The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Need a trick to pull wire to dome light

Trying to replace the wire from the dash to the dome light switch which is mounted on the passenger "b" pillar. Tried a stiff wire from both ends and pulling a new wire in with the old. Nothing worked. Someone have a 'trick' without having to tear the headliner apart? Thanks.

Mine is on the drivers side, I finally got it with the wire trick. Thought about hiding it under the windlace and moldings. That would I worked too.

What year/model truck?
in general: fiberglass fish sticks and a inspection camera will help.
Use the camera to see if some binding or clamping exists.
The flexible fish sticks can be used to help hook wire through hole or past binding spot. They are kind of like the stiff wire easier to control and better hooking on ends.

Try using an old speedometer cable as a fish tape. It can be twisted and manipulated much better than a wire. Once the cable finds its way through the maze, tape the wire (s) to it from the bottom and gently coax them through to the dome light. A little Vaseline or silicone spray on the wires will help them slip through the tight spots.
Jerry

The old one if original is held in place by 3 or 4 metal Clips . You won't have much luck using the old one as a fish.

You might have to abandon it in place and fish your new wire using one of the methods mentioned above.

Had to pull my headliner loose on the drivers side and back. Gus is correct the old one is held in place with clips that are tight and secure. After you get the headliner loose you can see the clips and remove them from the sheet metal. Then just attach the clips to the new wire and re install. There are no clips down the "A" pillar down to the lamp switch.

Tim

Agree with Jerry and DADS50, but a choke or throttle cable is smaller than a speedo. That's what I used. From an old truck, tractor, bicycle brake/shift, lawn mower, or whatever.

If you want to do it right....and remove the old wire, separate the headliner from the side and back and put the new wire in the clips. I not, fish it in with a small cable or wiring snake. It's really up to you.

Thanks guys, I got 'er done. Used an inside cable from a old speedo cable I had laying around the shop. Hardest part was fishing the cable end through a small hole high up on the kick panel. Will not forget this trick anytime soon. Heck, I might even try to get the dome light working on my Packard.

Good deal.