Fire wall pass throughs?

Hello fellow Ridgeline owners,

I need to connect my amateur radio directly to the battery through the firewall, or by the shortest route. Are there any existing grommets or pass-through that can be used? I would prefer not to drill a new hole if it can be avoided.

The same goes for the antenna feed line. Are there any grommets or knock-outs hidden behind the back seat or in the floor under the carpet? Id like to bring in a couple of coax lines from the cargo area so I can mount antennas.

Any advice on operating and installing two way radios in the Ridgeline appreciated.

73 de K1LPI
Dave
Little House on the Highway (http://www.k1lpi.com)

Access in the back is relatively easy. Remove the front wall of the bed & the back seat (for instructions check out the backup sensor install (http://www.handa-accessories.com/ridgeline/backupsensor.pdf)), you can either go through the vents on either side, or else in the corners (hidden by the bed sides) are the factory harness pass-throughs with an extra grommet beneath.

As for the front firewall, I'm interested myself, I'm thinking of running the power cable for my Tonneau cover inside (together with the switch wire) instead of underneath the truck.

Check my install thread. I have some pictures of how I ran my power wires.

Check my install thread. I have some pictures of how I ran my power wires.

Thanks Shovelhd! Was looking at that location at bodies on the line, wasn't too sure how accessable it would be from behind the dash... so you were able to get that grommet out & back in relatively easily?

I never touched the grommet, just fished the wires through it.

CQ CQ CQ,

KB5ETD here.

You'll need a "TORX" driver or tool for the tie downs and the composite bolts, one of those universal sets will do. I ran my power through the harness grommet on the fire wall located up near the vacum chamber for the brakes. It's pretty flexible, I took a small exacto knife and cut a small slit in the side of the grommet then fished the bare wire ends through. A small slit will do, 1/4 inch is about right. For the antenna I ran the coax from the front consol (I mounted my radio just below the "not an ashtray"), under the rubber mats and up throught the back seat and out the left-side cabin vent. I used the upper left tie down by the cab as a mag mount by bolting a flat 2x6x 1/4 piece of painted steel to it.

To get the coax up past the bed, remove the tie-downs (upper and lower) from the bed closest to the cab, then you can slide off the rear piece of composite and see the cab vents and snake your coax throught it. Don't forget to put a rain loop in the coax outside of the cab vent just to be sure no water runs down and into the cab.

Bolt the composite piece back in and then the tie-downs and you are done! If you get any scratches in the composit, don't frett. Take a damop rag and wipe the scratches and the dust will come off and the scratch disappear.

I'll try and take some pix tomorrow and post them.

73

KB5ETD

Jack

Don't forget to put a rain loop in the coax outside of the cab vent just to be sure no water runs down and into the cab.

The good old "Dog leg". You must work for the cable company or are a master electrician.;) :D

22 years in the Air Force as a radio op, also a Ham as you can tell. Short Story: Osan Air Base, Korea, operating as HL9AXT. Had a 40 meter dipole with the apex at abt 45 feet on a tall building. Ran the RG-58 down the side of the building to my bottom floor apt. Monsoon time in Korea, I come home one day and the floor of the "shack" is about 1/4 deep in water. I forgot to seal the high end of the 58 near the apex, and forgot to put a drip loop in just below that. (I was in a hurry to get on 40 meters and work the pileups). Rain ran down 50+ feet of coax, just like a hose. Dripped out the bottom of my Kenwood HF rig!!!! Fortunately I dried it out, no damage. I went out side and took my hogleg and knicked the coax just above where it entered the window. Flowed like a hose when it rained, but no more in the shack!

73 KN

22 years in the Air Force as a radio op, also a Ham as you can tell. Short Story: Osan Air Base, Korea, operating as HL9AXT. Had a 40 meter dipole with the apex at abt 45 feet on a tall building. Ran the RG-58 down the side of the building to my bottom floor apt. Monsoon time in Korea, I come home one day and the floor of the "shack" is about 1/4 deep in water. I forgot to seal the high end of the 58 near the apex, and forgot to put a drip loop in just below that. (I was in a hurry to get on 40 meters and work the pileups). Rain ran down 50+ feet of coax, just like a hose. Dripped out the bottom of my Kenwood HF rig!!!! Fortunately I dried it out, no damage. I went out side and took my hogleg and knicked the coax just above where it entered the window. Flowed like a hose when it rained, but no more in the shack!

73 KN

Interesting story! Thanks!:D

Andy,

My Hubby was a microwave radio repairman for the US Army. He was stationed in the DMZ in Korea in 1977. Is Osan Air base near Pan Mun Jom (sp?)?

I will ask him about it when he gets home.

Was in Yongsan (IIRC) near Itaewan (sp) Korea in 1988. Just before the Olympics as part of TEAM SPIRIT. I was attached to the 8th Army from the Nebraska Army National Guard. Slept on a Soccer field in the middle of Seoul for a few weeks and showered at the golf course close by. I just received my HAM radio license in the past two weeks. I'll be asking for advice from the brain trust regarding many radio mounting issues in the future!

Wrenrj1

My hubby thought Korea was quite an experience. I have a CB radio that he is going to install in My Ridgeline, a dark, cherry pearl "08 RTX. The most exciting thing we have added so far is seat covers. We plan to add side body molding, back mud guards, bug deflecter and nerf bars.

Wrenrj1

My hubby thought Korea was quite an experience. I have a CB radio that he is going to install in My Ridgeline, a dark, cherry pearl "08 RTX. The most exciting thing we have added so far is seat covers. We plan to add side body molding, back mud guards, bug deflecter and nerf bars.

Make him tell you the REAL story about Korea!:D

I have the same truck, just a year older. Been thinking about a CB as well, but wanna put a portable HAM in there somewhere down the road. I'm hesitant about drilling holes everywhere if there's easier ways to run wire...Good luck on your mods. I stopped at the bug deflector...

PMJ is about 40 miles north of Seoul. Osan Air Base is near Pyongtaek and Camp Humphries. osan to PMJ maybe 65 miles give or take. Loved Korea, would go back in a flash and take my Ridge !!!

Here are pictures of how I passed wires through the firewall. KE2QZ

Here are pictures of how I passed wires through the firewall. KE2QZ

Great pictures!! Thanks!

Really good photos. Was scared to go through the firewall but after seeing how you done yours might take a stab at it. Thanks!

Here are pictures of how I passed wires through the firewall. KE2QZ


would you recommend putting 4 gauge through that hole?

I have 2x4G that take the same route.

Would have been nice if Honda had left us a blank grommet to use...

The folks adding volunteer fireman lights/siren would like it too, I bet.

Chip H.