[SPIinDisguise]

I know Sailor, its in the wrong spot. I didn't know if it would get more views here. Go ahead and change it.

So I am trying to install puddle lights onto my 2002 focus but ran into a problem. I have how I am putting them on there figured out but I can't run from the door jam to the interior of the car because the "grommet" holding the wires for the door is solid. I untwist it and it looks like basically a plug.

I was going to drill a hole right below and zip tie to it but I can't drill into the actual car itself right by the fusebox. I need help with this. Once I get in then I can do it from there.

I have searched and nothing had popped up on multiple searches. Im out of ideas.

If anyone knows or know someone that knows, let me know.

Thanks.

 

[sailor]

I'll leave it for now, Don's still the King of thread moving...

MkI would be the best place eventually.

I've seen people try putting extra wires in that connector when there's space, WAY to tough for most projects. Drilling for another hole near there has been done, checking the inside to see where you'd be going to is the necessity before doing that.

Just running in the open from under the kick panel is fairly hidden, but only with the door closed - bit of a PITA IMHO.

Running wire back from the engine compartment to the door avoids going from the inside at the door, then you just have to find a good spot to get to the engine compartment from the interior. Might be the cleanest/easiest for what you want.

No great options, drill & grommet somewhere (door) is still needed for most to make it "cleaner".

 

[SPIinDisguise]

Yeah I know ZetecDon moves the threads but you are infamous for moving mine. I realize it will be eventually, but I know more people would see it in the general thread.

The problem is there is space in the grommet but when it gets to the connecter in the frame it solidifies up and I can't get a way through them.

Do you have an idea of what would be in there or where the best spot to drill would be?

I don't know the best way to get from the interior to the engine bay though, so that it stays up there and not have to worry about the heat of the engine melting the wire.I am definitely going for a clean look, I hate having out of place wires just sticking out.

So then when it boils down to it there is no best way to add these puddle lights. I was assuming the wire grommet would have space all the way through instead of the plug.

We were going to use fuel line as out grommet but unsure of where to drill and what was in the way.

Although I guess technically IF i had enough wire could I go up through the cabin filter port by the windshield and snake across there to the door and then to the mirror?

 

[SPIinDisguise]

How would I put an extra wire into the connector?

 

[sailor]

The last guy I saw researching extra connectors for the door connections gave up IIRC, it was for speaker wiring in that case.

Unless someone answers who's done it, this is the kind of mod you'll have to figure out the easiest way to do it for your own situation.

 

[pcordes1979]

While I have not done it for the connectors in question, in the past when I have needed to add wires to an existing connector, I obtained both ends of the connector from a parts yard so I could disassemble that one to add the "new" wires to the existing connector. That is the easy part, the hard part is feeding the new wire(s) through the existing rubber tubing .

 

[SPIinDisguise]

That's a good idea too. You have all the info on wiring needs? First Gudziel, now me.

That is am idea to think about. How would I add in the "new" wire? And how would it go through on the other end to connect with the dome light or dome light fuse with an add a fuse.

 

[zetecDon]

I'll leave it for now, Don's still the King of thread moving...

MkI would be the best place eventually.

I've seen people try putting extra wires in that connector when there's space, WAY to tough for most projects. Drilling for another hole near there has been done, checking the inside to see where you'd be going to is the necessity before doing that.

Just running in the open from under the kick panel is fairly hidden, but only with the door closed - bit of a PITA IMHO.

Running wire back from the engine compartment to the door avoids going from the inside at the door, then you just have to find a good spot to get to the engine compartment from the interior. Might be the cleanest/easiest for what you want.

No great options, drill & grommet somewhere (door) is still needed for most to make it "cleaner".

Yeah I know ZetecDon moves the threads but you are infamous for moving mine. I realize it will be eventually, but I know more people would see it in the general thread.

The problem is there is space in the grommet but when it gets to the connecter in the frame it solidifies up and I can't get a way through them.

Do you have an idea of what would be in there or where the best spot to drill would be?

I don't know the best way to get from the interior to the engine bay though, so that it stays up there and not have to worry about the heat of the engine melting the wire.I am definitely going for a clean look, I hate having out of place wires just sticking out.

So then when it boils down to it there is no best way to add these puddle lights. I was assuming the wire grommet would have space all the way through instead of the plug.

We were going to use fuel line as out grommet but unsure of where to drill and what was in the way.

Although I guess technically IF i had enough wire could I go up through the cabin filter port by the windshield and snake across there to the door and then to the mirror?

Damn skippy, I moved it to "MK1 Focus" by the way. []

 

[SPIinDisguise]

Alright I knew it would happen haha. Just a matter of time. Next ones will be in the right spot. Just needed a quick answer.

 

[twiggss]

interesting, this is a mod I was considering down the line but have not looked at the inner door yet. but pcordes1979 said pretty much what I would end up doing. Go to the junk yard grab a set of connecters and figure it out.

 

[SPIinDisguise]

I can't wire to something like that to save my life though.

 

[pcordes1979]

That's a good idea too. You have all the info on wiring needs? First Gudziel, now me.

That is am idea to think about. How would I add in the "new" wire? And how would it go through on the other end to connect with the dome light or dome light fuse with an add a fuse.

Basically, Obtain the wiring and connectors from the donor vehicle (I always try to get as much wire with them as I can), disassemble the donor connectors and pull out the wires you are going to use, disassemble your cars connectors and plug the wires into them and reassemble.

Being that you are going to be doing your own custom work, I wouldn't worry about the wires that you pull out, just as long as when you put them into your car you put them in open spots on your car's connectors. As I stated before the hardest part will be running the wires through the rubber tubing. Additionally getting to the car side of the A pillar connectors will be a bit tricky as they are accessed from behind the dash and may need to move the interior fuse box, glove box, PCM, and other things out of the way to get access to them (or like I did on my old 93 Escort when I added "factory" power windows and locks pulled the whole dash panel out (however I had to pull it so I could replace the heater core so just did all the wiring while I was in there already)).

 

[qweesy]

My wife's Mercury Sable has these puddle lights under her mirror... i tell her all the time man I wish my SVT came like that.

Let me know how it goes

 

[twiggss]

I can't wire to something like that to save my life though.

wiring isn't bad, it only sucks when you see a wire start to smoke, turn red and travel under your carpet to the fuse box. []

 

[SPIinDisguise]

Yeah that's so reassuring...

Thought about getting a braided line that can handle the opening and closing.

 

[SPIinDisguise]

So this project is getting put on hold for now. I know where I can going to drill through the door and the car itself. Right behind the gasket that goes around the door.

I just need to figure out what kind of wire I need to use that won't break when I open and close the door, kinda like the problems some hatch owners have with their wires breaking over time.

Is there a best wire to use for this, that has good durability yet flexible enough to bend when the door opens and closes?

Would braided wire work? Or what should I use to cover it? Fuel line? Rubber?

 

[Blue5ive]

Interesting. I hav3 puddle lights I plan to install eventually as well. Figured I will drill the needed hole in bottom of door panel for the light and run wiring along with the wires for the power windows and speakers into the door jam. Then connect it to the wire for the I terior lights. Guess I need to take a second look at things.

 

[SPIinDisguise]

Yeah good luck when you meet the door jam. I thought it was going to be open like most are but it's actually a plug.

I'm giving it thought. It's going to happen. Flush mounted to the mirror.

 

[SPIinDisguise]

These are the grommets on my PS door.

Are you saying that I could poke a hole in the grommet in 2 places and then drill through the door so the the wire doesn't bend as much?

 

[pcordes1979]

What I was suggesting was sticking some wires with pins into a couple of those empty holes (i count 7 empties, 2 in the center ring, and 5 around the outer ring) and doing the same on the door side connector. The tricky part, as I have previously stated, is getting the wire through the flex tubing on the door side, and getting to the back of the connector on the car side of it.

Another option would be to run your own cable between the sides, just would need to get them sealed up on both sides to prevent wire chaffing on the metal and from water and other materials intrusion into the car or door.