OK To Drill Hole Through Blank Switch Plate?

[Murphy5156]

Hi,

I'm in the process of running a lightning cable from the center console (where the USB ports are) to my iPhone mount on the left side of the dash near the door hinge. I have a 2012 Explorer Limited.

I have the cable run behind the dash so it's hidden, now I'm looking at where to have it exit the dash near the mount. Right below the mount is the switch for the automatic rear hatch lift. In that same "pod" there's two blank switch covers. No switches. When I pop off the covers there's a circuit board at the rear of each empty switch bay.

My question is can a drill a hole through that circuit board? I was thinking I could drill a hole through the board, then through the blank switch cover, and have the cable come out of the dash at that switch.

If I drill through the circuit board will it adversely affect the switch for the rear lift gate? It sort of looks like it may all be connected somehow. Thanks!!

 

[DjDom]

If you drill through it, it will probably affect the lift gate.

Is the circuit board right up against the plastic cover, or is there space between it and the cover?
If there's space, you could always run the wire in that gap, and it should work fine.

 

[Murphy5156]

I've decided it's too risky. There's no other gaps around the switch covers to use, so I'll just figure something else out. Something tells me drilling through that circuit board is a bad idea. Thanks.

 

[DjDom]

Why not take the dash apart and see what you can do?
I'm sure there's at least a little space to run the wire there without drilling through the circuit board.