DIY: Hard Wire Radar Detector (Write Up) (Plenty of pics)

[SpeedDemon7]

I saw the thread of a member whom did the hardwire install and decided that I was sick of the wire going to my center console to provide power to my radar detector. My first step I went online and found a harness for my radar detector (Escort 8500).
Before the Install...



Step 1: Get yourself a harness for you Radar Detector, Make sure you have a wire T Tap. (so you can remove and return to stock form as you please)





Step 2: Now to remove the overhead light assembly there are 3 clips on the right side, you want to gently insert a small screw drive, or a trim removal tool inside and slowly pull out the assembly using gentle force to make sure you done break any clips.





Step 3: Once you have the assembly out you want to take your harness and route the side drawing power through a small wedge where the top trim piece/cover for the assembly housing meets the windshield.


Step 4: Once you have drawn the wire through locate and undue the connector on the passenger side air bag warning indicator. Once clip is out examine for the green and white connector. This will your switched 12v source.



Step 5: Next grab your wire T Tap and join the Green/White from the passenger side clip and your power (red wire) from your radar's hard wire harness. (For me My t tap failed and I couldn't get a solid connection so I stripped my harness wiring and wired twisted the wire on from the exposed portion of the green/white wire where the T Tap had removed the wire insulation, then covered it with a small piece of electrical tape, this worked like a charm. I did not solder due to the fact that I want to be able to remove the harness later on.)









Step 6: Next you want to locate 2 holes inside where you removed the overhead light assembly. Choose one of these and screw in the ground wire of your Radar Detectors harness.











Step 7: Once everything all the wires coming form the radar detector have been connected as shown, plug back in the clip into the overhead lighting assembly. To make sure your radar detector works turn the engine on in your car. Do not simply plug in the key fab, you must turn on the engine in order for the radar to receive power and successfully test.
If your radar detector is not turning on please make sure that your t tap is functioning correctly and is getting a clean connection between the wires. In my case this was the problem and I ended up simply twisting the wire onto the green white wire.

[baldguyj]

What bracket did you use? I have the 9500xi that has a wired mute remote for learning and marking so still trying to figure where I want to put this! Thanks for a great write up.

[SpeedDemon7]

I used the suction cup mount to mount it. I think as far as the remote that plugs into the cigarette lighter for the auto mute, when you decide to hard-wire you radar detector you lose functionality of the remote, which was not a problem for me because I never really used it.

[baldguyj]

Originally Posted by SpeedDemon7

I used the suction cup mount to mount it. I think as far as the remote that plugs into the cigarette lighter for the auto mute, when you decide to hard-wire you radar detector you lose functionality of the remote, which was not a problem for me because I never really used it.

Actually the hard wire kit comes with both power and mute control wires. But your right probably won't use it.

[SpeedDemon7]

Hmmmm, I can't really think of a good place to mount the remote...I would assume maybe somewhere around the center console but I hate the Idea of having to drill a hole in order to mount a switch. For me I only keep on the KA band, K band and laser to avoid those annoying false alarms, these bands are the ones I see in use by law enforcement in my area, but every area is different so check out this link to find out what they are using around you.
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...-8-6-09-a.html

[DavidJS]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but for the "instant on" radars, do you have a chance to detect it before it's too late?

[SpeedDemon7]

Most police officers do not use the instant-on feature as it is time consuming and they become "lazy" and keep their gun mounted on the dash in full operation. It all depends if you are the primary target and how fast you can take your vehicle back down to the speed limit. Don't rely 100% on your radar, I always have my eyes glued on the rear view mirror every time I due a high speed run.

[DavidJS]

Thank you!

[baldguyj]

Originally Posted by DavidJS

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but for the "instant on" radars, do you have a chance to detect it before it's too late?

It's also best to have a "blocker", if you tail behind someone going fast the instant on will go to him and you'll get the bounce. If you lead, good luck but Speed is correct cops are out to make money and there are plenty of speeders who are not careful

[baldguyj]

Alright SpeedDemon7, finally had a “too crowded” day at the beach this weekend and tackled this job. And thanks to your DYI instructions, worked great! My t-tap worked at first but when I pushed the wiring back up it gave way, I don’t think it is made for tight areas. I spliced and used electrical tape as well. For all you 9500ix users the control module fits up in that compartment as well but of course you cant get to it. I shoved it up there for 2 reasons, 1. The section that housed the fuse was too large to fit between the housing and windshield; I could have spliced but… 2. For the past 2 weeks I never used the one that was attached to the supplied unit. I guess if I ever live in such a market or travel a lot that I’ll need to use it, I can take it down and attach on the left side of the housing. But this thing with the GPS has learned all the trouble spots between work and home and now if it goes off, good chance there’s trouble ahead. I got hits from 2 miles away with a state trooper facing the other way, love the RF bounce.
Thanks again Speed.

[InsanePineapple]

Thanks for the write-up Speed! That made my install easy. I ran into something slightly unexpected. At the part where you screw in the ground, I see the two holes, but no screws anywhere in sight:



I couldn't find a screw that's the correct size from my toolbox, so I ended up taping the ground wire against that strip of unpainted metal above the two screw holes. Feels a little bit jury rigged, but it works. Let's hope it holds. Here's the final product:



I think I discovered a flaw in my plan though. In my E92, there is a strip of tinted glass at the top of the windshield which helps to conceal the permanent mount. E89 does not have that tinted strip, so the mount looks rather obvious (IMHO) from the outside, especially since the 3M adhesive that is on it is grey in color:



What do you guys think? Too much "come steal my stuff" vibe?

[baldguyj]

I used the suction cups and keep my center counsel clean so I take the detector down and store it when topless or in not the best of neighborhoods.

[ManiacGT]

In the UK the use of these devices is illegal, however possession is not. Therefore so long as the unit is non operational, you're ok to have it. So the point is, how would you on a fixed installation like this propose to have it 'quickly removable'?

[SgtGigglebox]

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

In the UK the use of these devices is illegal, however possession is not. Therefore so long as the unit is non operational, you're ok to have it. So the point is, how would you on a fixed installation like this propose to have it 'quickly removable'?

Wouldn't it just need to be "quickly turn-off-able"?

Similar rules in some states over here as well. I've had decent luck by only installing shielded radar detectors (preventing the radiation bleed that gets picked up by most radar detectors) and simply turning it off from a switch mounted in the foot well.

[InsanePineapple]

Originally Posted by baldguyj

I used the suction cups and keep my center counsel clean so I take the detector down and store it when topless or in not the best of neighborhoods.

I had a... bad experience with suction cups. I used to have an Escort 8500 just like OP. One time, on hard braking, the suction cup detached itself from the windshield and the detector flew off, hit the floor and never worked right again. I vowed to never use suction cups again.

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

In the UK the use of these devices is illegal, however possession is not. Therefore so long as the unit is non operational, you're ok to have it. So the point is, how would you on a fixed installation like this propose to have it 'quickly removable'?

Well, it is legal where I live (although I'm sure the officer wouldn't like it very much), so I don't really have that problem It's removable, just not "quickly removable". The mount is just attached to the windshield permanently instead by suction cups. You can still remove the detector from the mount.

I'm going to try something silly. I'm waiting on my toll tag sticker to arrive in the mail. I plan to stick the detector mount behind it so it is hidden when the detector is removed.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by DavidJS

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but for the "instant on" radars, do you have a chance to detect it before it's too late?

If you are directly targeted by instant on radar or laser the officer will have a reading when your detector goes off, so no chance.

Detector helps you when the radar/laser is fired at others.

There is also visual speed estimation (particularly from aircraft) which no detector will help you with.

As other have said, these counter measures don't replace your own judgement and situational awareness.

[InsanePineapple]

Found a solution to my stealth problem. It's quite clever I think


Permanent mount is behind the toll tag. Technically you are not supposed to have metal within 4 inches of the RFID due to interference at UHF bands. But even if the reader fails to read my toll tag, the camera should capture my license plate, which will match my account in their database and the toll would be deducted correctly.


Detector installed. Stealth mode

[Baremeg55]

I still use the suction cups, as I do prefer to remove the detector when parking in locations that may invite theft. Also, it would appear when mounted that high, your detector no longer has an unobstructed view rearwards, which on some units defeats the purpose of the backwards detection.

Secondly, I never used the 12V under the armrest. I used the other outlet located on left sidewall of passenger footwell area....

[JavierBayArea]

I have put my radar in between the seats. It works great, it's not obtrusive and even looks good.

You can see it if you jump to 1:05 in this video:

It is mounted on a 'smartphone car holder', that just pushes it together, easy to get out and a great place to hook a gopro instead. In that video you can see the view when the radar is replaced by the gopro

[InsanePineapple]

Originally Posted by JavierBayArea

I have put my radar in between the seats. It works great, it's not obtrusive and even looks good.

But... it's behind you Do you have a remote display unit up front or something?

[stickshifter69]

Can't see the display and plus what if you have a windscreen?

[SpeedDemon7]

I actually tried this before, but kept falling out of place the way i drive. hahaha