I want to hardwire my new passport 8500 into my 2004 GT. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on where to place it, run the wires, and what wires/fuses to run it off of. Pics would be greatly appreciated
Why hardwire it? If you get pulled over, you're almost sure to get a ticket if the cop sees it. It's also an invitation for theft.
I put mine on the dash directly in front of me. It hides it from the view from behind, and if I get pulled over, it comes off and is hidden in 3 seconds. You have more chances of getting away with a warning if you don't appear to be a chronic speeder.
Well as far as getting off with a warning I already got pulled over once after having the car for a month, (bought it two days before yours) and got my warning so if I get pulled over again I am getting a ticket no matter what. As far as theft goes the 8500 has a quick release button to take it off the mounting bracket and the plug in is a simple telephone like looking jack. It will be taken out of the car at night. Also where you have it placed it reduces its detection capability so what is the use of having one?
Posts: 1974
Joined: 8/23/2003 From: United States Status: offline
I plan on wiring mine up hardwire. I plan on putting a cig lighter in the glove box and wiring it into a 12v source when the car is on. I did that in my Honda and it worked perfect.
I plan on putting it up next to the mirror right above it or just below it. Everytime I have been stopped, the cops never get down low enough to look that high on the windshield.
I would like to put it above the rear view mirror but I don't know how much those dots that make the shape of a pony are going to effect the performance of the detector.
Is the detection capability of a radar detector on the dash vs. under the rear view mirror any different when the cop is about 1/4 mile away?
I wish they made radar detectors that can have the antenna or receiver hidden on the roof and the rest of the electronics hidden under the dash.
A little off topic... Just be aware that radar detectors are so easily defeated by instant-on. In my years and years of driving Texas freeways, I have very seldom come across a speed trap that leaves their radar gun on. It is almost always operated by instant-on. The few times I've seen a radar gun being constantly on is when the cop car is rolling, usually in the opposite direction. I rely more on strategic speeding than my radar detector. Learn to recognize situations where you can easily be spotted and clocked, and situations where you have good cover.
Yes....if he is a 1/4 behind you. If it is placed there you are blocking RADAR that is being emitted from behind you.
I know all about RADARS...i have used one successfully for the past 5 years in my truck. When I got pulled over in the Mustang I was in a line of cars all going to same speed. I know if I had the detector I would have been warned ahead of time when he shot the other cars. He either pulled me over because I was in a mustang or because I was the last one in line.
I didn't really want this thread to turn out to a radar is worthless or a get a V-1 instead of a passport. I just wanted some suggestions on hard wiring the detector.
I know this is a noob question but I don't even know where the fuse panel is on a Mustang. I am assuming it is on the drivers side somewhere but is it screwed in behind some interior trim or is there a handy little access hatch somewhere like on my POS s-10
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Joined: 11/12/2003 From: Horsham, PA Status: offline
I have mine mounted in the molding for the shifter... took me a while to cut the hole for it but it looks great... and I'm having a custom piece made so that it looks like it belongs there... yes... it does still detect everything because it's one of those multiple piece detectors... the laser detectors go on either window, front or back and the radar detector goes right in the engine compartment... never really had a problem with the cops being behind me... usually I can tell if they're cops or not (those 1400000000000000 antennas usually give them away even if the car is blue and unmarked)... I rely on my detector to find speed traps... which is really the only thing they're good for.
This is what I have... and to answer propellerhead's comment... they do make them... I have one... have had it for 3 years now.
Hardwiring is easy... just run a fused wire to your battery or to another fused wire and then ground it... and you're done.
Oh yeah... and your fuse panel is under the driver side... on the left... has a small cover... just pull it off... if you have the new 99+ model then you have mini fuses... if you have the sn95 model... then you have regular fuses... you could always put a new fuse in if you wanted... I just tapped off the cig lighter and grounded to the tranny.
< Message edited by Krusher -- 6/15/2004 3:49:54 PM >
Tks for the reply krusher. I will probably run the wire from the rearview mirror to the headliner and run between that and the roof to the drivers side. then take it down the A pillar which apparently has a piece of trim that just pulls off. From there i guess run it between the door and the dashboard and end it at the fuse box where I just stick it in a fuse that is powered when the car is turned on.
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Joined: 11/12/2003 From: Horsham, PA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: mdgosch
Tks for the reply krusher. I will probably run the wire from the rearview mirror to the headliner and run between that and the roof to the drivers side. then take it down the A pillar which apparently has a piece of trim that just pulls off. From there i guess run it between the door and the dashboard and end it at the fuse box where I just stick it in a fuse that is powered when the car is turned on.
perfect... that a piller fits a lot of wiring and if you run it straight down the dash (behind everything obviously) you will run right into the fuse box.
< Message edited by Krusher -- 6/15/2004 4:21:58 PM >
Posts: 584
Joined: 11/12/2003 From: Horsham, PA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: mdgosch
Is it easy to get access to the back of the dash or do I have to strip off a bunch of access panels.
well you don't need to take apart the dash... just pull the a pillar off and pull the door sill off and pull the kick panel off and run the wire behind the a pillar and the kick panel and it will provide you a perfect location (hidden) to put the wires into the dash to where the fuse panel is.
Take in-progress pics of your wiring installation. I miss the auto-dimming rear view mirror in my Expedition and I would like to put one in my Mustang. I'll need power to the mirror, I'm sure.
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Joined: 10/15/2003 From: Williston ND USA Status: offline
I had this idea to hide a radar but i dont know if its a stupid idea of a fairly good one. Ok id dissasemple a regular radar. run the sensor into the grill, maybe hide one by the rear license plate too. then run them into the glove box to a switch and i dont know what to do with the speaker though. do you think that this would work?
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If you are looking to hardwire a radar directly into your car and don't mind spending a little money, I would definately suggest the Beltronics ProRX75plus. It's a concealed system that mounts directly in your car and is one of the most discreet systems on the market. It has 2 front and one rear sensor that mount directly to the front and rear of the vehicle (hidden of course). It senses all laser bands and their intensity, blocks all laser bands, and is undectable by that pain in the ass Interceptor VG-2 Radar Dectector detector that cops love to use so they will never know you are using a radar. It also has an optional display that can be mounted in dash, or just mount the speaker for audible warnings and leave out the display so no one can see that you have it installed. Even with the display, if mounted in a good location when it's turned off most cops wouldn't have a clue that it's a radar.
Hey was just wondering if anyone has ever installed there radar detected above there rear view mirror and if so how does it work and do u have any pics and where did u put the wire at ? thanks!
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radar detector install ? - 
and if you run it straight down the dash (behind everything obviously) you will run right into the fuse box.
