How-to-guides - Wire routing tools

Tool Time

Index               

Introduction

Testing tools

Standard tools

Window crank and door panel removal tools

Wire routing tools

Radio removal tools

Radio removal tools Part-2

Wire routing tool

The wire grabber is the best thing since sliced bagels, as it allows the routing of a wire or wires to be easily routed through the vehicles dash or any hard to reach place in the vehicle.

The grabber is essentially a long hollow spring with a cable attached to another spring loaded handle.

On the other end, it incorporates several small metal like fingers that spread outward when the handle is pressed, allowing the tool to "grab" and hold on to wires, or anything else, small enough to fit in the chamber of the tube.

How does it work?

Cheapskate version #1

If you don't want to spend the money, the next best thing is to get your hands on a wire coat hanger .Opened it up to create a long strait line.

Simply tape the wire to be routed to one end of the hanger with a quality brand electrical tape and use the coat hangers "stiffness" to route your wire in hard to reach places.

Cheapskate version #2

You can also use the antenna mast form a removable antenna or any semi -flexible rod available.

How to use the cheapskate versions

The picture at left shows the wire to be routed and the rod.

In this case, we will be using our trusty old vehicle antenna mast for our routing tool.

Creating a release tab

It is important to wrap the wire to be routed properly to prevent the wire from "catching" onto the interior dash parts and damaging or even permanent snagging of the wire.

Permanent snagging occurs during the routing process and will catch onto an interior  dash part causing it to "lock' into place.

You then will then have to force the rod out removing the tape wrap and starting the wrap over again.

Wrap the tape tightly at the starting end, to create a "ramp" for any obstacle to safely slide off the wrap of tape.

At the end of the tape wrap leave about 3/4 of an inch unwrapped.

Caution.

In many cases you will be installing your new product that you spent hours on trying to find the best deal.

Some products ,such as satellite radio antenna plugs, CD changer cords, video entertainment input harnesses and many others will have unique style plugs on them.

Unique in this term means that if you damage it, it is ether difficult to repair, or must be replace and is only available from the manufacture.

SO, we highly recommend that you take note of this section.

Once one of these unique plus gets caught it the depths and layers that many dashes have, it may become permanently "locked into a crevasse and the plug will detach and break off as you attempt to back off of the routing procedure.

Be sure to wrap the routing wire properly! Evan wrapping the wire properly will not guarantee this will not occur!

Creating a release tab part 2

Fold the tape over on itself, sticky side to sticky side, to create a release tab.

If you have ever worked with electrical tape, you know that finding the tapes end can be difficult.

Removing the tape without damaging the wire from "pulling" can take longer than the install itself.

By folding the end over, this creates a release tab to easily unwrap the tape from the routing rod.

Continue to stereo removal tools