71 Firewall Grommet

[rtaylor]

Hi All. I have a grommet that is disintegrating on the firewall. I have attached a picture of someone else's firewall. The grommet in question is directly to the left of the hood catch.. The grommet is about 3 inches above the water inlet (or outlet) hose. What is this for? Is it for the windshield wipers?

The wires coming out are enclosed in a black plastic tube that has a semi large connector on it. If I find a replacement grommet, how do I get the wires through? Do I remove the cowl? Can the wires hidden under the cowl be threaded through this grommet somehow? Do I have to cut the wires and then splice them back together? Seems like Banzai has a reproduction if this is indeed the item. However I looked on their website and it doesn't seem to be quite the same.

Thanks.

Edited January 27, 2009 by rtaylor

[Mike B]

Yes, that grommet is on the wiring for the windshield wiper motor. I think Banzai is the only place I have seen with a reproductiion. I haven't compared them to see how similar they are. I would guess that you would need to slit the grommet to get it over the wiring.

To remove the cowl or you remove the six or so small screws at the front edge of the cowl (maybe the two hood bumpers too) and slide the cowl forward. There are several tabs on the back of the cowl that secure it.

-Mike

[AZ-240z]

Yes, that grommet is on the wiring for the windshield wiper motor. I think Banzai is the only place I have seen with a reproductiion. I haven't compared them to see how similar they are. I would guess that you would need to slit the grommet to get it over the wiring.

To remove the cowl or you remove the six or so small screws at the front edge of the cowl (maybe the two hood bumpers too) and slide the cowl forward. There are several tabs on the back of the cowl that secure it.

-Mike

I purchased this grommet from Banzai and it is quite nice and accurate, but anything you get from Mike is going to be extremely accurate and of high quality from my experience.

To install, I removed the five or so wires and conncector pins from the windshield wiper harness plug which lays against the fire wall, (you need to number the pins and the slots on the plug to reinstall correctly) pass the harness wires through the grommet, and reinstall the pins in there respective plug holes. I hope this makes sense. If you have never removed the wire pins from a multiple wire connector plug, it is important to know how this works. Each copper or brass pin on the ends of each wire has a little tab that hooks onto the interior of the plastic connector and this tab must be depressed with a very small tool to allow the wire and pin to be removed.

When reinstalling the wires, just pry up this tab again so it is secure when pushed back into the plastic multi-wire connector.

If you can do this, there is no need to split the grommet or remove the cowl to install this grommet over the harness wire.

Let me know if more explanation is needed, and best of luck.

Dan

Edited January 27, 2009 by AZ-240z

[geezer]

Randy, you can fashion a tool after one of these in this pic if you don't have any on hand. Using a piece of coathanger, a hammer/anvil and a small file you will be able to easily shape a tool to release the lock tabs in the connector. Then you can replace the grommet without cutting it or any wires. Just be careful, study the connector and try to not break the tabs, using a delicate touch, depressing the tab only enough to release the terminal from the connector. I have several homemade "picks" that I use on various locktabs. Make sure to make a crude diagram depicting wire color and cavity locations when removing connectors, to insure they are reinstalled correctly. When finished save your pick and start a collection. I have used literally several dozen different ones over the years, each for their own purpose. Good luck.

[rtaylor]

Dan, Ron and Mike. Thanks so much. I understand the process now. I'll order the part from Banzai. Great picture Ron. I think I can make the pick. Plenty of coat hangers around!

[rtaylor]

I ordered and received the grommet from Mike at Banzai. Great price, and he shipped it to me quickly. I used the pick method and easily was able to remove the little pins from the plastic connector. Perfect advice! Took all of ten minutes and looks great. Can't tell the difference from the original grommet to Mike's reproduction.

One other question regarding firewall grommets. On a early 71, what does the choke cable grommet look like? Somewhere I have seen a grommet offered for sale that looks like it has a small pigtail with two holes in it. Don't know where I saw that one though. My gray hair gets in the way sometimes.

The grommet on my car may have been replaced if this is so. The one I have just looks flat and the cables are just pushed through it. The reason I think it may have been replaced is that this is the only grommet on the firewall that looks like somebody used a black RTV type of sealer under the flange of the grommet. Thanks

[Arne]

The replacement choke cable grommets that I have seen are not correct for '70-71 cars, Randy. I have not yet seen a source for the correct early grommet. Mine is a bit tatty, but I'm staying with it for now in hopes that the correct grommet may become available someday.

The attached picture is the one that's currently available from Nissan, not the correct early grommet.

[rtaylor]

Is your flat Arne? Without the pignose? If so, maybe mine is correct then. I need to take a picture of it and post it here.

[Arne]

I believe mine is flat, Randy. I drove the car to work today, I'll try to remember to look at it during lunch.

[AZ-240z]

Is your flat Arne? Without the pignose? If so, maybe mine is correct then. I need to take a picture of it and post it here.

Randy, if your grommet is flat with two molded holes for the choke cables, it is most probably the correct original. The pig nose grommet is for later 240z cars, and is the only available replacement at this time, as Arne mentioned.

If someone has a good original, maybe someone on this site can do a reproduction someday.

Dan

[Arne]

I'll try to remember to look at it during lunch.

Oops! Forgot. Now I'm trapped in meetings. Maybe tonight.