Rack Light Wiring Option?

[Kacers]

On my '04 Disco S. I had planned to route rack light wiring through the headliner and factory roof rail as others have done. It looks the cleanest and best but also alot of work and I don't want to be removing all those plastic rivets in this cold as they are sure to break.

However, in looking at the a-pillar, it seems that there is plenty of room there to get wires down plus it exits out in the engine bay.

Pic 1 is the pillar I am considering wiring through. It seems to be removable via the gromits in pic2 which are located in the door jamb area. Anyone done this before or know if this is a good or bad idea? And, how do you remove those gromits? The center seems to move separately from the outer part but not sure what you need to do to remove them.

TIA,

AndrewT

 

[Nori]

On my '04 Disco S. I had planned to route rack light wiring through the headliner and factory roof rail as others have done. It looks the cleanest and best but also alot of work and I don't want to be removing all those plastic rivets in this cold as they are sure to break.

However, in looking at the a-pillar, it seems that there is plenty of room there to get wires down plus it exits out in the engine bay.

Pic 1 is the pillar I am considering wiring through. It seems to be removable via the gromits in pic2 which are located in the door jamb area. Anyone done this before or know if this is a good or bad idea? And, how do you remove those gromits? The center seems to move separately from the outer part but not sure what you need to do to remove them.

TIA,

AndrewT

You push in the middle part and the gromits and it will come off. bad part is that you can not reuse them.
Then the A-piller cover will come off which is held with a clip.
When you take it off becareful not to crack the cover.
then it will be easy to get the wires in. Which I taped them down.
You can go to a local car parts shop and get a similer size of Gromits which would be great if they are a scew on type.
Some people has used a hanger and fished the wires though.
I just think it takes too long and might be hard to get all the wires though.

Anyway, heve fun with the wires.

 

[Nori]

My other advise is "do it on the passenger side.

 

[Kacers]

Thx Nori.

I see you can also peel away some of the windshield weatherstripping which mates up to the pillar - and that could help the wire routing without removing the pillar.

Gonna give it a shot.

AndrewT

 

[Nori]

You might not be able to since there are clips holding down the cover.

 

[edthediscoman]

Mine are run down the passenger side, the light switches are on the roof panel, next to the sunroof switches (Now ARB switches). That makes it easier, cause the battery is on the right side so the wires go through the firewall on that side, and then I have fuse holders near the battery. You could locate the fuses under the glovebox with all the other mess of wiring though so they are in a dry place.
Ed

 

[Matt Kendrick]

do NOT remove the A-pillar cover, it's a pain in the ass. all you need to do is drill a hole in the plastic end of your front gutter just immediately above the A-pillar. stick your head up there and look, you'll see what i mean. make a hole in that plastic top gutter piece and you can snake it right down. it might take a couple tries but you'll eventually fish it out. i have pics i can send if you want.

then add switches to your binnacle, nice and clean.

 

[Nori]

Not to offend you but DRILL THE GUTTER ???
For me, I wanted to keep as much stock parts as possible with out cutting or drilling.
It up to you though.

 

[Kacers]

Hmmm. Got the wires fished no problem but agree you really need to drill the rain gutter so the wires run straight up. Otherwise, you need to bend them around the gutter which I just did and looks like sh&t plus you impede the WS from sealing well.

Back to the drawing boards. I pulled the wires back out and will re-assess. Not sure I want to drill the rain gutter (getting dark anyway) though I assume I could seal it up well with silicon plus that area is open anyway so I don't think you'd be putting water where it shouldn't go if it did leak.

And yes - I have the binnacle all wired already with stock cruise control switches that I replaced the covers on with light switches so they look totally stock.

AndrewT

 

[Kacers]

Matt,

Did you just lay the wires in the rain gutter? If so, did you secure them anyway in there?

I assume you should sheath them somehow also with shrink-wrap or that flex-conduit stuff. Curious what you did.

AndrewT

 

[Matt Kendrick]

Not to offend you but DRILL THE GUTTER ???
For me, I wanted to keep as much stock parts as possible with out cutting or drilling.
It up to you though.

no offense taken. and yes 'drill the gutter'. it's a little three inch piece of plastic at the very front, big deal. how often are you standing on a step ladder looking down into your raingutter???

 

[Matt Kendrick]

Matt,

Did you just lay the wires in the rain gutter? If so, did you secure them anyway in there?

I assume you should sheath them somehow also with shrink-wrap or that flex-conduit stuff. Curious what you did.

AndrewT

yeah, most guys (or girls ) just go and get plastic wiring loom (any big box hardware store carries it). run it right from your A-pillar hole, along the inside of your rack, and up to your lights. get some small black plastic ties to attach, and you're on your way!

 

[Matt Kendrick]

route pics

 

[edthediscoman]

The PO put a hole in the roof and gunked it with goop....for the front and rear lights.
Seems to hold water, but I like the raingutter finish better.
BTW, love the purple wire, my TR is done in all purple wire loom, purple tape etc...purple paint....guess i am partial

 

[flyfisher11]

One more option that hasn't been mentioned.....

If you have an ARB snorkel it couldn't be easier. Some might flame but go ahead and flame, it works and you can't see the wiring loom. I loomed all the wires and then ran the loom down between the snorkel and the pillar. I then fished the wires through the fender and in under the hood. It is all pretty well hidden and loomed up to where only those in the know could even spot the additional wiring. I can take some pics and post them if anyone is interested. This kept me from having to drill anything. I still plan on making a canon plug connection up at the rack where I can have a QD for removing the rack and lights as one. I just haven't gotten there yet. I am pretty anal about wires so I assure you that if you do this right it looks great and you don't have to modify any parts of the guttering etc. No risk of leaks! The other ways mentioned here are awsome and that is what I planned on doing but after studying my truck and setup for a long while I realized that I could hide the loom the way I did behind the snorkel. Best of luck!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah!

Mike