A-pillar and dashboard cable routing

[SwannyUK]

I've been reading up some existing threads on removing the a pillar (here), and speaker sizes for the front and rear doors (here) on my 940 estate.

I'm wondering if anyone can comment on, having removed the a pillar trim, how easy is it to get behind the dash to run a cable to the centre console. I dont think my passenger side has an airbag. I need to run a DAB aerial from the top of the passenger side a pillar, down the pillar, and behind the dash.

I'm using a Pioneer AN-DAB1.

[Steve 940]

Originally Posted by SwannyUK

I've been reading up some existing threads on removing the a pillar (here), and speaker sizes for the front and rear doors (here) on my 940 estate.

I'm wondering if anyone can comment on, having removed the a pillar trim, how easy is it to get behind the dash to run a cable to the centre console. I dont think my passenger side has an airbag. I need to run a DAB aerial from the top of the passenger side a pillar, down the pillar, and behind the dash.

I'm using a Pioneer AN-DAB1.

Hi Swanny UK,

I put in a new head unit around 8 months ago in my new to me '94 940 estate, Blaupunkt Bremen had a stick on DAB aeriel, and I put it at the top edge of the passenger side pillar.

Recall I didn't need to remove the cover fully, think I took off passenger grab handle to free up the A pillar trim, then very gently loosened door rubber that goes over the lip around the door hinge area. Managed to fiddle the thin aeriel lead behind the panels and routed behind glove box to the centre console.

Bit of a squeeze around the rubber wiring grommet and air trunk to door, but got there eventually.

Suggest connecting up first as I didnt, and to be honest the DAB reception is not great. Not sure if its the bad DAB signal out here in the sticks, or if it was just a cheap aeriel. Anyway, I just left it as it is, as there is always FM / MW.

Good luck
Cheers
Steve

[Forrest]

When I fitted a radio with both DAB and FM capability in an older car which I didn't want to mess with I used one of these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MRIFCDD

It works in strong DAB signal areas just through an existing, original, wing-mounted extending aerial. It takes its power through the DAB aerial port, something you may have to configure in settings on the radio.

However, if the existing aerial is one of those amplified ones in the rear window of a 900 series estate it might not work.

Another idea I have seen mooted elsewhere is to re-purpose an old car-phone aerial for DAB. I quite like this idea, but have not tried it myself.

[Steve 940]

Originally Posted by Forrest

When I fitted a radio with both DAB and FM capability in an older car which I didn't want to mess with I used one of these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MRIFCDD

It works in strong DAB signal areas just through an existing, original, wing-mounted extending aerial. It takes its power through the DAB aerial port, something you may have to configure in settings on the radio.

However, if the existing aerial is one of those amplified ones in the rear window of a 900 series estate it might not work.

Another idea I have seen mooted elsewhere is to re-purpose an old car-phone aerial for DAB. I quite like this idea, but have not tried it myself.

Good point Forrest, my 940 has aerial in rear side window, so usual connector plugged into back of head unit with the DAB lead plugged into separate connector.

Generally electrical things give me the heeby geebies

Cheers
Steve

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by SwannyUK

I've been reading up some existing threads on removing the a pillar (here), and speaker sizes for the front and rear doors (here) on my 940 estate.

I'm wondering if anyone can comment on, having removed the a pillar trim, how easy is it to get behind the dash to run a cable to the centre console. I dont think my passenger side has an airbag. I need to run a DAB aerial from the top of the passenger side a pillar, down the pillar, and behind the dash.

I'm using a Pioneer AN-DAB1.

It's pretty easy to run cables behind the A pillar trim and also behind/under the dash. I've run cable for mirror dashcams and also for footwell lighting in mine, most of it is self-explanatory once you start pulling bits off.

Originally Posted by Forrest

Another idea I have seen mooted elsewhere is to re-purpose an old car-phone aerial for DAB. I quite like this idea, but have not tried it myself.

It should work, they're a very similar wavelength and would therefore need a similar aerial length. I have an old carphone aerial on top of my 760 and i have a DAB tuner, i just haven't got round to marrying the two together. My main reason for DAB would be Gold but i can use my phone for that and that is linked via BT to the stereo as well and soft-mutes with incoming calls and/or sat-nag instructions.

[SwannyUK]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

It's pretty easy to run cables behind the A pillar trim and also behind/under the dash. I've run cable for mirror dashcams and also for footwell lighting in mine, most of it is self-explanatory once you start pulling bits off.

Great stuff, sounds like there's not going to be any major issues. Winner!

Originally Posted by Steve 940

I put in a new head unit around 8 months ago in my new to me '94 940 estate, Blaupunkt Bremen

Just got myself a Blaupunkt Skagen 400 - as much as the Bremen is very cool much cooler than the Skagen, I couldn't justify the cost for it.