a pod over the top of it, so you're not going to see it anyway!

I think I had mine mounted slightly lower as I didn't want them physically occupying glass space.  From where I am sat I wanted to be able to just glance across but without having anything actually impeding on the glass.

 

My method was brutal but effective.

This is the pod and where it's going...

 

 

 

 

I'll be trimming the edges down and fixing it from inside hopefully. Then spraying it black along with the vents.

 

 

Couldn't help but try them out too

 

 

 

Where they sit up top they're at a perfect eye level to have a very quick glance. I sit low in the car, but I can still see out of it perfectly

I had to feed two wires from the fuse area to the same position, I removed the centre air vent unit and pushed a feed wire from there towards the steering column area and then into the fuse area. Attached the wires and pulled them through to the air vent, I then arranged them to allow them to come out centre top, I then carefully replaced the centre air unit trapping the wires centrally and then on the surface. This way it saves drilling any holes.

DB.

Loving this thread..wanna steal these ideas [emoji16]

Alex I would personally take out the vents as you have along with the switches. Will give you much better view. From experience of plastic manufacturing and having replaced trims before. There will be a piece of plastic that the dash is bonded onto.

With the vents out can you see the ducting that leads upto them? as you don't want to drill into that lol.

Sent from my Galaxy S5

I've got an empty dash lying about, can take a photo of underside of it if that helps

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I had to feed two wires from the fuse area to the same position, I removed the centre air vent unit and pushed a feed wire from there towards the steering column area and then into the fuse area. Attached the wires and pulled them through to the air vent, I then arranged them to allow them to come out centre top, I then carefully replaced the centre air unit trapping the wires centrally and then on the surface. This way it saves drilling any holes.

DB.

 

Cheers for the info  I'm not really wanting any wires on display though. As I want it as OE looking as possible. The car is waaaaay beyond the point of no return now anyway ha ha!!

 

 

 

Loving this thread..wanna steal these ideas [emoji16]

 

That's what the forum is for mate

 

 

 

Alex I would personally take out the vents as you have along with the switches. Will give you much better view. From experience of plastic manufacturing and having replaced trims before. There will be a piece of plastic that the dash is bonded onto.

With the vents out can you see the ducting that leads upto them? as you don't want to drill into that lol.

Sent from my Galaxy S5

 

Cheers! My thought exactly. The vents and glove box are already out. I've had a damn good nosey through all the holes and prodded with a long screwdriver, but can't make any more headway into finding out what's there. Tried looking on eBay and Google for the underside of a dash too, to no avail...   Only thing I'll say is that I think whatever is just under the plastic is not bonded on, as I can see rectangular outlined shaped foam used to pad it out and avoid creaks. Plus on eBay the dashes are sold as skins...

 

 

 

I've got an empty dash lying about, can take a photo of underside of it if that helps

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

That would be absolutely fantastic if you could please mate   Will give me some idea. Ideally I could do with seeing what's left after the dash skin comes off also...

Just a wild card. But how hard would it be to just remove the dash and wire / drill whilst it's off?

Sent from my Galaxy S5

Just a wild card. But how hard would it be to just remove the dash and wire / drill whilst it's off?

Sent from my Galaxy S5

It's a ****** James

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Ok, so had a good look through the Haynes manual today. There's a small black and white picture of what remains after the dash skin is removed. I'm 95% sure that all that is underneath the part of the dash I want to drill is just soundproofing.

 

There is a bit of plastic with a foam surround a bit further forward.

 

It'll be interesting feeding the wires up there though. Some wire fed from the top and pulling them all through should do the trick

Just be careful and not go too deep the main wiring loom for heaters and to doors runs high along back above heater box, circa probably 15wires in one loom

Cheers Trevor!

 

As you say, I'm just planning on taking my time drilling so I don't go through anything I shouldn't

You got anyone to help you. I.E one drill other watch for where it's going?

Sent from my Galaxy S5

Just old me I'm afraid!

 

Don't think it would make a difference though to be honest, as I'm drilling blind anyway. I'll just go slowly so that i only pierce the plastic skin, as I'll be able to get enough room to feed wires through then hopefully.

Ok. Slow and steady it is then

Sent from my Galaxy S5

Slow and steady wins the race

You can see the loom in this pic mate, apart from that like you say not much there

Rotated for you

Should be ok if you use a short drill bit. Or even use a punch to do the last few mm

Sent from my Galaxy S5