I am installing a new alarm siren w/ battery backup. I need to afix the siren to the sheet metal inside the engine bay. Not totally sure how to do this.

Do I just drill the holes and use screws to hold the mounting bracket on? What kind of screws can I use that will stay in the sheet metal holes I drill?

Sorry; I am not very good with this kind of stuff.

 

This is an easy solution and don't appoligize for not being mechanically enclined. We all suffer every now and then.

Step 1) Determine and locate an appropriate place that is well hidden to install this back up alarm
Step 2) Mount the bracket using 1/2" or smaller sheet metel screws. These will will have self tapping tips and are strong enough to penetrate thick sheet metel. Because of the self tapping tip this will also keep you from having to pre-drill with a drill bit.
Step 3) Because of the fact that your using self tapping screws, DO NOT over tighten as the metal of the screw is harder than the sheet metal and the screw will strip out its own hole
Step 4) Install bracket and horn, wire it up
Step 5) Sleep easier knowing you did a good job.

Aloha,
Brandon

 

So how do I use the self tapping screws? Like physically since I don't pre-drill. I am having a hard time imagining how I get th escrew to stay while I drill it in.

 

Drill a pilot hole first then screw in the self tapping screw.

If you don't want to do that, get some self drilling screws (shown below). They have a tip on them that will make a pilot hole for you. They should sell those at your local hardware store. Make sure they are corrosion resistant though.



You can try use a self tapping screw as a self drilling but there is a good chance that it will walk.

IMO, I don't like drilling into my car. I usually make a bracket and bolt it onto the car using some existing fasteners.

 

It's quite easy to get the self tapping screw in. It's a phillips head on it, so put a phillips tip in a drill size 2, maybe 3 and that will hold the screw on. Make sure you start off with light pressure when pushing the screw into the metal or you'll keep popping them off the tip.

Mele Kalikimaka,
Brandon