Where to drill in the firewall

NOTE:	These Santa Fe Forum topics are provided only in the event they get dropped off the forum rolls.

Topic 1 of 2
The original forum topic can be located here... Original Forum Topic (if available.)

Santa Fe Forum
> Installs/How To?/FAQ's
> Where to drill in the firewall

Author	Comment
ExclusivePC Registered User Posts: 15 (8/19/02 12:00 am)	Where to drill in the firewall I wanted to do a few mods to my Santa fe and it requires running wires from inside of the car to the engine area. I know this is done by drilling holes in the firewall but what area should i drill the holes in? I'm afraid of drilling in the wrong area and breaking something in the engine area. Anyone have pictures showing where they drilled holes in their firewall?
onigoroshi Registered User Posts: 709 (8/19/02 12:08 am)	Re: Where to drill in the firewall some members said that there is a spot to drill a hole where the clutch pedal would go if your Santa fe was a manual instead of an auto. i found this out after i drilled a hole in my firewall for my washer lights. ill try to take some pics tomorrow where i drilled. my hole is placed basically right where the carpet ends in the passenger "foot area".
ExclusivePC Registered User Posts: 16 (8/19/02 12:52 am)	Re: Where to drill in the firewall great. thanks
onigoroshi Registered User Posts: 732 (8/19/02 8:42 pm)	Re: Where to drill in the firewall i added a pic to my yahoo photo album under quick fix photos.yahoo.com/onigoroshi9 that shows where i drilled the hole. i recommend drilling where the clutch should be, but the place i drilled wasn't bad either. its kind of hard to tell where it is, but if you print the pic out you should be able to compare it and see where the hole should be.
ExclusivePC Registered User Posts: 17 (8/21/02 12:21 pm)	pedals? did you remove the pedals in that picture?
ExclusivePC Registered User Posts: 18 (8/21/02 12:44 pm)	opps oops. I forgot that this was on the passenger side. ok, is there anyway that if I drill a hole i can damage something on the other side? like on the drivers side
onigoroshi Registered User Posts: 743 (8/21/02 2:13 pm)	Re: opps i don't think you will hit anything on the other side if you drill on the driver side where the clutch would be. i would think they would leave that area open because of the clutch, although it isn't there. you might want to take a peek in the engine compartment to make sure. that's what i did where i drilled. i opened the engine up and looked to see if i had clearance, that's why i drilled where i did. good luck!
ExclusivePC Registered User Posts: 21 (8/23/02 9:48 pm)	Re: opps I looked at it today and I think i saw that clutch area your talking about. The soft plastic-like material for that section is like patched, and you can remove it. Would that be the area? its like a small rectangle with circular corners. should i take a picture? Also I was looking at the area from the front hood and was trying to figure out where the hole would come from. But it doesnt look like it'll come in to the engine compartment. Looks like it'll go in that area where the hell is, you know, that section that pops in to the interior part for the wheels. Am i right or wrong? Or does it go to the engine area (where I need it to)
onigoroshi Registered User Posts: 790 (8/24/02 12:37 am)	Re: opps yeah, the part you are talking about in the interior sounds about right. as far as checking where the hole comes through, you can see in my pic where i drilled 2 holes (the first hole is to the left of the one i actually use). the first hole looked good from the inside, but i overshot when i drilled and it went into the wheel well. the second hole i drilled went right into the engine compartment. your observation might be an optical illusion. it should come right out into the engine compartment. when you drill start out with a drill bit just big enough for a wire coat hanger to go through, that way the hole isn't gaping and you can look for the coat hanger as guidance. my advice: if the first try fails, drill again!
congo99 Registered User Posts: 443 (8/26/02 6:24 pm)	Drill your Firewall Today!!! Ok, I installed an auto start this weekend and had to drill a hole through the firewall. I first looked at the area where the clutch would go through but found it would be too risky as it is very close to the brake vacuum booster. So, I found a really good place. If you are looking from the engine side, you will see where the gas pedal cable comes through. It is a black metal tube that transitions to the flexible sheathing of the throttle cable. It is held to the firewall with two bolts mounted horizontally. If you drill about 2 inches to the right or above, you will not hit anything on the inside of the vehicle. I drill a half inch hole so I would have room for other wires if needed.
onigoroshi Registered User Posts: 840 (8/26/02 7:40 pm)	Re: Drill your Firewall Today!!! hey Congo, if you get a chance can you take a pic of where the wires come through on the inside? thanks man!
congo99 Registered User Posts: 445 (8/26/02 7:54 pm)	Re: Drill your Firewall Today!!! Well, all you have to do is look up under the dash and see where the gas pedal cable is, it's fairly high up but easily spotted. You will see that there is lots of open space around there. That is where the hole will end up, either above or beside. I chose beside because my drill easily fit there within the engine compartment. As a safety precaution I also ran a piece of hard vinyl tubing through the hole to run the wires through. I will get some wire sheathing when I get a chance to protect the wire running through around the engine bay.

Topic 2 of 2
The original forum topic can be located here... Original Forum Topic (if available.)

Santa Fe Forum
> Installs/How To?/FAQ's
> Where to drill hole in firewall - for Mind Freedom

Author Comment

nomogm
Registered User
Posts: 1385
(3/3/03 10:29 am)
Where to drill hole in firewall - for Mind Freedom

Mind Freedom,

I got your private email. You are welcome to email me at any time, but the message said I could not respond because you have private messaging turned off.

Look up under the dash to the left of the brake pedal on the firewall. You see a perforated area on the foam padding. You can easily remove that section of the padding. That is where the clutch would be if you had one. If you have a manual, then you can find another location.

By measuring carefully I determined that if I drill a hole in that area, from the inside, I would hit nothing on the other side of the firewall. I am sure there are other good locations too. It's tight in there so maybe you would prefer to drill from the engine side, or tey one of those rubber grommets that are higher up.

I drilled a small hole, then used a larger bit to get the size I needed. I got some rubber grommets at the autoparts and made my hole as big as the grommet needed to fit snug into the hole, using the grommet that best fit my wire. I fed the power cable through and worked the grommet into the hole carefully using a very small screwdriver.

You just have to be certain that when you drill a hole you do not hit the power brake booster or anything else. You can do things like measure horizontally from the steering column or whatever. Remember to measure twice and cut once. Just check and double check and be sure you have it in a good spot, then drill it.

Actually since I am not that good at these things I like to measure three times and cut twice.

If you really have trouble getting a rubber grommet in there I suppose you could wrap the section of wire that goes through the hole in some electrical tape and apply some silicone adhesive to fill the gap and keep the wire from rubbing.

I am sure you know this, but be absolutely certain to install your fuse very close to the battery. Don't allow any possibility that the wire could short out. If nothing else the wire can short in a front end collision. I mounted my fuse on top of the air box. I drilled two holes and use screws along with double sided tape. If I did it again I'd find a way to locate the fuse right on the battery, next to the positive terminal.

My wiring kit came with a 60 amp fuse. But a web site said that gauge of wire for that length should be fused at 50 amps maximum so I changed it to a 30 amp if I remember correctly. My amplifier has a 30 amp fuse and draws up to 27 amps.

It was my impression that the amp should be grounded as close to the amp as possible. I located the amp under the seat and used the seat bolt for the ground.
Mind Freedom
Registered User
Posts: 29
(3/3/03 12:24 pm)
Re: Where to drill hole in firewall - for Mind Freedom

Well thank you very much for that information. But i already found another hole. i used the hole inside the glove box to run the wires. but thank you any way because i may decide to change it. well off to the Santa fe to change my grounding points
nytopskier
Registered User
Posts: 28
(3/4/03 12:13 am)
Re: Where to drill hole in firewall - for Mind Freedom

hey, randy here, nytopskier 3-3-03.... i also am having problems getting through the fire wall. where is that hole you were talking about in the glove box

randy
Mind Freedom
Registered User
Posts: 30
(3/4/03 3:48 pm)
Re: Where to drill hole in firewall - for Mind Freedom

This is what you have to do.
1. Remove glove box.
(4 or six screws)
2.Open hood and remove one screw from the weather stripping on the left (or right side of vehicle) and pop out all the plastic clips.
3. lift up the weather stripping and look into it with a flash light.
do you see that filter type thing like you do on the other side of the glove box. well next step then
4. tape the power wire to a straight coat hanger and give the coat hanger about 3 inches before you tape the wire to it.
( like this <------------=================
coat hanger I I Wire and Coat Hanger

Then fish it threw at the top of the filter looking thing. Either have one person on the other side ready to grad it when it comes out or push it threw and go around and grab it your self.
5. then just run all the wires how ever you want.

This is where it comes threw on the outside.

this is where it comes threw on the inside behind the glove box.

Hope I Helped
nomogm
Registered User
Posts: 1411
(3/4/03 3:54 pm)
Re: Where to drill hole in firewall - for Mind Freedom

Mind Freedom,

Alright! You actually figured it out without having to drill a hole. Congratulations!
nytopskier
Registered User
Posts: 29
(3/4/03 6:59 pm) Re: Where to drill hole in firewall - for Mind Freedom

thanks, ill try that tonight.
Mind Freedom
Registered User
Posts: 34
(3/5/03 8:15 am)
Re: Where to drill hole in firewall - for Mind Freedom

Hey Nomogm where do you live. I am definitely down for drinking some beers, but hey how about instead of drinking them on your front yard lets park the Santy up in the drive way and drink them in there so we can listen to that awesome system I got in there ahahahah ill talk to you guys later I have to get back to work now
nytopskier
Registered User
Posts: 30
(3/5/03 7:08 pm)
Fire Wall head ache and a 1/2

listen, i tried the method behind the glove box, I'm no professional installer but that was a pain in the neck. Meantime i did not run the wires that way because of some chimney looking thing in my way, and also I cracked the plastic windshield lower piece. chipped not cracked... I hope Hyundai will replace it. I think it cracked from the cold. But now I'm back to square 1. I need to get thought the fire wall and I know there is a magic hole some where, i just have to find it. I think if is jack the front right of the car, take off the wheel, then the plastic wheel well area I will have full access. But I had a Nissan 240 and the hole in the fire wall was boom bam right there smack in full sight, a 2 yr old could do the wire job. I'm tired of making this into such a project, buy some lights, hook em up..... 2 weeks later I'm still looking at the fire wall night after night staring and studying for that magic hole.
retired in bama
Registered User
Posts: 1376
(3/5/03 9:15 pm)

Re: Fire Wall head ache and a 1/2

Randy,

There are several posts in here about where to drill through the firewall. Several have gone through about where a clutch pedal would be; if you pull back the carpet in that area there is supposed to be some sort or rectangular or oval cut-out where the under padding comes loose. You need to measure a zillion times and ONLY DRILL ONCE. Look at it from inside the vehicle, from under the hood etc and measure almost exactly where you want to drill. Watch out for the brake booster which can be in the way if you are not careful. I have not drilled in the firewall but several members have in the area I just described. Go for it!!!

Did you try removing the large rubber grommet on the driver's side of the firewall (engine side)?? I posted a pic of that somewhere. See if you can run a coat hanger or heavy gauge copper wire through there and see if you can get it to come out inside and under the dash...if so, you can tape your wires to that and pull them through to the engine compartment.
nytopskier
Registered User
Posts: 31
(3/5/03 11:24 pm) fire wall

i know, i know, about that grommet but it leads to nowhere. I will not drill and take the chance of messing up my baby. bad enough I'm willing to follow wiring direction and chance myself but drilling no.... There is a magic hole and I will find it.
Mind Freedom
Registered User
Posts: 45
(3/6/03 8:34 am)

Re: fire wall

dude your not gonna find a hole. actually you probably will. if you look under the dash there is a grommet down there that does lead into the wheel well. and it can be run threw there but it takes about 3 hours of work to get it threw there and a nice car jack. also you will have to take off the plastic shielding in the wheel well to find the other side of the hole. but i am telling you just go threw the glove box. hey if you live in the Philadelphia area ill stop by and do it for you.
twospirits
Moderator
Posts: 1867
(3/6/03 12:29 pm)
ezSupporter Re: fire wall

To All:
I resized the pic, even though the proper thing to do is to resize it in any pic program and then upload the smaller pic for viewing. If you click on the pics they will open up in a new window in their original size.
nytopskier
Registered User
Posts: 32
(3/7/03 11:51 pm) fire wall

oh my god guys, please don't disrespect me or loose confidence in my Santy love but i paid a pro to wire up my light who by the way DRILLED though the fire wall. They look great and at least i know there wired up right.
twospirits
Moderator
Posts: 1887
(3/8/03 1:16 am)
ezSupporter Re: fire wall

How much did you pay and where, maybe I'll take my Santy in to hook up my side steps and spoiler.
onigoroshi
Registered User
Posts: 1744
(3/8/03 1:20 am) Re: fire wall

randy, you lost my respect.... just kidding! glad you got it done finally!

nytopskier
Registered User
Posts: 33
(3/8/03 7:26 pm)
(3/8/03 7:26 pm)
install

i went to EZ riders 225 Hempstead turnpike, Hempstead ny

nytopskier
Registered User
Posts: 33
(3/8/03 7:26 pm)
install

west hempstead, sorry

twospirits
Moderator
Posts: 1906
(3/8/03 7:45 pm)

install

Thanks for the info Randy, Not that far away.

Edited by: twospirits at: 6/14/05 2:25 pm

nytopskier
Registered User
Posts: 33
(3/8/03 7:26 pm)
queens

hey queens,
gather your friends, lets go for a drive

Randy

twospirits
Moderator
Posts: 7716
(10/26/05 8:45 pm)
install

Added more pics of the firewall area, provided by fellow moderator Metal Messiah.

Pic of the inside cabin, where the clutch would be. This is where Metal drilled through.

The hole from the other side (in the engine bay area)

Another view from the engine bay area.

TS out