TurboMinivan
Still plays with cars
- Location
- Lehi, UT
I've finally purchased everything I need so as to install a mobile ham radio into one of my vehicles. I decided to put it in my Protege since that is my daily driver and would thus give me the most opportunity for use. (My plan is to ultimately purchase another radio for the Jeep.)
Anyway, I started with the hard part: the antenna. I opted for a permanent NMO mount, so I measured carefully and drilled into the center of my trunk lid. Due to bracing underneath that spot, I had to carefully fish the antenna cable into position... but, ultimately, it turned out great. I removed a few interior panels so as to run the wiring to the desired spot, but everything buttoned up just fine.
Next was the transceiver itself. This was pretty easy, as I had already decided where/how to mount it. I just needed to drill a few holes into a plastic panel, attach the bracket, then mount the radio to it. Simple.
I thought I had saved the easiest part for last: running the wires from the transceiver to the battery. I can't count how many times I've run wires from the passenger compartment into the engine bay of dozens of vehicles I have owned, but it is always a snap. Just find a grommet/hole/whatever for the wire to pass through and, well, pass it through. I had ten minutes to spare this morning, so I figured I'd go outside and take care of this simple little step.
Problem: I've never owned a 2003 Protege before.
Mazda covers the inside of the entire firewall with heavy rubber-backed insulation (in a gigantic one-piece assembly). Worse, there are essentially no built-in holes in the firewall... that are easy to get to, anyway. The best (?) option I have found is to go through a hole that leads to the inside of the fender, then snake the wires forward until they can exit at a corresponding hole next to the headlight. My only problem--well, okay, not my only problem--is figuring out how to coax the wire to move in the desired direction without simply bunching up on itself.
Needless to say, I didn't get my wires installed today. When I have more time (read: hours), I plan to jack up the front, pull the left front wheel and see if removing the inner fender liner reveals anything helpful. The OEM "wire conduit" I found seems like it goes through this area; I'm hoping there is some sort of trap door or other access which will let me run the wires accordingly.
Stay tuned.
Anyway, I started with the hard part: the antenna. I opted for a permanent NMO mount, so I measured carefully and drilled into the center of my trunk lid. Due to bracing underneath that spot, I had to carefully fish the antenna cable into position... but, ultimately, it turned out great. I removed a few interior panels so as to run the wiring to the desired spot, but everything buttoned up just fine.
Next was the transceiver itself. This was pretty easy, as I had already decided where/how to mount it. I just needed to drill a few holes into a plastic panel, attach the bracket, then mount the radio to it. Simple.
I thought I had saved the easiest part for last: running the wires from the transceiver to the battery. I can't count how many times I've run wires from the passenger compartment into the engine bay of dozens of vehicles I have owned, but it is always a snap. Just find a grommet/hole/whatever for the wire to pass through and, well, pass it through. I had ten minutes to spare this morning, so I figured I'd go outside and take care of this simple little step.
Problem: I've never owned a 2003 Protege before.
Mazda covers the inside of the entire firewall with heavy rubber-backed insulation (in a gigantic one-piece assembly). Worse, there are essentially no built-in holes in the firewall... that are easy to get to, anyway. The best (?) option I have found is to go through a hole that leads to the inside of the fender, then snake the wires forward until they can exit at a corresponding hole next to the headlight. My only problem--well, okay, not my only problem--is figuring out how to coax the wire to move in the desired direction without simply bunching up on itself.
Needless to say, I didn't get my wires installed today. When I have more time (read: hours), I plan to jack up the front, pull the left front wheel and see if removing the inner fender liner reveals anything helpful. The OEM "wire conduit" I found seems like it goes through this area; I'm hoping there is some sort of trap door or other access which will let me run the wires accordingly.
Stay tuned.
