JWiner

I have searched this topic, but have not found anything that explains how to do it.

I understand some people have hardwired a radar detector into the rear view mirror. Is there a write-up explaining the process?

Or perhaps how to hard wire it into the fuse box?

I am looking at the Escort 8500x50 in blue, its a great detector and would look great with the ambient light. The lighter power cord has a volume/power switch - how would you contol volume/power with direct wire?

Thanks for your help!!!!

Also - would a 35% metallic tint in the rear effect a detector?

larsenvega

The power and volume switch will be out of the question with a hardwire install. I would think the sunvisor would be a good spot to tap in at. It runs 12V and comes on and off with the ignition. You could then run the wire out the headliner to the upper corner of the windshield and have the detector mounted there to make it a little less noticable to the cops and potential thieves. Any one else have any ideas for other places to tap into?

taz98spin

Actually if you buy the hardwire kit, you can still have access to the power and volume switch.

I am in the process of trying to hard wire my Escort 8500x50 in blue just like you!

I am going to attempt to hard wire my kit this weekend, but I am not sure exactly how to though..

ZAXDude

A user here who lives in FL, "JAXFLTSX" (his name is Jason), has an x50 that he hard-wired. I bought a trunk tray from him and asked him about it b/c in his signature he stated he had it hard-wired.

At any rate, he said, "Also the fuse you want to tap is the "Fuel Pump" fuse it's on the middle row 15amp third one in from the right." He sent me a picture of the fuse panel to show where his is tapped in.

You might try PM'ing him on here. I'm sure he'd help ya out with some advice on how he did his.

taz98spin

Thanks for the information! I'll PM right now, and hopefully hear back from him!

taz98spin

Also, for those who can help. Can somebody explain what it means to "piggy back" on an
existing wire?

Does that mean you slice into the wire and connect another one?

If so, I have a 3M connector. Can I use that to "piggy back" onto the wire without
slicing the wire?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

joerockt

"piggy back" would be using a wire splice. Its just a plastic connector that splices into the wire you want to tap off of, and has a spot to add the new wire.

joerockt

Like this:

vthree

iTrader: (1)

uum i just cut my wires.. then shoved it into the connector on the mirror. =)

taz98spin

Thanks for letting me know!

Seems like I do have the plastic connector, I have the 3M type.

Another question is, if I tape into the wire using the connector,
do I have to do anything with the Fuse?

Some people tap into the fuse, and some people "piggy back" into the wires.

I'm looking at the DIY for the Valentine V1, but some of the pictures are missing
so that's why I'm confused.

Also, on the DIY, the battery was disconnected. Is this necessary?

jimbo3123

I bought the remote power kit for the 8500.

I couldn't find a decent place to mount the detector up high where the tinting on the top of the windshield wouldn't block it, so I decided to mount mine at the bottom of the windshield, near the center.

I ran the wire along the bottom of the windshield, and it tucked into the foam gasket nicely. I drilled a hole (3/8" or so) in the back left corner of the "Not an Ashtray" and mounted the remote silence button there. I connected the ground and piggybacked an accessory wire that I found (It took some searching with a 12v tester to find one).
I glued the remote silence button to the left side of the "Not an Ashtray" and it fit very nicely.

If anyone really wants any more details, I could take some pictures.

taz98spin

Please do take some pictures! Also, do you remember which color the wire was?

I have the Helms manual, but its in my car right now, and I just woke up and don't feel like showering and getting dressed just yet

B K R

If you do not want to cut wires and want the ability to return to "stock" with ease then you use the Add-A-Circuit in the fuse box to create a new circuit. And then add on the wire from there. I don't have a TSX, but in my vehicle I have ran the wire from the fuse box under the glove box on passenger side, along the apillar, thru the front of headliner to the RD. Stays pretty ,much hidden except the 2 inch from the headliner to the RD

JAXFLTSX

taz98spin I replied to your PM. I need your email address so i can send you the pic of the Fuse panel.

taz98spin

Thanks! I will give you my email

taz98spin

I'm not too worried about being about to return to "stock" but can you
explain a bit more about this "Add-A-Circuit"? Does this just plug into the
fuse box?

frank b

Get the one for mini-fuse applications. You don't cut any wires. you can pick one up at an Autozone. I just hardwired my Escort 9500i. Works like a charm!

taz98spin

Thanks for the image!

So it seems that you added the mini-fuse application to the constant power.

This is constant power as in when the ignition is turned on it has constant power right?

frank b

I found that image here somewhere. I piggybacked the window washer fuse. #6?
It's switched power wich is the way I wanted to go. The Add-a- Fuse is a good way to go as well. Under $3.00 and it comes with a variety of mini fuses.

taz98spin

Can you explain what switched power is?

Thanks!

frank b

Switched power is when the circuit gets power only when the key is in the acc or on position. This way you can't leave the detector on when you remove the key. And you don't have to turn the unit on or off as it initializes when you turn the key.
Very convenient.

taz98spin

In the Fuse panel it says "Washer" is for fuse #20.

There is also a Wiper #11.

#6 says Inter Light.

So which one should I use?

Also, thanks for letting me know what a Switched power is.

DuckDodgers

Digging in Service Manual...(this is for 06's)...underdash fuse box...

Fuse 6 is 10A for ambient light, ceiling light, Audio unit, courtesy lights, homelink, map light, trunk light, vanity mirror lights, HandsFreeLink control unit.

Fuse 11 is 30A for windshield wiper motor.

Fuse 20 is 10A for windshield washer motor.

OK...so how many amps does the Escort draw? Escort doesn't say...has anyone checked in their smart cord to see if their is a fuse or fuseable link and what it is rated?

My thought would be to go for fuse 20...10A switched power...but what do I know.

taz98spin

Not sure how many amps the Escort uses, but according to the hard-wire
instructions (smartcord mutedisplay) it says...

" The red striped wire for + 12 volts is fitted with an insulated 1/4" male spade lug. "

Than talks about the 3M connector, than says..

"This connector can only be used with wire gauges 14 through 18."

"We recomment tapping into a "switched" circuit of the vehicle."

taz98spin

Just called Escort and the radar only uses 250 milliamp, which is a 1/4 of an amp.

I too think fuse #20 would be a good choice. Anybody disagree?? or agree?

frank b

Doesn't matter. They're all the same. It's the actual fuse that makes the difference. With the Add-A-Fuse, use a a 10 amp in the 'B" slot for the Escort, and the "A" slot gets whatever fuse was in the fuse box of the TSX origianally. It's like using a tap in a wall socket. Plus the Escort hardwire kit comes with an inline fuse, so you're protected twice!

taz98spin

Thanks for letting me know!

taz98spin

So I finally hard wired the radar this past weekend.

Radar was working fine, but just today realized that my window wiper wasn't working!

I used Fuse 11 ; windshield wiper motor.

You stated that I have to add a 10 amp fuse in the "B" slot and use the
original fuse in "A" slot.

I don't have the 10 amp fuse, do you think that is the reason it's not working?

taz98spin

I added a 10 amp fuse, and now everything works fine! Thanks!!!

cybereclipse

pics?

taz98spin

I'll add some tomorrow, its pretty dark out now..

taz98spin

Pictures of the Fuses

vthree

iTrader: (1)

hmm still think my method was easier.. ont he back of the auto dimming mirror
you could have cut the escort cord and fed the two wires into the back of that plug... tada
hardwired in 2 mins top. lol
but i'm gonna have to hardwire mine sorta this route. now that i installed my zr3 shifters i just need to run that cord down a-pillar to the zr3 brain unit.

JWiner

Well done Taz! I want to do exactly that! Can you please brielfy mention exactly what you needed and possibly where to get them - i.e. the add-a-fuse thing, the red wire, the blue splicer clip, etc.

Where did you run the wire?

How did you mount the volume/power button next to the VSA button? Difficult? THANKS! LOOKS GREAT!

JWiner

JUST NOTICED - the Add-a-circuit mini fuse adaptor is rated at 10 AMP max! I see you have a 30 amp fuse in it... could this cause a problem???

JWiner

IGNORE ABOVE - Just noticed after further research:

"Simply replace a switched fuse in the fuse box with this device, insert the factory fuse into the first slot and your accessory fuse into the second slot. Accessory wire rated for 10 amps."

taz98spin

For the hard wiring part..

1. "add a circuit" is connected to the fuse box.

2. "Add a circuit" red wire is connected to the blue slicer clip.
(You do not need to connect using the blue slicer clip, but since I already
had one decided to use it)

3. The blue slicer clip attached to the "add a circuit"
is connected to the Escort Hard wiring kit's (+) wires.

4. Escort's hardwiring kit's (-) wire is connected to a random bolt that
I was able to find behind the VSA button.


5. Escort's hardwiring kit's telephone wire is run through up the A pillar
and towards the rear view mirror.

blueingrid

I simply got the direct wire cord and ran it up the small stalk for the rear view mirror. Grounded it on a grounding screw for the little sunglasses holder and tapped into the power of the autodimming mirror with an inline splice. Took me around 10 minutes to install and is clean to remove.

wackura

I just hardwired my radar detector. I had bought the add-a-circuit and a spool of dual conductor wire to tap the fuse box and then at the last minute decided to look into the rear view mirror connector plug as that would save me from running a wire up the pillar and all that and sure enough that method worked out well. The only complaint about that method I have is that the wire and the plug leading to the mirror are very short so you have to get up real close to it to do the wiring and that's annoying.

So now I have an add-a-circuit handy for something else. Something to charge an iPod would be pretty cool.

wackura

For future reference; three wires enter the rear view mirror. The white wire is ground, the brown wire is active when the car turned on, and the green wire is active when the car is on but not when the car is in reverse, so the power leads from the detector should meet up with the white (-) and brown (+) wires.