driver side front of the trunk there is the grommet for the taillight wiring, use that to get into the engine bay.....from there you have options:
-follow that wiring through the driverside firewall grommet into the interior, and continue under the side sill cover up to the dash
-go to the underside of the engine and follow the shift cables in and go under the center console up to the dash
-go down the inside of the side pods (the wiring will come out inside the dash and avoid the interior entirely for the cleanest install).....that is the most difficult though.

 

The usual way is to remove the inside rear plastic bulkhead panel, there you will find 2 alternative routes. In the center is the transmission linkage opening and on the drivers side is a grommet which wires can be pushed through. Check which one suits you.
cheers,
Michael

 

The usual way is to remove the inside rear plastic bulkhead panel, there you will find 2 alternative routes. In the center is the transmission linkage opening and on the drivers side is a grommet which wires can be pushed through. Check which one suits you.
cheers,
Michael

Thanks to both of you.

I took out a flashlight and shined it down where the drivers side seatbelt goes in, and I see a grommet that looks loose (maybe something has been pulled through before?)

I'll try going through there and see where I get. There is a black shield on the inside of the engine bay blocking my access, I'll just give it the good ol' college try.

 

Thanks to both of you.

I took out a flashlight and shined it down where the drivers side seatbelt goes in, and I see a grommet that looks loose (maybe something has been pulled through before?)

I'll try going through there and see where I get. There is a black shield on the inside of the engine bay blocking my access, I'll just give it the good ol' college try.

The engine bay side of the grommet is wrapped in friction tape. You can get to it from either the driver's side scoop or from the wheel well with the liner removed. Unwrap the tape, run your wiring, and re-wrap when complete.

 

The engine bay side of the grommet is wrapped in friction tape. You can get to it from either the driver's side scoop or from the wheel well with the liner removed. Unwrap the tape, run your wiring, and re-wrap when complete.

I was downstairs when you wrote this.. too bad, could have saved me some head ache etc. I used a sharp pointy tool with the wire attached to the end of it to get through the drivers side grommet (have removed the scoop, it was easy, wish I read your tip before going downstairs, but with the three screws staring at me from the scoop, I said "*** it" and took the scoop off.

If you look towards the back of the car, you can see over the wheel well the grommet for the trunk, so this is really an ideal location to run the wire.

I get the wire through, but in the process of removing the tape from the tool, strip the wire (and I mean strip as in FUBAR'd it). so I pulled it back out, put the car back together and will go to radio shack tomorrow to see about salvaging the wire

Rewrapping that wires on the grommet will be a royal PITA no?

 

I was downstairs when you wrote this.. too bad, could have saved me some head ache etc. I used a sharp pointy tool with the wire attached to the end of it to get through the drivers side grommet (have removed the scoop, it was easy, wish I read your tip before going downstairs, but with the three screws staring at me from the scoop, I said "*** it" and took the scoop off.

If you look towards the back of the car, you can see over the wheel well the grommet for the trunk, so this is really an ideal location to run the wire.

I get the wire through, but in the process of removing the tape from the tool, strip the wire (and I mean strip as in FUBAR'd it). so I pulled it back out, put the car back together and will go to radio shack tomorrow to see about salvaging the wire

It's all in the timing...

Rewrapping that wires on the grommet will be a royal PITA no?

Not really... get yourself a fresh roll of friction tape (Radio Shack probably has some, if not any decent hardware store does), cut about a one foot or so length of it and start wrapping from the grommet backwards...

 

It's all in the timing...

I guess so. I'm pretty pissed about cutting the wire, I hope radioshack has a fix, otherwise I have to get Sumas to get me another wire (doubtful)

Not really... get yourself a fresh roll of friction tape (Radio Shack probably has some, if not any decent hardware store does), cut about a one foot or so length of it and start wrapping from the grommet backwards...

I'll give it a shot. need to fix the wire first.

 

A little late here, but for future reference. Incidentally, for a couple of small wires there is an alternative to pulling the rear panel. Above the rear window on the Elise there are plastic connectors that hold the inside roll bar trim. If one is removed, wires can be pushed through from the outside to the inside and hidden behind the trim.
Michael

 

On an Elise it is so simple to lift the shift Tunnel in the cab (no need to remove the shift knob or e brake handle) simply move the tunnel cover upwards and route your wires....couldn't be easier to get the wires thru from the engine bay forward......took about 20 min.
3 screws in the cup holder...two in the tunnel and lift...you can see daylight thru the grommet to the engine bay.....seats et al in place.
Running wires for a pressure/temp oil gauge.
Much easier than going thru the wheel well....I know, I tried that first as it was recommended.....that is a pita...thru the tunnel is a breeze.