Radar Detector

I looked a ways back and didn't see a thread on it. Has anyone hardwired their radar detector and ran the cable up the front pillars with the airbags? Would it be a better option to splice into the power for the rear view mirror? Haven't used a real cord in years and wouldn't want to start now. Thanks!

.. nevermind, think I found it. :)

i wired mine up the pillar .

^^^
Same here. There's no air bag in the a-pillars - just the cord to it which starts half way up the pillar. The actual air bag is located in the headliner above the door. Running the wire down the a-pillar will not affect the air bag deployment.

I used one of the empty slots in the vehicle's interior fuse box which is just below the driver-side a-pillar.

To take the a-pillar cover off, pull the rubber gasket away from the pillar. Carefully remove the "SRS" square thingy - it's a clip that holds the cover onto the pillar. There are two more plastic clips that hold the cover onto the pillar.


That's it.


edit: there are two or three empty slots in the fuse panel that you can use. One of them only supplies voltage when the ignition is in the running or accessory position. I'm sorry, I can't remember which one - easy enough to find out with the use of a multi-tester.

Rob,

If you look in the H&H accessories site and download the installation instructions for the DVD player (http://www.handa-accessories.com/ridgeline/dvdnosunroof.pdf) (http://www.handa-accessories.com/ridgeline/dvdnosunroof.pdf)
That shows you how to get up the pillar and just about anywhere else you want to run wire.

In as far a the power. I could not find a fuse slot that turned off with the ignition so I tapped power off the power outlets but I only have an RT.

You do have power up there off the map lights also.

Mike T

I had been thinking about this. On another note but related, what rador detectors are you using?

I would like a cordless Passport. That way I can move to any other vehicle.:D

save your money they don't work... yeah they may give you a heads up when you are not the target vehicle however if you are the target vehicle your roast is cooked..and you are getting burned...

I just went with the Whistler model 1788-R. Cordless with rechargable batteries. Very happy with it.

I just went with the Whistler model 1788-R. Cordless with rechargable batteries. Very happy with it.


valentine one is hands down the very best of the best though pricey. Gives long warnings has arrows so ya know whether they are behind or in front. I have had mine for 6 years now and though they have upgraded them I have not had the need to upgrade as It works just fine. None of them can protect from instant on but when ya learn how to use em it picks up so far that when they instant on for a car way in front of ya you end up getting the beep. agian the best unit around...

Escort Passport 8500 Blue.

Since none of you never break the law, why do you really need one?
With the money you could have save, you could,

1) Have your RL cleaned very well like 10 times,
2) Purchase some gas
3) take your sweaty to McDonalds like 10 times....

Just kidding folks... I know what you are going to say, with all the money we saved on tickets…

Since none of you never break the law, why do you really need one?

Because I want to know where the law is.

Because I want to know where the law is.


It's in your Truck... There is a black box recording everything the RL does by you....

Escort Passport 8500 Blue.

Same here.......... love it. And, yeah, it works great. Coupled with a laser jammer, it really does the job. Radar jammers are illegal where I live, but laser jammers are legal.

I don't speed that much anymore, but like to know where they are. I love telling passengers, "they're right over the crest somewhere" and sure enough, there they are.

I do like the fact that the Valentine indicates which direction the signal is coming from.

Radar detectors have saved me from getting tickets on numerous occasions. When it doesn't work is when you go waaaay over the speed limit. Anyway non-believers can go on not believing and believers can keep believing that radar detectors work. I don't care. I've made up my mind and nobody is going to tell me what to do. Actually, people can continue to tell me what to do. I'll keep ignoring them. Hee hee.....

It's in your Truck... There is a black box recording everything the RL does by you....

Which, btw, can mysteriously not work one day.........:D

Lawyers will have a field day. Let's see. Not all cars have it. It's not required by law.

Also, if it's like the rest of the RL, it may not work at all.:D :p :eek:

Escort Passport 8500 Blue.

I have 1 of these in my Ridgeline and 1 of them in my 05 Accord. Very nice units abd the blue is easier on the eyes at night.....:p

It's in your Truck... There is a black box recording everything the RL does by you....

So what? Cops got Scangauges now??? LOL!!!!! :D

As far as radar detectors go......

I first bought an Escort Passport 8500 blue for my "other" car...loved it...it worked great, was reliable, minimal false alerts when compared to other models I have had in the past!

But then...my wife fell in love with it & put it in her car....well, I got even! When we bought the RL ('07 RTS Steel Blue) I "acquired without her knowlege" a Valentine 1 and that was it. This is the best radar detector I have ever used/owned/read about/smelled/etc!!!

Highly Recommended!

TheJanitor

I have a Whistler with the text display. Tomorrow I think I'm gonna hook it up to the power going to the mirror. If that looks like a chore, then I'll run it down the pillar.

Ditto on the Valentine.
Wouldn't be writing this if I didn't have one. It has saved me several times all over the US on my motorcycle!:D

i have a SOLO S2 and i really like it. i have owned it for about 3 yrs now and no tickets or false alarms.

I wanted the Solo S2, but the shop did not have it in stock and it was on back order, so I got the 8500 instead. How long do the batteries last in it?

I always run my V1 stuck under the passenger head rest with the remote in the right power port. Works great and very stealthy. Very nice to know where the radar is, even if you are in the right lane and barely above the limit.

Just installed the day night mirror and ran a wire during the install for my radar. Is a little bit tricky in that the spare wire is taped way to the left and is not real visible. Is hard to cut the tape to release it.

Another vote for the Valentine.
Wiring it up the the rearview mirror really isn't that difficult and it's really nice not having the cable visible.

I'm very much a noobie in this electrical stuff....
can someone please detail out how they tap into the existing powersource with their car adapter (pics would be nice! i'm all about visual)?

i'm trying to do the same thing for my radar detector into the rearview mirror and my sirius starmate setup into the existing outlet .

thanks

I don't have any pictures of my setup, but there isn't that much to see. Years ago I bought a very long generic extension cable for my radar detector at Wal-Mart, and have used it in 3 or 4 cars now.

Steps are as follows:
1. Sit in the truck and determine the optimal placement of your radar detector.
For me, it's mounted high on the windshield so that it has maximum forward
range, and so that the indicators are just below the lower edge of the rear-view mirror.

2. After mounting the detector, run the power cable directly up the center of the windshield to the headliner, and attempt to tuck it in between the headliner and the windshield. Then, run it along the upper edge to the Driver's A Pillar. Note: In the Ridge, I used black electricians tape to secure it to the metal backing along the top of the windshield. You can't see it at all.

3. Using a small flat blade screwdriver, lift the edge of the weatherstripping from the plastic cover of the A-pillar and route the power wire down. Where the plastic portion of the A-Pillar meets the fabric headliner, tuck the power wire under the plastic to hide it.

4. At a convenient point along the path to the bottom of the door, most likely where two panels are joined together, tuck the rest of your power wire behind the panels and drop it into the area where your fuse box is located.

5. Remove the cover over your fuse panel and connect the negative lead to the shiny silver bolt just below the fuse block. Connect the positive lead to either fuse 29 or 33, depending on where you prefer it on unswitched or switched power.

6. Seal it up, connect it. Test it. Enjoy.

Perry

This post was very helpful. I have, in the past, done the same with my vehicles to eliminate the cord going to the cig plug, but wasn't sure how to do it in my ridge.

I am going to work on this this weekend!

Thanks