Has anybody done a hard-wire of a radar detector?

 

Nope, but will need to. It was a piece of cake on my BMW - just tapped into the homelink. On the Acura though, I think that the homelink always has power. Thus, we will need a different, switched, power source.

 

How did you do it on your BMW

 

On BMWs, the homelink (garage door opener controls) are an option. Thus, there is a harness in the area where this would be installed (where the sunroof control is located). I used a voltmeter on this harness to prove it was switched and then used the Valentine One tap in kit to clamp onto the hot/ground wires.

 

Home Link on the TL is always powered, so you will need to find a different source if you want it switched off with the ignition.

 

Be careful of what wires you use. Just because a wire produces a "switched or constant" positive does not mean it can support or will not interfere with the power requirement of the device you tap into. You should tap into the ignition harness, sig plug, or other high current device . Auto electric systems are not what they used to be so it's always safer to go to a good source. Run some wire under and down the windshield pillar- it's not that difficult... Most honda and acura wire color codes are similar. Just make sure it is hot on both Accessory and "on" or it may go off when the car is turned on.

 

I would think the hot for the front map light would be a good source.

It is also time protected, all the lights on the 04 turn off after 10 minutes of the car being turned off and exited, so it would turn off eventually when that circuit goes out.

I'm kinda wanting to do the same, my Bel980 cord hangs right in the middle of the Nav.

Little Bel (I call him "Tweety") saved my @$$ a few times on the way to Orlando this weekend.. cops everywhere.

 

Does anybody know how to access that wire?

 

Had the dealer do it today. I paid for an hour of labor, but I guess it was worth it not to blow out the NAV system. They wired my V1 through the headliner, down the A pillar, into the bottom fuse box. Works great!

 

Bigdomer,

Can you take pics of it andpost it? I am thinking of getting this done.

Have a NBP/Ebony w/Nav coming in the 2nd week of Nov.

 

can you post the name of the dealer so that we can have our dealers call to get instructions. Or reference where they got the schematics and such.

Thanks.

 

it is quite easy to do--ive done it on the last 4 cars ive had and it takes about 15 min if that......if you go to -a-c-u-r-a-w-o-r-l-d-.-c-o-m- and click on DIY the V1 install is the second one on the list---it has pics and step by step instructions.

(why can i not directly post the name of the other web site?)

 

bigdomer, where did you mount it at the top of the windshield?

There is the black sun blocking material near the rear mirror on the glass, this will prevent laser detection, and some radar blocking?

Photo of mounting location would be great, I have not figured where to put my V1 on the top, so far only at the base of the windshield.

Thanks,

 

need4spd - mounted it just to left of rearview mirror (just below the tint strip). This is where I was used to having it in my 325.

deandorsey - I concur that this is not difficult - typically I would have done it myself - I got spooked by the potential to short the NAV

dnice - I have no digital camera (believe it or not). Sorry!

Sherlock - Gary Force Acura in Brentwood, TN. I envision that they just did what deandorsey referenced on that other web site. I did not ask too many questions, I just told them to be sure that they hit a switched hot wire.

 

the DIY listing on the "other" web site says to remove the trim on the "A" pillar and says it is difficult to do correctly. I would rather tap off the overhead console, if I knew how to access it.