Hardwiring a Radar Detector
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 159
Likes: 27
From: Sacramento CA
Hardwiring a Radar Detector
Has anyone out there hardwired an Escort Radar Detector into the rear view mirror with a phone cord versus buying the Invisicord? Is it very hard or should I just go out and buy the Invisicord?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 397
Likes: 3
I hardwired mine into the Accessory oulet in the passenger floor panel, but I am using the Escort Remote. I like having the ability to silence the detector with the remote. I have the remote attached to the driver side of the center console with Velcro.
If I were going to hardwire into the rearview mirror, I would probably use the Invisicord.
If I were going to hardwire into the rearview mirror, I would probably use the Invisicord.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 503
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
If you wire it to the mirror it will still turn on & off when the car is off.
If the car is off and you open the door or trunk the radar detector goes through it's cycle. You have to turn the detector off every time.
That drove me crazy.
I ended up wiring an add-a-circuit to the fuse box in the passenger floorboard side. Run the wire up the pillar and across the windshield top.
If the car is off and you open the door or trunk the radar detector goes through it's cycle. You have to turn the detector off every time.
That drove me crazy.
I ended up wiring an add-a-circuit to the fuse box in the passenger floorboard side. Run the wire up the pillar and across the windshield top.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Fremont (Livin' On The Fault Line!) CA
I'm using an Invisicord with my Passport 8500 X50; my detector comes on only when I turn on the ignition key and shuts off when I remove the key (you need to make sure that you connect your cord to the correct wires) 
I have an 04 Z w/electrochromatic mirror BTW.
You can easily make your own cord using plain old phone cord. You just need to get the correct size pins that will fit into the power mirror connector properly (too small of pins and the connections will be intermittent).
I believe CF member Shylor did this (as have others) and posted the P/N for the pins (that he purchased at Radio Shack). Might want to ping him or do a search.
I just preferred to buy a cord already made (to help support a great vendor) and be done with it
Larry
I have an 04 Z w/electrochromatic mirror BTW.
You can easily make your own cord using plain old phone cord. You just need to get the correct size pins that will fit into the power mirror connector properly (too small of pins and the connections will be intermittent).
I believe CF member Shylor did this (as have others) and posted the P/N for the pins (that he purchased at Radio Shack). Might want to ping him or do a search.
I just preferred to buy a cord already made (to help support a great vendor) and be done with it
Larry
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Fremont (Livin' On The Fault Line!) CA
Originally Posted by cjs27410
On my '03 I tried all the wires in the mirror and none were ign controlled. The only hot lead was connected to the timed light turn off system. Using a fused & dedicated circuit worked better for me.
I've connected the Invisicord power to the BROWN wire (at the mirror power connector) and the Invisicord ground to the ORANGE wire (at mirror power connector).
Did you try this combo?
But it sounds like you've connected your detector another way and it works fine so that's all that matters
Larry
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,069
Likes: 1,289
From: Central Ma
Originally Posted by LarryW
I'm using an Invisicord with my Passport 8500 X50; my detector comes on only when I turn on the ignition key and shuts off when I remove the key (you need to make sure that you connect your cord to the correct wires)
I have an 04 Z w/electrochromatic mirror BTW.
You can easily make your own cord using plain old phone cord. You just need to get the correct size pins that will fit into the power mirror connector properly (too small of pins and the connections will be intermittent).
I believe CF member Shylor did this (as have others) and posted the P/N for the pins (that he purchased at Radio Shack). Might want to ping him or do a search.
I just preferred to buy a cord already made (to help support a great vendor) and be done with it
Larry
I have an 04 Z w/electrochromatic mirror BTW.
You can easily make your own cord using plain old phone cord. You just need to get the correct size pins that will fit into the power mirror connector properly (too small of pins and the connections will be intermittent).
I believe CF member Shylor did this (as have others) and posted the P/N for the pins (that he purchased at Radio Shack). Might want to ping him or do a search.
I just preferred to buy a cord already made (to help support a great vendor) and be done with it
Larry
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by cjs27410
If you wire it to the mirror it will still turn on & off when the car is off.
If the car is off and you open the door or trunk the radar detector goes through it's cycle. You have to turn the detector off every time.
That drove me crazy.
I ended up wiring an add-a-circuit to the fuse box in the passenger floorboard side. Run the wire up the pillar and across the windshield top.
If the car is off and you open the door or trunk the radar detector goes through it's cycle. You have to turn the detector off every time.
That drove me crazy.
I ended up wiring an add-a-circuit to the fuse box in the passenger floorboard side. Run the wire up the pillar and across the windshield top.
I can't believe so many people just use the invisicord. That would drive me nuts. I hard wired mine with the Escort hard wire kit. Just find some +12 when the ign is on and your set. The wires could not be easier to run.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
Originally Posted by LarryW
cjs27410,
I've connected the Invisicord power to the BROWN wire (at the mirror power connector) and the Invisicord ground to the ORANGE wire (at mirror power connector).
Did you try this combo?
But it sounds like you've connected your detector another way and it works fine so that's all that matters
Larry
I've connected the Invisicord power to the BROWN wire (at the mirror power connector) and the Invisicord ground to the ORANGE wire (at mirror power connector).
Did you try this combo?
But it sounds like you've connected your detector another way and it works fine so that's all that matters
Larry
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Gadsden Alabama
i saw a thread awhile back about hard wiring the radar detector....it had a link to somewhere showing detailed instructions and pictures of where the acessory link is under the passenger side and everything....try a search and see if you can find it.....it might be helpful.....
atilla...
atilla...
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: Downingtown, PA
Before you go through all this effort, you might want to review my experience. I have a 1998 with the "simple" rearview mirror. I could not get the mirror power to provide the ideal on/off scenario. YMMV.
LINK
I have since moved the Invisicord setup over to my 04 Jeep Cherokee and it works like a champ.
LINK
I have since moved the Invisicord setup over to my 04 Jeep Cherokee and it works like a champ.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Fremont (Livin' On The Fault Line!) CA
Originally Posted by craig04c5
I had the same problem Larry on my 04. I use the Brown and Orange and it cycles when I open the door but it doesn't bother me enough to hard wire it to the BCM. Seems that some cars work differently for some reason. Maybe they changed the setup in 04?
