vp911

I had made a thread over on the TL forums for the same install, so perhaps somebody will find this useful - now or down the road.

I appologize for the lack of lighting. I borrowed this garbage camera from a friend - no flash, go figure. Also, the lack of focus kind of ruins it. When I get my camera (on order) I will take new pictures and overwrite these so the shots are clear and bright.

Items needed:
Hard wire kit from V1
Long phone cord
Pliars or something to crimp the "butt connector"
"Add a Circuit" - can be purchased from any auto parts store for about $10 - you need the MINI, NOT the big ato version.
Screw to use to ground to chassis of car.

****KEEP IN MIND, IF YOU USE THE SAME FUSES I USED, YOU WILL NEED TO RE-ENTER YOUR NAVIGATION AND RADIO CODES**** Also, I cannot be held liably for anything you do. If you are not comfortable doing this, take it to a professional shop to get it done. It should not cost more than $35 to have somebody do this for you.

In some of the pictures I used photoshop to add a red line. This is where the phone cord goes, just so you can trace it easier than my description.

1. Pull off the trim pc around the fuse box.

2. The black wire from the hard wire kit for the V1 needs to be screwed to the frame of the car - anywhere. There is plenty of room right next to the fuse box. I used a connector to attach to the black wire to then ground it.



3. The red wire from the hard wire kit needs to be crimped to the red wire of the "Add a circuit" unit. Simply put, they need to be connected permanently.
4. Choose a fuse you want to replace. I chose the radio slot because it turns on and off with the car. (You can see what fuse is what from the cover of the fusebox)






5. Pull out the fuse associated with the "Radio" and put it into the add a circuit unit. You want to put this in the slot closest to the metal prongs that will go back in the fusebox, replacing the original fuse.

6. Put a 2amp fuse in the second slot on the add a circuit.



7. Put the add a circuit unit in the place of the fuse which you pulled out.


8. Connect the phone cord to the hard wire kit - in the slot that says, "main unit"

9. Pull the weather strip loose for the door. You will be putting the phone cord behind this unit.



10. Keep in mind, you are working around the side airbag, so be careful.

11. Once you have put the cord in behind the weatherstrip and you are at the top, where the headliner meets the side pillar airbag, you are going ot need to push the phone cord through that side where it meets. This is where I always get scared as you have to use a little force to get the cord behind there to go by the airbag. (when doing this step, you will need to put the cord in, and push the weatherstrip back in at the same time - or the cord will just fall out)



12. Once you have gottin it through that section, simply push the wire under the headliner all the way to your radar detector.




13. Connect the other end of the cord to the V1.


14. Before closing everything up, turn on the car. The V1 should now turn on and off with your car.

15. Also, enter your radio and navi codes, make sure everything works fine.

16. When you see that everything works fine, close everything back up.

I prefer to use the add-a-circuit method over simply splicing the power wire into another wire because if there are any electrical problems with your car, you can simply pull it out before going to the dealer. Makes this a hell of a lot easier on you and the warranty issues that the dealer may try to bring up.

pek01

Very nice post! I have the ValentineOne and have been waiting to install it or get it installed more permanently. Thanks for the work on highlighting the pictures etc.

AmuseLegend

thank you!

bkw

Are you having issues with your Laser going off all the time? Mine keeps constantly beeping.

bkw

nevermind, found this post.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ight=VALENTINE

vp911

Nope no errors here. But as that thread shows, it is the navi screen which causes the laser alert. It did this in my TSX and TL as well.

AcuraRLBlue

vlp911:

Nice install, but do you worry about the wire interferring with the side airbag deployment?

vp911

No. I was at first, with the TL. But after the accident I realized it doesnt matter. Beisdes, the side pillar will push out and the wire will just dangle without interfering with the airbag.

AcuraRLBlue

Did you have an acident with the TL that deployed the side airbags? You were gutsy to find out that way the wire did not interfer: trial by fire.

vp911

Yes - the TL was totaled. https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116869

Pictures on page 1 and 3 (page 3 has the ones you can really tell the damage from)

I was actually not all that gutsy, I have read here on the forums as well as have known two other peopel who have done this and the airbags deployed wiht teh same outcome. I was still a little weary - but not completely gutsy with my life.

The accident did teach me one thing about the radar detector. Keep it away from your head. In the TL I had put it the same place as I have it in the RL now - closer to the pass. side.... if it was in the middle (just below the rear view mirror - as most people keep it) it would have hit me in the head. It also is unlikely to hit the pass. in the head or anything becuase it will dangle from the cord towards the driver (because of where the wire is of course)

AcuraRLBlue

That was awful. I am glad you were OK.

Good point about the mounting location. I just ordered a V1, but I am not sure if I want to use it now. I have a Escort now, and it is placed on the rear shelf. The V1 may not do that well on the rear shelf facing the Nav screen.

Thanks for sharing your experience. This is the reason I come to the forum everyday to learn some thing new.

vp911

Thanks.

You can always place the V1 on the front dash in the center...but low on the dash.

The v1 IMO is much better than the escort. Maybe it is just because I was used to having the arrows on the V1 when I tried the escort.

You could always get the hidden escort radar and put it in the grills like I did for the laser shifter.

I agree with the forums and learning something new. It is an excellect resource and I have learnt a great deal from the other members. thanks to everybody for making it a great place.

shepsan

vp11, thank you for an excellent guide to install the Valentine. I appreciate your post.

AcuraRLBlue, how have you cabled the Escort on the back shelf? Is it hardwired or cabled into an outlet? Also, the Escort being on the back shelf, is there any loss of contact by radar or laser effectiveness?

AcuraRLBlue

shepsan:

I just plug the Escort into the outlet by the shifter, where I could see and control it. The wire is kind of hidden by a seat cushion on the rear seat, and it sneaks up towards the rear shelf by passing behind the rear center arm rest. The escort is velcro'ed to the area next to the right of the driver's side rear seat headrest (not exactly the rear shelf), and it is covered by a hat.

The only effectiveness test I did was to compared its warning loudness to that mounted on the windshield when the car is on a parking lot that has a gate that trigers the radar warning. The warning sounds were the same to my ears.

Since it has been mounted in the rear, I have picked up confirmed radar and laser signals. It also has not picked up the Nav screen as false alarm. On the other hand, based on what others posted here and Valentine's information, I expect the Nav screen and the rear view mirror to cause false alarms if the V1 was mounted in the rear.

FromTLtoRL

Hello all,

I know this is an old thread and I guess that is the reason I can't see the pics. Is there anyway to retrieve those pictures? Or did anyone keep or saved those pictures? I am gettting read to hardwire my RD and was hoping I can see some illustrations.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks!