Running Radar detector wire

[wellsheit]

I've got a cobra 9110 on the way. I wanna get some ideas on wirin this thing. I'm not 100% set on where I want to put it yet. Right now I'm hoping to squeeze it in right above my rear view mirror....or just below it.....or just above the dash right in the center (right behind my windshield wiper....worried bout reception. Tucking the wire in the A pillar and above or below the windshield shouldn't be a problem. Wiring it so it doesn't take up my cigarette lighter all the time will be one. not that I use it...I just don't want that raw wire hanging out of there all the time. My friend said alot of people with matrix's splice the wire directly to the wires that run to the cigarette lighter. i pulled the ash tray and from best icould see inthe dark it was 1 red and 1 black wire which i could actually work and get to to tap into. Problem: our cigarette lighters work even when the ignition is off. so that means i'd have to manually cut the radar detector on and off. I want it to come on and off when the ignition is turned on and off. not sure what would be readily accessible down there to tap into. it'd be absolutely great if i didnt have to tear the dash apart.... matter of fact if theres anyway at all to avoid that im all for it. also keep in mind how long of a chord im gonna be havin to play with. its a long run from the ash tray area under the glove box through the dash up the a pillar and across the top of the windshield.

im just not sure how i can put this thing in and make it look presentable. gotta have it tho. too much time on the highway.
thanks for any input.

Brad

thanks

[S-10Rob]

Go from your radio power wire to the radar detector power wire and just ground the radar detector to anything metal for a ground. That way when you start your truck up the radar detector will come on and when you shut your truck off it will shut off. Thats they way I have mine done. And I have it installed on the driver side just under my front window tint strip. have had it there for 3 years and as always been a good spot for me.

[98SS]

I'd try the mirror approach. IF in the event you get pulled over, it'd be better for it to not be visible from outside the truck. IMO

[suprax]

Better than wiring it to your radio, run that sucker right to a fuse on your door panel. I did this about 3 months ago its worked out perfect. I mounted the radar on the top right of my rearview so its way out of the way and can't see it unless your in the truck. I ran the wires on top of my headliner and down the A piller to the fuse panel. Its wired so whenever the ignition is turned on it will come on and vise versa with off.

If you want I can go check what fuse I wired it to.. this setup has worked perfect for me and some others.

[Jus10]

I spliced up a cell phone adapter, to make 1 really long ass cig lighter adapter for the radar detector, then ran the wire under headliner, down pillar, under dash and looped around and plugged it in. no loose wires, hardly noticable....and still not permenant so if I want to grab it and put it in my other car for a road trip I can.

[twodoorblazer]

Put it up above mirror, or if not, right next to it drivers side. This way is the most hidden. I have a full power rear view mirror, so I tapped into a ground and + from it.

[wellsheit]

cool. im either gonna put it right above my mirror or below it...out of view of any cops.....

yea man please check what fuse that is. and how much of a mess am i gonna make putting that above my headliner?

a pic would be PERFECT..... if at all possible

thanks alot

Brad

[suprax]

Sure, I'll try to snap a pic in the morning for ya and check the fuse #. As far as the headliner, its no mess at all. All I did was feed it up under the front part of the headliner just so its tucked under there and then front it to come out under the A piller, so you won't have to remove the headliner or anything like that.

I even ran the wire from behind to the fuse panel so theres 0 wires at all exposed anywhere. I have a big thing for keeping the interior as wire-free as possible.

[twodoorblazer]

do you have a power auto dim rear view mirror?

[wellsheit]

Quote: Originally Posted by suprax

I even ran the wire from behind to the fuse panel so theres 0 wires at all exposed anywhere. I have a big thing for keeping the interior as wire-free as possible.

Exactly!!! You're preachin to the choir.

let me know bout that pic of the fuse box.... also..... did you tap into a ground or did you just find some random metal and drill a hole/bolt to it etc.

Quote: Originally Posted by twodoorblazer

do you have a power auto dim rear view mirror?

no sir...she's manual.. i still don't think it will fit above it. just below it is probably going to be my best bet.


Brad

[suprax]

Okay heres a picture of the fuse panel. You can see the wire running up to fuse #4 which says "GUAGES" on the panel cover so I'm assuming thats power for the dash guages. I could have snaked the wire up behind the fuse box but when the panels on you don't see anything anyways. You could a bunch of different fuses that would only come on when the car is on.. just check your manual.

As for grounding, in my 2003 s10 theres a small peice of metal thats right behind the emergency brake that sticks down, so I just wrapped it around that a few times and stuck a small peice of duct tape around it, and its tight as can be. You could go drilling a hole into the metal or whatever but I try to refrain from drilling holes into anything that I can avoid. And again, the metal peice is completely out of sight.

And my radar couldn't fit completely above my rearview so its like a tad higher on the right side of the mirror. Hope this helps.

[wellsheit]

i thought it was a fuse panel under the dash.... not that it matters. i got it in today. i think i'll get my buddy to try and help me wire it tomorrow sometime. we like doin stuff like this anyways. thanks alot.

Brad

[Low Standardz 1]

I have mine right above the dash suctioned to the window. The wire is ran along the groove between the window and dash, (not visable), and then ran under the dash to the steering colum. I spliced into the ignition on wire, (should be pink or oragne), so when the truck is in the run position, the radar detector turns on so I don't have to keep turning it on. I must be lazy, LOL

[wellsheit]

you're not lazy at all... i'd eventually wear hte switch out

Brad

[Zeeke98]

Ground wire attatched with Duct tape????LOL!!!! There's plenty of bolts to ground it to under the dash. Hell, there's one just above the e-brake. There should be an open switched spot in the fuse box. I just used a spade terminal and pushed one ear into the open slot(This is for my auto dim mirror, not a radar detector but the same thing).

[twodoorblazer]

finally got around to taking a pic of my setup for the detector......can't even see it from the front at all, it's fully covered by the factory tint line.