Just wondering where you run the coax cable through the fire wall of the current model Colorado Crew Cab Ute. I need to bring it in from behind the glove box (passenger) side as the cable is not long enough to trace around to driver side then under dash to passenger side where the actual radio will be fitted. TJM want $140 to install. The army auto elec that worked on the Prado needs the tug all day and I could do it it in 1 hour if I could find where to run cable. I intend to tap into 12v socket in the console for the power as I want it on the Accessary circuit.
I can't seem to find a rubber grommet with cable entry on the passenger side yet I have been told there is one.
If all fails I might just fit the antenna on the right side of the bull bar as the cable is long enough then.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Doug, i have a 2010 Colorado and my cable was run under neath the top of the passenger side mudguard then down and in through the grommet that carries the
wiring for the electrics for passenger electric window.had to take out glove box(don't go near air bag electrics) along the firewall and mounted the radio
on the drivers side of the console.a bit of double dutch but hopefully you will get what i am trying to explain.
I will checkout that area subaru, Once I get the coax in, the radio itself will be screwed to the passenger side of the middle console next to the transmission selector then wire into the left hand 12v adaptor just behind the transmission selector if I can work out how to get that panel off. I might end up letting the auto elec do the job yet, I don't want to wreck anything as it is all still shiny new.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Usually the firewall will have a couple of blank grommets and one or two ares where cables pass thru. I'm talking generally now, not about the Colorado. It's just a matter of finding them.
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Retired Airline Pilot and Electrician..
I'm not old, I've just been young a long time....Ken
Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Dougwe have a look where the wiring loom comes through the firewall I have run mine through the same grommet,its not a COLORADO though.
Lance C
My Pathfinder is the same and I used the grommet for the main loom through the fire wall by pushing a small file tang through first then pushed the cable end through if you can get a small wire in from the engine compartment it will be easier to locate it under the dash. You can buy an extension cable to increase length from JayCar or any radio accessories outlet .
Be careful not to try and get power from behind the computer Ford Techo's wired my mates CB to his new Ford Ranger from that source and it blew the computer. Ford replaced it under warranty and rewired the CB all works fine now just one of those little hic ups with modern vehicles
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Lets think about it..........The cost of a new 4x4= BIG $$$$$$$. The cost of stuffing it up with the antenna connection on the end of the cable, or drilling / find ing a hole to run the coax through, = a lot of $$ to fix and heaven help if you are drilling in the wrong place and drill a small hole in the heater/ aircon cores ( and have seen it done, not pleasant ) = even bigger $$$. and then have the ribbing from other people for ever.
Pay a professional a few $$ and have the uhf installed properly and let him have the problems on how to run the cables.
Ive done the same with haveing uhf radio's repaired. Over the years have found it easyer to ship it off to the manufactures for repair, yes i could repair it my self ( I'm a retired electronics tech ), but trying to get parts and the finding out that i have more than one problem.
Stephen, you are 100% correct and I thank you for your reply (mmmm, that sounds like a bit like a politician in question time) I have spoken to a couple of local people here in Townsville and one caused a problem by accidentally cutting a wire that shouldn't have been cut, he didn't know until the car radio didn't work, he drilled through the firewall. I think I will just get the professionals to fit it. I still have to wait for the bull bar to be fitted yet anyway.
Thanks to all for your comments and input to my question.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Stephen, you are 100% correct and I thank you for your reply (mmmm, that sounds like a bit like a politician in question time) I have spoken to a couple of local people here in Townsville and one caused a problem by accidentally cutting a wire that shouldn't have been cut, he didn't know until the car radio didn't work, he drilled through the firewall. I think I will just get the professionals to fit it. I still have to wait for the bull bar to be fitted yet anyway.
Thanks to all for your comments and input to my question.
Thank you for the kind comments!!. And now the fun starts......setting up your new toy, let's see now, you have all ready got the radio and bull bar, tow bar, maybe, but i would have thought that you would have that sorted out when you bought the new toy . But what about a duel battery system and a Anderson plug at the back of your 4x4 for power to your caravan. Then there is a brake controler, rear vision camera, just so you can see your enemy coming from behind to steal your twins ( sigh, lucky bugger ). Engine wise you could even get a chip for the engine managment system to give you a bit more power.
Then there are driving lights, and maybe even HID inserts. Don't for get the fire extinguisher, yes you would have one in your caravan, but what about the 4x4 ???.Travel rug and a first aid kit would be hight on the list. Maybe even a winch for that bull bar, and there are side steps, just to help you to get in and out. Then there is a canapea (? ) to keep your new 40 Ltr fridge and stocked with nice cold beer for you and champain fot the girls, that is a must have, as is a fridge slide.
Soooo with a new 4x4 the fun has just started. Good luck !!!
Stephen, all those items are sorted but the dealer is mucking me around with the bull bar and canopy. I'm in Townsville as we speak and both items were "on their way" from Brisbane 2 weeks ago prior to me getting the tug then last week they confirmed yet again still on the way as I took delivery of tug. I am about to go to the dealer now and demand an explanation and delivery date/installation date. I will continue to ho to them every day until they are on the tug. I will more than likely get louder each day as I ask the question.
Read my next up date in generel section in a week or so and you will see pics and some fun I had catching out the supplier of the Anderson plug wiring.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Stephen, all those items are sorted but the dealer is mucking me around with the bull bar and canopy. I'm in Townsville as we speak and both items were "on their way" from Brisbane 2 weeks ago prior to me getting the tug then last week they confirmed yet again still on the way as I took delivery of tug. I am about to go to the dealer now and demand an explanation and delivery date/installation date. I will continue to ho to them every day until they are on the tug. I will more than likely get louder each day as I ask the question.
Read my next up date in generel section in a week or so and you will see pics and some fun I had catching out the supplier of the Anderson plug wiring.
keep an eye on the blood pressure mate.
I told the dealer that you are in no hurry for the bull bar as you still have the wombat scoop
Mate, the scoop is going rusty, it needs to be fitted to the bull bar soon.
Blood pressure is fine, for now.
Bull bar arrived but no Canopy yet. I will wait a little longer as I would prefer to get both fitted same day or it is a inconvenience to me.
I thought the scoop was a separate thing from the BB, so I'am ok for a while, will call the dealer and ask him to delay longer just to save a few wombats.
After some more looking around the engine bay and the firewall I found a entrance area behind the glovebox but no way can I personally reach it without moving what looks very important. I also found how to get to the 12v adaptor to wire into Acc loom, that looks easy enough. I think when the tug goes in to get the bull bar and canopy fitted by Holden I will ask them to JUST run the coax cable form UHF Antenna through the firewall and I will do rest. See what they say to that.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
After some more looking around the engine bay and the firewall I found a entrance area behind the glovebox but no way can I personally reach it without moving what looks very important.
For those who are looking for loom entry points into the cab, as well as these high up places, some vehicles you have to take the trim off beside your feet to reveal the loom access.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
Holden have agreed to run the coax through the firewall for me and if time allows will fit it all for me. The Bull Bar and Canopy have priority though.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Holden have agreed to run the coax through the firewall for me and if time allows will fit it all for me. The Bull Bar and Canopy have priority though.
that's good news mate, but I would throw away that rusty wombat scoop if I were you.
can anyone give me some advice? I had an ARB bullbar fitted last Nov 2017 as well as a CB radio just before hoing on a muster with my caravan club (ACC- Golden Westerners) down to Eden. Cutting a long story short, there has been an ongoing issue since. Error indications coming up are Service ESP and Service 4WD.
I have the car booked in to ARB this week, and to give them credit, they have said they will fix it. The issue is when the warnings come on the result is Traction Control is OFF and 4WD wont engage. I initially had the NRMA look at it then a mobile auto electrician from Eden and finally Canobalas Holden at Orange where I bought the Colorado LTZ who finally identified the problem as butchered wiring.
ARB have tried to indicate wires may have been damaged when the electric brakes were installed since the same gromet is used (although they have said it was another gromet next door). Holdens report seems to indicate there was only one gromet used for all wirering and the electric brakes were installed over 37,000 klms ago.
ARB also showed me the UHF cable had been almost cut through. The last people to look at the wireing was Holden when they identified the problems.
I am worried that ARB will do a patch up job that only lasts for awhile and I'll have no come back later. I'm pretty T'd off about this as the car is practically new and they seem to be trying to indicate I may have mucked around with it.
Modern solution to having to wire in an old style CB.
No difference in coverage with a 5 watt handheld Vs a 5 watt inbuilt. Years ago handhelds were only 1 or 2 watt Vs 5 watt for an inbuilt.
Years ago we used 27Mhz with a quarter wave length whip antenna of 2.6 metres. Today we use 477Mhz with a quarter wave length whip antenna of just 15 centimetres.
Yep, that's right, that big antenna on your bull bar that flops around is just a waste of space. In order for that oversized thing on your bullbar to be Omni-directional it will be helical wound just like your handheld antenna. The fibreglass tube will have a metallic lining to act just like the shielding on your coax and then the actual antenna part will most likely pop out about half the way up the tube and wrap around the outside for perhaps 2 to 3 inches.
Unless that big floppy thing is mounted in the middle of your car roof, your antenna has no ground plane, just like the handheld, and unless the big floppy thing is taller than your caravan will be just a semi-directional as a handheld inside your vehicle with some of the signal bouncing back off the car and van.
Oh and don't start me on standing wave ratios (SWR). As soon as you chuck on some random length of coax and try to mate that up to a big floppy external antenna, your SWR (and power output Vs power reflected back) goes all to sh!t, but that handheld will be factory matched to a small 'rubber ducky' whip with an SWR down to a near perfect 1:1.
One more thing, the handheld is portable for when you go walkabout.
can anyone give me some advice? I had an ARB bullbar fitted last Nov 2017 as well as a CB radio just before hoing on a muster with my caravan club (ACC- Golden Westerners) down to Eden. Cutting a long story short, there has been an ongoing issue since. Error indications coming up are Service ESP and Service 4WD. 
