Best place to run wires thru firewall?

Where is the easiest/best place to run wires thru the firewall? Especially you guys that install front cameras.

 

There are grommets through the firewall on both the driver's and passenger side. See below.

 

You ultimately need to pick a spot and decide if you want to cut your grommet or not. You have a grommet on each side of the firewall. You have options: Do you want to punch a hole and run a wire thru said hole, or untape the OEM bundle running thru, run your wire thru, and re-tape? If it’s a skinny wire, I’d probably choose the untape/retape method, and route thru the passenger grommet. You’ll be fighting with less other wiring on pass thru, and once you get inside, you can easily run the wire to the back of the stereo by removing the glovebox which is deadnuts easy to do.

From a leak perspective, I don’t recommend cutting your grommets, water can travel down your wire and into the cab, though people do it all the time. Round punches one gauge smaller than the wire are much better option. I’ve also drilled firewalls before and slapped a grommet on, but again, don’t recommend unless you create a drip loop.

 

Fuck wires, go wireless cams.

 

Camera came freebie so freebie it is. (I'm frugal)

 

All of my exterior wiring is run through the grommet in the floorboard on the drivers side near the frame rail. No matter where the wires end up, that is my point of entry/exit.

 

I’ve run wires through the grommets. Minimize the size of the hole and I’d recommend taping around the wires and maybe some silicon to be safe.

 

Ran amp power wires on the driver side grommet, ran tailgate cam wire using the grommet in the floor under the driver seat and ran the wiring down the frame rail, ran the license plate backup cam for my dash cam mirror using the grommet under the passenger seat and down the frame rail.

 

Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I ran it thru the passenger side firewall grommet, easy, peasy.

 

Plus, use some grease like silicone while pulling wires through the grommets

 

Do I need to use a wire loom for a single wire. I don't wanna unwrap the stock wire loom for 1 wire.

 

It's not entirely necessary, just make sure the wiring is secured. Loom is there to protect the wire, especially for pinch points and chafing.

I personally wouldn't unwrap the OEM loom, just so you or future owners can easily separate OEM wiring from aftermarket. This would help if there's gremlins in the OEM wiring harness you need to diagnose. You can ziptie aftermarket wiring to the outside of the OEM loom though.

 

Three simple questions to help answer the question:

1) Will the wire be purely inside the vehicle, or will it be outside the vehicle for some and/or all of the run?
2) What gauge is the wire in question?
3) If you don't know the gauge, then (A) roughly how thick is it and (B) does it have any protection from getting nicked, rubbed or otherwise, beyond the plastic sheath most wires had on them at the factory?

If it ever goes outside, it should be (at least) wrapped with gaffers tape, electrical tape or other. They make incredibly tiny looms you can use, but if it's a really skinny wire, use the type of mesh sheathing you see below is ideal and generally cheap. Slip it over the wire and tape at both ends, then zip-tie or otherwise fasten to fixed objects or other looms as needed.

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8 gauge for my amp I'll probably just tape it.

 

I’d buy the sleeve. But generally speaking it’s really shitty to run amp wires unprotected, especially if outside the engine bay, the sleeves are easier to work with. Best industry advice I can give in the video below. I don’t think he covers the sleeve I’m talking about, but a lot of good quality wiring kits, like Kicker’s kit, include a sleeved end for the engine Bay Area, and this should help you do things the right way. Just remember to fuse your line within 12” of the battery, 18” max. And never run wires thru ungrommeted metal holes.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy8trOvLBHk

 

I'm being cheap asf I got my sub for free the box free the only thing I bought was a wire kit and amp. Its only in the engine bay. I'm going to run it through the driver side grommet.
(I'm probably gonna just triple wrap with electrical tape. (I know this isn't a good idea.))
This is temporary until I have the time to do a loom. I work everyday and get like 2 hours to do this tomorrow.

 

I totally get it. At least make sure you round-punch the hole in the grommet. Don’t just slit. Video explains, and explains the reasoning well. Shows example. All that good stuff.