Getting power through the firewall on an 04/05 Automatic

[JonnyGT]

First of all, I did some research on this board and the "other" board, and came to the conclusion that there are 2 primary ways to get power through the firewall (ie, for an amplifier).

The "right" way, seems to be to remove the black cover behind the engine on the firewall, cut a hole through the grommet on both side, and feed the wire through. I've seen pictures people posted demonstrating this, and all I can say is that they didn't have an 04 or 05 Elantra. They must have done a little redesign, but after two hours of trying, it became apparent that my big fat "all-American" hands weren't going to get the job accomplished. So, I called over my buddy who always helps me with car stuff, and happens to have "little tiny girl hands" as I like to call them. No luck for him either.

In the mean time, I took off the front driver's side wheel and took off the wheel well. It seemed a simple matter to feed the power cable through there and into the cabin, but even though this is probably perfectly acceptable, it just didn't feel right to me.

So, I give you, the easiest way to get power through the firewall on an 04/05 Elantra with an automatic transmission.

In the picture below, note the space on the firewall that looks like the padding has a little bit of indention on it (it's in the middle of the picture):

http://www.mellette.net/elantra/stereo/DSC00535.JPG

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe on a manual transmission car, there would be manual transmission parts running through here. (Clutch linkage, maybe?) On my car, however, nothing but wide open space. Look in this picture of the firewall on the cabin side. See that big square space?

http://www.mellette.net/elantra/stereo/DSC00539.JPG

I pulled this out of it:

http://www.mellette.net/elantra/stereo/DSC00537.JPG

Then I drilled through from the engine compartment in the spot I showed you in the first picture, and it came through the big empty square space I showed you in the second picture.

Here's what it looked like when I ran my 4 GA power cable through. (BE SURE, AS I DID, TO USE A GROMMET IF YOU DO THIS!)

http://www.mellette.net/elantra/stereo/DSC00541.JPG

It only took a minute to drill, and I think it's about as clean and easy a way as I could have done it.

Here's what it looks like with a little conduit covering:

http://www.mellette.net/elantra/stereo/DSC00542.JPG

It's not showy, but that's the way I like it.

Hope this helps someone in the future.

Jonny

[jp_recon]

Good work....I could have used this about 6 months ago when I did mine...haha. I ended up doing it just like that also.

[04Elantra]

Yeah...i did it the old way and the cover never fit back on snugly and I cut up my hands pretty good squeezing them in there trying to get the little ratchet in there...I left it that way, but got to change it....now I might just do what you did!

[Gman01]

would that be the same on the 01-03 year models?

[southpawboston]

my guess would be yes, as long as it's an auto.

[mtvslick]

man thats awsome, I drilled a hole in the passenger side foot well cuase there was already a hole on the cabin side there too. but I like this area better, it's away from everything and so much more easy to do.

thanks for showing us all this, great pics by the way.

Mark,