HELP with hardwiring a radar detector - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

skyhitek · 06-26-2007, 03:58 PM

Guys, please don't blast me for not knowing what to do and being a retard, but I need help with hardwiring a detector. I have the Escort Passport 8500 direct wire kit. It includes the special 3M connector. The problem is, I dont know which wire to tap..Can ya guys tell me which one to tap? I would rather tap it from the cigarette lighter but I don't know how to get to it. I really don't want to pull out the dash either, if it does require that.

The instructions also says to attach the black ground wire to a grounded screw. Is this any screw that is under the dashboard?? I've searched the forum for other posts but they were really useless for me. Thanks alot for the help.

WhiteRabbit · 06-26-2007, 04:14 PM

90% of screws are probably bolted or connected to the chassis somehow. It'd be easy to determine one if you had a DMM, otherwise, use one that is connected to the chassis. As for a 12v source, use the ignition or accessory wire. The cig lighter would be considered an ignition controlled power source and my guess be the easiest way, unless you use the wire harness under your steering column.

Nice RD choice btw, is it an x50?

skyhitek · 06-26-2007, 04:56 PM

Yea its the x50 red display. I would try to tap the cigarette lighter but i have no idea how to get to it.

***toyomoho*** · 06-26-2007, 05:00 PM

Download the Gen_6 wiring manual from the link below.

http://www.camrymanuals.com/manuals/07/07EWD.pdf

See if the is a panel that is removable along with the lighter.

geoff5093 · 06-26-2007, 05:42 PM

When I hard wired my radar detector in my previous car, I had it connected to the accessories fuse, so it turned on with the car. On my '07 I have the wire tucked behind the dash and connected to the cigarette lighter .

skyhitek · 06-26-2007, 05:49 PM

Is pulling apart the dash required to get to the cigarette lighter?

carlo$ · 06-27-2007, 07:48 AM

do this, click here:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2379797/2
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2379797/10

no wire splicing required.

marc780 · 06-27-2007, 10:26 AM

The easiest and fastest way i know is to use a fuse tap. You can get these in many auto parts or electrical places, they're cheap.
We use these at work all the time for wiring in radios and lights. Never seen one fail yet. Youcan choose almost any accesory to tap into as long as its the same amps or more as your radar detector. I'd still leave an inline fuse for the device itself though -

carlo$ · 06-27-2007, 11:33 AM

true, you can use this. click:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2379797/4

WhiteRabbit · 06-27-2007, 12:21 PM

may be the easiest to use the fuse tap, but not the best/safest....but since the rd doesnt draw much power (~1 amp) it should be ok

your hardwire kit should have an inline fuse already, most likely a 1 amp fast acting AGU fuse

skyhitek · 06-27-2007, 12:23 PM

so you guys wouldn't recommend using the special 3m connector?

skyhitek · 06-27-2007, 12:42 PM

and for the ground wire, do i just find a screw that the ground can fit around it?

carlo$ · 06-27-2007, 01:49 PM

yes, use the tap method and any screw that is touching metal.

click:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2379797/15

gdanaher · 06-27-2007, 01:58 PM

I don't see anywhere here where you referred to the special 3M connector other than as a special 3M connector, and they make alot of connectors. A picture would be helpful or a part number so some of us could look it up. The first picture posted has a lot of junk showing, so if the special plug is there, I don't recognize it.

Anyway, the entire body is ground, so finding an existing screw should be easy if it is into the body and not plastic. There is nothing at all wrong with tapping into any existing fuse as long as the wire run from the fuse to your device is also fused properly. Using the picture provided above by marc780 and using your volt meter, pull an accessory fuse and with the ignition turned on so the fuse would be hot, verify which of the two fules pole connections is then not hot, and attach the tap to the fuse so that the spade is on the not-hot side. Connect the positive wire to the radar detector to that conection and make certain theat the inline fuse from that point to the rd is functioning. If the wires on the rd are not fitted with connectors, consider using crimp or solder connectors--don't just try to wrap a piece of bare ground wire around the base of a screw before tightening it in.

skyhitek · 06-27-2007, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdanaher

I don't see anywhere here where you referred to the special 3M connector other than as a special 3M connector, and they make alot of connectors. A picture would be helpful or a part number so some of us could look it up. The first picture posted has a lot of junk showing, so if the special plug is there, I don't recognize it.

sorry here's a pic of the special 3m connector