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Wiring a Winch

10K views 25 replies 15 participants last post by  ds1948 
#1 ·
Does anyone have pics of the under-the-hood wiring set up they can share? I'm having a hard time figuring out where to run the wiring to keep it clear of hot surfaces, etc. There is surprisingly little room under the hood! Many thanks!
 
#5 ·
Here's mine.

I am not an expert, this is my first winch install, however I've done my share of car wiring over the last 35 years.

This is a semi-temporary setup in that I am still running the OEM battery and plan on upgrading it next year.

At the battery end, I have marked the winch wires on the first picture with a "+" and "-" signs so you can see where they go. The negative wire is routed around the fuse box to near the fender. The positive wire is connected to the circuit breaker supplied with my SuperWinch - that thing loosely wrapped in white electrical tape. I used black heat-shrink wrap at the end of the wire.




The negative wire is routed around the fuse box, then drops below the air box. It is wrapped in flexible conduit for most of its length:




The positive wire goes straight toward the front then also drops under the air box. It is wrapped in flexible conduit for its entire length.




Under the air box, the two wires are together, and tied using zip ties to an A/C hose to keep them from getting too close to the exhaust headers. They exit at the lower passenger-side corner of the grille (didn't want to go through the grille as I have a grile insert.)
Sorry, couldn't take a picture as I recently hurt my back and can't bend down.

On this pic you can barely see the cables, shrouded in black, at the passenger-side end of the winch plate:




Hope this helps. Perhaps someone with more experience can tell me how to improve this in the future. :)
 
#10 ·
Here's mine. I am not an expert, this is my first winch install, however I've done my share of car wiring over the last 35 years. This is a semi-temporary setup in that I am still running the OEM battery and plan on upgrading it next year. At the battery end, I have marked the winch wires on the first picture with a "+" and "-" signs so you can see where they go. The negative wire is routed around the fuse box to near the fender. The positive wire is connected to the circuit breaker supplied with my SuperWinch - that thing loosely wrapped in white electrical tape. I used black heat-shrink wrap at the end of the wire. The negative wire is routed around the fuse box, then drops below the air box. It is wrapped in flexible conduit for most of its length: The positive wire goes straight toward the front then also drops under the air box. It is wrapped in flexible conduit for its entire length. Under the air box, the two wires are together, and tied using zip ties to an A/C hose to keep them from getting too close to the exhaust headers. They exit at the lower passenger-side corner of the grille (didn't want to go through the grille as I have a grile insert.) Sorry, couldn't take a picture as I recently hurt my back and can't bend down. On this pic you can barely see the cables, shrouded in black, at the passenger-side end of the winch plate: Hope this helps. Perhaps someone with more experience can tell me how to improve this in the future. :)
Cdeslandes,

Nice setup. Where did you get the extra terminal connections on the positive side of the battery?
 
#6 ·
Was just gonna ask this last night. I went around to left like above but went through Wheel well. Probably could have found a better route but I have no heat issues.
 
#7 ·
Thanks!! I am really having an issue getting the wiring from the front end into the engine compartment. I took off the grill to give me a little more room, but I can't seem to maneuver the Warn cable between the passenger wheel well and the internal equipment so I can run it to the battery. Getting a little frustrated! :/
 
#8 ·
Okay, I managed to take a few more pictures.

Here are the wires passing under the grille on the passenger side; could have routed them through the grille just as well:



From there they pass on top of the frame, behind the wheel well shroud:



And follow the frame, are tied to the A/C line then climb straight up (off picture to the left) to emerge just rear of the air box (see my previous post):




And yes, my Jeep is dirty, just the way it should be! :)
 
#16 ·
yup just give it a pull it justs sits in little grommets .at least on the 3.8 to the OP there should be just enough room to run it by the passenger headlight . Red to positive + black to negative - like said above connect your battery last. And you can ground the motor wire on the 10 mm nut on the passenger fender as well
 
#19 ·
Well, I have to admit defeat here, and the need for professional help. I tried running it both by the headlight and along the frame, and I couldn't get either to work. I ended up breaking a plastic bracket for some other wiring, and ripping the winch cord in half, exposing the copper wire inside.:censored:
 
#21 ·
Haha, I wish!! I started feeding it along the passenger side, and it got stuck inside a metal bracket. Well, that bugger was sharp, and when a gentle pull didn't dislodge it, I tried to maneuver my fingers for better grip. I cut the #### out of my fingers and the added pressure on the cable was all that was needed to cut into the rubber casing.

And I'll qualify it by saying that it wasn't in half as in two severed ends, but in half, as in the rubber split in two exposing the interior copper wire.
 
#22 ·
Okay, so since I've figured this out, I thought I'd share for others what ended up working. Having someone to help feed the cable along is a tremendous benefit.

So, starting from the front. This is where the quick connect end is:



And here is where it feeds along the front frame:



It slides along the air filter housing and the left along the engine compartment:



The air filter housing had to be opened up (four clips on the housing) and two bolts had to be removed to get it along the side. Here are the two bolts that had to be removed (and don't forget to remove the cable in the little clamps before moving the thing):



It was continued along the side:



Another bolt had to be removed to get the cable to the battery (circled):



Between the zip ties and the reinstalled bolts, the cable doesn't move at all. Hope this helps someone else!
 
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