zac

I want to wire my radar detector to the power that feeds the lights in the headliner,
i have wired all of mycars like this and never had a problem, but ive never had a new car before. I was just curios to see if anyone has done it with good or bad results.

thanx, please help me out

SinisterTC

might be better off, running the wire to the fuse box, and tapping into one of the accesories. I did this on my GTI and it worked like a charm. And this way, you do not have to splice any wire other than the power to the radar detector. *my 2 cents- was just thinking about getting around to doing this on my tc, the other day. :D

otacon88

i just have mine wired through and dash, and into the cig. lighter. works perfectly for me!

SinisterTC

what did you use as a ground?

CDX8

thats the same thing im doing.. just havent got around to it yet.

I think you just up it by 5 or something

zac

ya i like the ideas of all you guys but i like to mount the radar on top f the rearview mirror.
i think the cig lighter sounds a little easier
if i mount it on top of the rear view wher did you run the wires to get into the back of the cigarette lighter?

also how did you get access to the back of the cig lighter?

putz

pics would be great. pics and a how-to would be even better. :D

iceking66

I tapped the IGN wire and have my V1 mounted by the rearview mirror

zac

did you tap the ignition wire at the headliner light,sunroof or something else,
because the sunroof and cig lighter are controlled by the ignition switch
i am about to start im putting my car up on jack stands and painting the claipers and then im doing the radar
i just bought a new 12v test light, so im gonna get to it

any hints please tell me! ill be back on the forum in probably 45minutes when i have a problem

smurf3642

I put mine to the right of my mirror...I ran off the power line for the sunroof...

Since the line is only active when the car is on, seemed like a reasonable source of power...

This also adds for a much better appearance inside the car as well...Since the detector is no longer on my dash...(dash looks so much cleaner)

I'll get picks later today...

otacon88

what do you mean? i didn't need to use a ground, (lol i don't even know what a ground is)

the problem with mounting the detector on the rear view mirror is that tests have proven the lower the detector is on the car, the easier and better it will pick up the different bands. and depending on where you live, and if detectors are banned in your state, you might not want it on the mirror so if cops find you with you, they don't find you for it. (only for states in which detectors are banned)

zac

it seems if you have the detector on the mirror a cop shouldnt even notice its there, where as if its on the dash its in plain view for thieves and cops.

i had my last car broke into 3 times when i parked out side my house and i always lost my radar detector

the main purpose for me is a clean dash with no wires to the cig, there not illegal in fl. so it doesnt matter if its in sight or not

thanx for all the help, im gonna go wire the detector now
if you have any hints or suggestions please let me know

i have velcro strips and since the rearview is wider than most i dont see a problem with it staying balanced at all, is yhsy how you guys did it?

zac

all right im having troubles figuring out how to take off the plastic panel with the buttons for the sunroof, and lights
i pulled a little and it didnt come so i got scared and didnt want to pull anymore i didnt notice any clips or screws except for 2 white "push on " holders at the hard to reach top of plastc, please let me know how you got it off w/out breaking anything!

thanx again

zac

any body out there help me out please

i64X

Bump - I'd like to know how to do this too. Anyone know how to get that thing off?

RipThe5y5tem

When I used to have my MKIV Jetta I wired it into the sunvisor light, but it was a _____ because I could not use the light anymore. I would say that wiring it into your fuze box of probably your best bet...

zac

bump.
where is everybody? come on help me out!

zac

bump. .....
im gonna keep doing this until i have help!
please help me get my detector wired

BrianxB

You shouldnt place your detector up that high on the windshield. They are meant to be place so the rear sensor can see straight out the rear window.

So there were no screws under the light cover? Most likely its just held in by friction clips on the sides then. Pull. Sorry its not much help....

djct_watt

I did it. I'm too lazy to run the wire. . . just make sure to turn it off when you get out. Secondly, I swapped those ghetto @ssed velcro mounts for some nice dbl sided sticky tape. . . and I made sure that there is plenty of rear visibilty for the rear laser.

Also, radar is radiowave. . . it doesn't need perfect vision, although it ensures better accuracy with better line. In fact, if the beams couldn't pass through solid material, they would never clear the glass, and there should be plenty of signal bouncing around the interior for the radar detector to work. I'm not 100% sure, but most radar detectors under $200 don't have rear sensors for that reason, only a rear laser eye. Again, I'm no scientists, so I may be wrong, but my detector has enough rear "vision," and works perfectly.