diy: a better way to hardwire a radar detector

[vlad]

i wanted to post this in the diy forum but it wouldn't let me post there (no idea why). there's a thread in the diy forum showing how to wire the detector to the map lights, but if you do it that way then your detector will always be on, even with the ignition off. if you do it my way, it'll only turn on with the ignition.

this was done on my 08 si coupe, it's possible it could be a different prong on 4 doors and/or different years.

i have a valentine 1, the only extra things i needed to buy were the 2 connectors for the ends of the wire (1 of each), zip ties, and double sided tape (optional). the connectors that were on there originally were the wrong size.

click on the pics to see them full size.

i tucked the wire into the headliner and ran it down behind the pillar cover. i ziptied the wire to the wiring that was already there. the pillar cover is held in with plastic clips, to get it out use a flat head screwdriver and start prying at the top. to remove the bottom cover that's over the fusebox just tug on it starting at the bottom.


i peeled away the rubber molding in the door jamb, which exposed a perfect spot to run the wire through from the pillar to the fuse box.


this is what i connected the red wire to. in the box in the top left corner of the fuse box, i used the top right prong. using that spot the detector will only turn on with the ignition.
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this is one of the connectors that i had to change. the original one was too big to fit into the spot in the fuse box. i forgot to take a pic of the connector i used for the black wire but it's the same shape as the original one, just bigger. original one was too small to fit the bolt through.


i connected the black wire to the bolt holding the fuse box. gotta take the bolt out first.


this is where i put the relay that comes with the detector and the extra wiring. the zip tie on the left is holding the relay, zip tie on the right is holding the extra wiring. i first used 3 zipties to clump the wiring together before attaching it to the dash. i put some double-sided rubber tape in between the relay and dash to prevent rattling.


the finished product

[holtzy08si]

nice diy

[Hafrica13]

this is exactly how i did mine too. even the ground bolt. haha

[slicknick]

being up that high, does it effect the range?

[TexasK20Z]

Mine (wired to the sunroof) is not always on... not at all... but good write up all the same.

[vlad]

Originally Posted by slicknick

being up that high, does it effect the range?

i've had it like this for less than a day but it seems to be ok. i don't see why the height would affect it, as the detector still has a clear view in all directions. mounting it too high to the top of the windshield might block the signals from behind, but at this height it's still clear.

Originally Posted by TexasK20Z

Mine (wired to the sunroof) is not always on... not at all... but good write up all the same.

i originally tried to wire it to the sunroof, but the only wire i found that had power, always had power, even with the ignition off.

[TexasK20Z]

Originally Posted by vlad

i originally tried to wire it to the sunroof, but the only wire i found that had power, always had power, even with the ignition off.

The sunroof wire has power after the key is turned off... for like 5 minutes or until you open the door. You can open/close windows and the sunroof after the key is off... but not once the door is open.

[92gli]

Originally Posted by TexasK20Z

The sunroof wire has power after the key is turned off... for like 5 minutes or until you open the door. You can open/close windows and the sunroof after the key is off... but not once the door is open.

Thats not true on the '08s. Trust me, I know what I'm doing and I was banging my friggen head on the steering wheel the day I did mine. It seems to be different on 06s and 07s, but on an 08 if you tap into the sunroof wire the detector never turns off.

I ended up doing it how vlad did it, with the addition of a remote display tucked into the cubby in front of the shifter. Its really better to do into the fuse block anyway.

[vlad]

Originally Posted by TexasK20Z

The sunroof wire has power after the key is turned off... for like 5 minutes or until you open the door. You can open/close windows and the sunroof after the key is off... but not once the door is open.

see, this is what everybody was saying in that other diy thread, but that's not how it was working on my 08. there was only 1 wire in that clip that had power, and the power never died, even after opening the door.

[jrMartinez24]

awesome DIY moved to the right section

[RanEnRui]

I hardwired my Passport 9500ix using the Add-A-Circuit thing into Fuse #8 (unused) of my '08 Si coupe. I had a hard time using the map lights for mine.

I'm running the wire under the headliner, down the A-pillar (pain to shove it in there), down the side and to the fusebox, then the remote switch is running under the removable plastic shield under the steering wheel and goes to the small center console (under the radio) where its mounted with some Velcro adhesives. All wires are hidden for the most part, very clean install.

Now I just have to get back with a friend who has a 9500ix in red (upgrade from the 9500i).

I sold my V1 not too long ago, I definitely miss it from time to time.

You should keep it mounted high. Mine doesn't have a rear-facing antenna so I don't have to worry about back visibility, but I keep mine as high as possible on the driver's side to the left of the rear-view mirror. With the V1 I'd probably mount it the same, maybe lower an inch.

[RanEnRui]

Not sure why I can't edit either (sorry for double post), but Fuse #8 is switched by ignition for those who are wondering. When the car is off, the detector goes off instantly and vice versa.

[vlad]

i was originally going to wire it to the fuse spot but i couldn't find a connector locally and didn't want to wait to get one shipped.

[RanEnRui]

Ugh, I remember that nonsense. I had a hard time finding one at other stores a while back when helping a friend with his and when I found one recently it was the last one. It's like they keep only one in stock for the month, if that.

[oherc]

I did same thing, but popped out the extra blank for the fog light switch to install my remote button for my beltronics gx-65

[mrshogoun]

hi, can anybody tell me whats the job of the prongs of the left corner of the fuse box, the one that diy told us to use to wire the radar, beacause I was doing what he was explaining but i did a mistake, y touched 2 prongs and did a short, and now that right prong doesnt have current... and i dont know what else i messed up... can anybody tell me?

[si kris]

what are the big diffrences between valentine and passport? i have a passport and many people say that the valentine is a much better syestem?

[vlad]

Originally Posted by si kris

what are the big diffrences between valentine and passport? i have a passport and many people say that the valentine is a much better syestem?

the valentine's supposed to be more sensitive and has the directional arrows.

[07k20z3ftw]

Originally Posted by slicknick

being up that high, does it effect the range?

something you guys might want to think about is having it mounted so high up. cops use your reflectors in order to hit you with lasers and other radar guns that they use. mostly laser and KA band i believe. the signal for lasers most of all is going to be aimed at anything on your car that reflects. hence why radar companies tell you to put the radar detectors square center of your windshield mounted as low as possible without the windshield wipers blocking it. being up this high slows the reaction time technically, though it might not be enough to matter to some of you, this is the explanantion to why companies tell you to mount them low and centered...

[vlad]

Originally Posted by 07k20z3ftw

something you guys might want to think about is having it mounted so high up. cops use your reflectors in order to hit you with lasers and other radar guns that they use. mostly laser and KA band i believe. the signal for lasers most of all is going to be aimed at anything on your car that reflects. hence why radar companies tell you to put the radar detectors square center of your windshield mounted as low as possible without the windshield wipers blocking it. being up this high slows the reaction time technically, though it might not be enough to matter to some of you, this is the explanantion to why companies tell you to mount them low and centered...

funny you say that... here's a quote from valentine's web site: "Detector performance is enhanced by a high mounting position. Two reasons. For radar, a longer sight line to the horizon always helps. For laser, moving away from the hood and its sun reflections helps a lot." http://www.valentine1.com/moreinfo/p...ng_pg17-18.pdf