Hello,

I currently have a passport 8500 radar dector which came with a coiled cord which I was planning on keeping in my SUV.

On the 2004 TL, I was going to buy additional set of up mounting brackets and buy a DIRECT WIRE CORD. Apparently this gets connected to the fuse panel rather then cigarette lighter or whatever they call it these days.

Has anybody done this? What is the level of effort?

I was planned on trying to tuck the wire in the pillar between front windshield and driver side window and working the wire all the way around the windshield and the radar dector would be mounted underneath the rear view mirror.

 

I've never wired it up in a TL so I can't help you there.

But I used the hardwire to hook my 8500 up in my Passat. Just make sure that you connect it to a switched source so it goes on and off with the car.
Also, instead of buying the hardwire from Escort you can use a simple phone cord.

 

Bollywood,
See this thread: http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showt...=valentine+one
It talks about how to hardwire a V1, but the hardwire hookup is similar for the 8500. I am currently hooking up my 8500 as well. I bought Add a Fuse from Autozone and am connecting that to the 8500 hardwire cord that also has the mute button. You can use the Add a Fuse to tap into the fuse box (either fuse 29 or 31, I believe). I can't seem to find a good spot to ground my hardwire too. I was told there are plenty of places under the dash, but I haven't found any yet. Anyone help me out here? I was specifically looking in and around the fusebox.

 

Use any metal object as a ground (eg. screws).

 

Thanks for the info fellas.
I will follow-up once I do the install.