I know many of you out there have already done what I am trying to do: I am planning to add an additional power outlet under the dash, to power my cell phone. I have figured out how to connect the power cord to the fuse box under the driver's side dash, but cannot figure out how to route the wire to the passenger side. Does anyone have any suggestions? If you have already done this, do you have any pictures to show how to route the wire?

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

 

i don't have pics... but i routed a bunch of wire from the passenger to driver side under the dash... going the opposite direction should be the same principle...

pop both the knee panels off. (you might want a friend for this...) get a hanger and straighten it out or some other stiff thin object... towards the front of the cabin, you'll see a plastic box (ducting) that sits just above the center hump. there should be a minute gap between the box and hump. get a friend on the passenger side to look while you shine a flashlight from the driver side... you'll see a small quantity of light... gently aim your hanger from the passenger side pushing towards the front left of the car... (don't push straight through, you want to aim to the front)... the hanger will easily and readily be visible after a little progress.... tie your wire to the hanger and pull it back... the wire can fairly easily be hidden in the various nooks and crannys around there...

that should get you set.... obviously, i wouldn't have power going to the wire while doing this...

 

Now where is the fun in that?

Mike

 

*bzzztt* just *bzzztt* grab that *bzzztt* end and *bzzztt* *bzzztt* pull *bzzztt**bzzztt*

just a *bzzztt**bzzztt* more...

*bzzztt**bzzztt**bzzztt*.

whew.














*bzzztt*

 

I found it sufficient to tap into the power for the head unit, as described here. That way it's correctly interrupted when the starter is engaged. YMMV.

 

A coathanger or long zip-tie will work to feed the wire through. You can run the wire through by removing the panels on the side of the radio console, or removing the bottom panel of the dash in the passenger's footwell. From that panel, you can run the wire up on top of the radio and air vent into the circular metal supports under the instrument cluster.

 

SC_Highlander,

Do you know where I can get instructions for pulling out the passenger's footwell panel?

Mike

 

The panel is held in by 6 clips. You just have to pop them all loose to remove the panel.


picture shamelessly stolen from Modifry's webpage

 

SC_Highlander:

THANKS! I knew you would have the answer (one way or another).

Mike

 

just be careful with that panel... i actually broke one of the tabs the last time i pulled it down... it had always come free fairly easily in the past, so when it resisted, i pulled a bit harder and pop -- broke a tab. ah well... no rattles, so i'm not worried.

unless of course i broke one of the structural load bearing tabs!?!