DIY Hardwiring radar detector w/o kit

[hzm82]

OK Escort and V1 both have hardwiring kits, but what about the rest of us with cheap(er) radar detectors. Seeing as you didn't shell out the cash for the V1 or 8500....I'm betting you wouldn't shell out cash for a hardwiring kit anyways. There is an easy way to do this.....slice the straight cord for your radar detector and attach the positive wire (red) to a fuse and ground the other wire (black or white). This is easy and cheap but doesn't have a prof install feel. So I bought a thing call Add-A-Mini-Circuit from K-mart. It basically turn a fuse spot into two fuse spot. I did this because I wouldn't need to solder in an inline fuse and very easy to remove. Anyways....now for the install. I choice my Cobra 9000 Series radar detector to hardwire.

These are the things you will need. 1) Crimper set ($5) 2) Tape ($1.50) 3) Add-A-Circuit (Mini Fuse Version) ($9) 4) and of course the straight cord, (free if it came with one or around 20 buck or so).

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Then you pull the A-Pillar off starting from the top. It should look like this now

http://www.acurainspired.com/albums/...1479.sized.jpg

Decide where your detector will be located. I placed mine here because its hidden from outside view by the tint strip.

http://www.acurainspired.com/albums/...1481.sized.jpg

Now slide the cord where the roof meets the windshield, make knots in the cord to keep it in place. Also use the tape to tape down the cord where the A-pillar is. Some use snap ties but these are a pain to take off when you want to.

http://www.acurainspired.com/albums/...1480.sized.jpg

Slide the wire down to the fuse.

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This is the Add-A-Circuit. Basically you just crimp the postive wire from your radar detector cord with this.

http://www.acurainspired.com/albums/...1483.sized.jpg

Now crimp the white/black/blue wire with a spade connector and ground it.

http://www.acurainspired.com/albums/...1484.sized.jpg

Now add a 3A fuse and 30A fuse into the two slots provided on the Add-A-Circuit and just plug it into the 30A Front Wiper fuse slot (thanks Sky for the info on this).

http://www.acurainspired.com/albums/...1485.sized.jpg

Replace A-pillar
Tada, its done. I hope that helps anyone thinking about this. There are easier ways to do this but I felt this look the cleanest and safest.

-Han

[rominl]

this is awesome man. going to leave it here for couple of days and it's going to faq forum

[hzm82]

Thanks Henry Your complements means alot!

[1/2]

Very, very nice! I'm about to do this myself and was kinda curious what was behind that a pillar.....well done mate!

[Fredo0709]

whoa, this is awesome! i hate how my cord comes back and uses up a 12V spot. Thanks man!

Is the fuse location the same for an '02 TL-s?

[JLmax]

Good post man...I had a friend that did that with his and it look 100x better without that cord hanging there, doesn't it?!! Good step by step description...I'll definitely do this with my next car!!

[hzm82]

Originally posted by Fredo0709
whoa, this is awesome! i hate how my cord comes back and uses up a 12V spot. Thanks man!

Is the fuse location the same for an '02 TL-s?

Yes fuse location is the same.

[Fredo0709]

hzm82: thanks a bunch for the DIY... i just hardwired mine. Looks great and i got my 12V back!

Note: The A-pillars are a pain to put back on. Just have some patience and the three plastic clips will fall into place. Be careful of the one closest to the roof, I kinda bent mine b/c i didn't mate it too carefully before i started to push. The clip does bend back though, just a little convincing with a pair of needlenose pliers... good luck!

[hzm82]

Yeah feels good to have a free 12V!

[KaMLuNg]

i hate removing a-pillars... i am always scared now... every time i used to take an a-pillar off.. it would get stuck.. i would pull and bybye clips.. all broke...

[hzm82]

I hate those clips......the same clips holds down my wood trim pieces.... One of the clips got loose and fell into the hole and I had to remove my whole center concole to find it.