2005 Ford Freestyle Install

[scannerowner]

Hey all, I've posted about my installation idea before, but this time I'm wondering if anyone has/had a Ford Freestyle and wired a radio to the battery. I'm planning on using split loom with the wiring, and coax cable twisty tied together to get through the firewall, so I need about a 0.5" hole, possibly.

I found the hood release cable grommet, but it's very tough to get to so I'm trying to think of maybe another idea, but sticking with this one as a last resort. I have also seen a grommet on the inside of the door, but not sure where it goes exactly...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

PS if you had to drill a hole where did you do it?

 

[mmckenna]

Be cautious about using anything around the door. Pinching your DC power cable won't end well.

Drilling the firewall is possible, but they are often double walled, so be ready for that. I'd look for an existing hole/grommet, if you can. Rather than trying to sneak the cables down the same path as existing wiring, you can sometimes make a second hole in the large grommets they use. Just be very careful not to damage the existing wiring, as it's a huge hassle to fix/replace.

Used to be most cars were available with manual or automatic transmissions, and being able to reuse clutch linkage holes in cars with automatics was easy. Now with most cars only available with auto transmissions, that's a no-go.

Good for you in running power right off the battery. Getting good clean power to your radio will reduce any extraneous noise getting into it. Good luck finding a path, it can be hard on newer cars, but the end result will usually be worth it.