Question with running speaker wire into doors

[KingTut416]

Hey guys, I have a 88 Mercury Cougar, and I would like to run new wires to my
mids and Highs in the doors. Is there any easy way of fishing the wires into
the doors or is it trail and error. I have thought about using a old hanger to
fish it through. Let me know if I am on the right track with this method.

Nate

[sanitarium]

unfortunately theres no easy way. Lots of elbow grease and persistance.
I use the original rubber boot and run the 14 gage wires through that
and re-attach it between the door and body sheet metal. I used a little
baby powder because the speaker wires are sticky rubber.

http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/401000-401999/401268_15_full.jpg

You could duct tape the end of the speaker wires to the OEM wires and
pull them through by tugging at the OEM wires. I did this on my antenna
cable to get it through the A-pillar.

You could always just use the OEM wire... Im sure someone here will
recommend that.

Garrett

KingTut416 wrote:
> Hey guys, I have a 88 Mercury Cougar, and I would like to run new wires to my
> mids and Highs in the doors. Is there any easy way of fishing the wires into
> the doors or is it trail and error. I have thought about using a old hanger to
> fish it through. Let me know if I am on the right track with this method.
>
> Nate

[-E-F-F-E-N-D-I-]

a hanger works allright but..

i like a step by step planned out method other than yanking on a wire and
possible damaging your car and the wire itself (like stripping insulation
off wire, weatherstripping on doors, etc.)

If you have power windows, mirrors, lights in door, etc. the first thing to
do is remove the doorpanels and factory grommets in the door hinge area
(ususally black rubber) - they may only slide out on off the door and body
panels. while they have factory wiring in there take a look to see if there
are any kinds of retainers to hold wires in. sometimes you can stick them
through there. i like to keep speaker wire isolated though to minimise noise
in the system. It also helps that once you start tearin the ride apart, you
clean it up a little bit. vacuum and wipe down, there are all kinds of
greasy sticky areas that you can get wire stuck in. this extra step will
actually save you time in the long run.

i like to fish wire through smaller areas. (this is where your coathanger or
other flexible material can be used) however, getting your hands in there is
most frustrating but usually ends up with the best results, if you have a
smaller brother or kid to help it makes it easier than if you have giant
sausages for fingers like me.
feed wire then through that part (rubber grommet) then work your way out
from either side.
(up through the body panels and into the firewall (front) and cabin (rear)
areas. working it through the window and doorpanel openings (on either side
depends on the doors mechanics and internal parts (power window motors etc.)
try to keep it away from any moving parts (if possible) in the door and
secure on the interior side of the doorpanel any loose/hanging areas of wire
with wire ties or even good old electrical or duct tape. i like to hang wire
out of the speaker hole and then put everything else back on then hook up
the speakers and screw them in last. and always use more wire than you will
need. there aint nothing worse than spending hours wiring to find out you
underestimated and have to redo it.

a lot of it is trial and error and it takes a lot of time and patience but
there is a very good sense of pride once you finish and especially when you
cant see anything when your done you know you have done a good job. there is
no universal solution as all cars are different so it might help if you take
a look on www.sounddomain.com or www.termpro.com and see if you can find any
pictures of you specific vehicle. some other good resources are your
dealer's technicians, mechanics, autosound installers and vehicle manuals.
visual help is often the easiest for me. then i can plan for the most
effiecient way to wire.

EFFENDI

"KingTut416" > wrote in message
...
> Hey guys, I have a 88 Mercury Cougar, and I would like to run new wires to
my
> mids and Highs in the doors. Is there any easy way of fishing the wires
into
> the doors or is it trail and error. I have thought about using a old
hanger to
> fish it through. Let me know if I am on the right track with this method.
>
> Nate

[KingTut416]

I want to thank all of you for your input and insite.

>If you have power windows, mirrors, lights in door, etc. the first thing to
>do is remove the doorpanels and factory grommets in the door hinge area

Actually, I have everything but the lights in the doors. Power windows, power
mirrors that don't work anymore and power locks, so it looks like I have to
cram to get anything else in there.

My biggest problem now, I found a panel is blocking the hole on the inside of
the car and I have no idea how to take it off with our breaking it. I will
only have problem in the passenger side. The driver side from what I can see
is well under the dash with no mysterious panels. At least I can see the hole,
which makes it feasable. All I am trying to run is at least 16-14 gauge wire
to the fronts replacing the crapy 20-18 gauge wire that beary bends and
decinegrates when you try to strip it.

Nate