Technical Firewall Grommet

[robkerrigan]

Morning,

Is there an easy to access grommet anywhere on the firewall I can pass a cable through from the engine bay into the cabin. Guessing there will be locations where a loom already goes through that I could use.

Cheers,

Rob

 

[Mike1alike]

Yes. On a 2014 Fiat Panda 4x4 (and other Mk3 Pandas) there is usually a usable spot to feed a cable through without drilling a new hole, but it’s not an obvious threaded firewall bolt or tiny plug-cover like on some cars. It’s where the main wiring harness and other grommets already pass through the bulkhead/firewall.

 

[Mike1alike]

Several owners report these patterns when routing extra wires:
1. Behind/under the battery and brake booster area
Many Pandas (including 4x4) have a rubber grommet behind/under the battery tray and brake booster where the main wiring looms pierce the firewall.There is often just enough extra space beside these existing grommets to snake a thin wire or cable through without opening up a new hole.
2. Behind the glovebox/wheel arch route
Some owners have used a grommet up behind the glovebox area inside the passenger footwell, which connects through to the wheel arch/engine bay area when the wheel-arch liner is removed.You must pull back the arch liner or inner plastics to get access from the engine side and feed your cable through.
3. Under dash/inside scuttle area where main loom enters
There is a main harness passing through the firewall near the scuttle (center top of the firewall). Behind this harness are often unused bits of grommet material that can be pushed aside or carefully enlarged.This is similar to how people run amp power cables on other cars, using grommets around the main loom.
4. Passenger footwell firewall grommet above pedals (older discussions/similar models)
In somewhat similar Fiats (500, old Pandas), owners locate a plug/grommet above the accelerator in the footwell that corresponds to harness entry on the engine bay side. This can sometimes be fed through with small wires and sealed.

 

[robkerrigan]

Great, thanks for that info, should be fairly straightforward then

 

[Mike1alike]

It should be, yes.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Its easy to find under the bonnet but on RHD cars you have to remove the glovebox to get at the inside of the grommet. I have some cable feeding rods which made life faily easy geting wires in. On the 4x4 there is another access on the front wheel arch. Remove arch liner and theyere is a grommet on teh A pillar. In downloads / fiat cars/Panda2012+ I posted tobar fitting instructions from my westfalia bar and the wiring details too which have pitures of the access point. Glovebox removal is not difficult.