passing a coax with a BNC connector through the firewall

I have an antenna I want to attach to the hood and the coax to go through the passenger side firewall.

I see an electrical loom that goes to the kick-panel on the passenger side. I cut-off one of the nipples, but the hole still isn't big enough to pass the connector through.

Should I be taking the whole large grommet off to trim it better? That looks like a bear to remove and replace...

Have I missed something obvious? Thanks

 

Stick a coat hanger through and then electrical tape to the wire and where the connector is at the hanger put electrical tape to where it tapers down and just pull it through it will stretch

 

You could always use a little bit of Vaseline to help

 

I’ve always run just the cable thru the firewall, and then crimped or soldered the connector on inside the cab. Allows a smaller grommet hole to be used.

 

good to know regarding the stretching - maybe I'll add a cone of cardboard to it so that it's not a blunt end that's trying to be pulled through (I certainly couldn't push it, however much force I used)

 

You could always go bulkhead mount.
https://www.showmecables.com/bnc-fe...k53PV4qMT-2Je3OP5pBNpz_Jex8ZFSR0aAoebEALw_wcB

 

thanks for the tips everyone - I'll try later (it was much easier on my 1991 Toyota Pickup )

 

Be careful someone else just did this nicked wiring harness and had no start, along with other multiple problems. Just an FYI.

 

pulled it through with a long piece of plastic I had - had to use pliers and really pull hard, but it went through successfully and the rubber grommet is nice and snug against the wire.



I might move it back towards the cab later so it's more upright, but at least it's been attached successfully.

Thanks for all the pointers!

 

Just for future reference in case any sees this. The easiest spot to run wiring on the passenger side is the through the AC vent drain hose grommet. It's easily accessible from the cab and is a decent size. Also, will not interfere with the drain hose.

https://youtu.be/D7DotMlaXaQ

 

Damn and no cutting. If I get interference I’ll re-route otherwise leave as is. Thanks.

 

They do have replacement bnc connectors that can be soldered or crimped on with the proper tool so you only need such a large hole. Most shops that sell/install audio systems for vehicles can do it.

 

Vaseline works wonders in tight places, lol

 

How about making a clean pass through the firewall. It's easy and clean.

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The only potential issue with vaseline is that since it's petroleum based, it could potentially affect the coax outer covering. You can make a super slick lube out of cornstarch and water. 1 cup water, 4 teaspoons cornstarch. heat till it starts to boil and take it off. I have used this on rims when changing tires on mowers, and pulling COAX through firewall grommets. I have not had time to reinstall my ham radio in my new Tacoma, however when I did it on my tundra, I used the large rubber grommet where the wiring harness runs through. It's large enough that you can use a drill bit to make a hole away from the bundle of wires. run a wire through the hole you drilled and pull the coax through. When I pulled the radio before trading in the Tundra, you could not tell it had been done. However, I do run the coax without a connector ( I'm using the larger PL-259 for ham radio, so it's way too large to pull through a grommet). ** added after reading a response to this** also make sure you clean it off when you are done so it does not attract any knawing vermin..

 

Do not use vaseline on rubber is will cause it to degrade, only use silicone based lubricant on rubber. some o-rings are rated to handle oils and will not be damaged by vaseline but its safer to stick with a silicone based lubricant on all rubber items

 

Next post: “Help my wires are all chewed up!”

Maybe try to stick with soap and water for those sensitive places like wires under the hood. Lots of people had bad rodent experiences without tempting fate.

 

I should have mentioned to make sure you clean it off afterwords. Once Item I like on my new Tacoma is they now have a wire mesh over the cabin air intake. My 2014 tundra did not. One day on the way into work, I noticed a mouse walking across my dash. Rolled down the passenger windows, he went out. The country mouse was now a city mouse.... I found they had chewed through the cabin filter, so I replaced it. About a week later I found that the first mouse had a friend that did not make it out of the duct-work, and this was during the summer. It was unusable for about 2 weeks, then it took a couple of those deodorizing spray bombs to make it usable again. It was too far down in the duct-work to get it out without disassembling the entire dash. A mummified mouse was still somewhere in the duct-work when I traded it in for my 23 Tacoma.

 

That is sexy.