invisicord install
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
invisicord install
I have a 2010 GS and will be getting the invisicord, Valentine one, and the blend mount on the rear view mirror. I heard some scary things about trying to get the plug out of the rear view mirror so I can install the two wires from the invisicord into it. I am not a mechanic but mechanically inclined. Is there an easy technique to use so I don't go ahead and break the plug when I am removing it or reattaching it???
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 349
Likes: 3
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14
I have done my last 3 Vettes. Just feel back behind the mirror for the plug (left side facing mirror). You will feel a tab (sometimes difficult to feel) on the top of the plug. With your right hand, push this tab "down & out" with your thumb while pulling the wire harness with your left hand. It should come out with a little pressure. I have more issues with getting the invisicord pins to stick into the plug. Use a needlenose pliars. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
you may also cut the terminals on the cord at a diagonal so the are sharper and slimmer. Take a voltmeter and check for the coorect voltage (5Vdc?) and push it in. You can also push up on the mirror and it will pop out of it's holder (if I remember correctly) making it easier to work with. The std holder for the escort detector is BS - it did not hold for me constantly falling after a period of time. They have a HD suction cup available or better yet I have seen a new holder that affixes to the bottom of the mirror on the forums - looks pretty cool and will not fall.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...tor-mount.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...tor-mount.html
Last edited by CPG1962; Oct 1, 2010 at 07:06 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 266
From: San Jose California
Don't forget that you can walk around to the passenger side front fender and get a pretty good look at how the connector works by looking at it through the windshield. I know this sounds obvious but.... 
Inserting the cord shouldn't be too tough. Bear in mind how these connectors are constructed. The existing wire has it's own metal piece to which the wire is soldered. That piece sits inside a tunnel in the connector itself. There is a small amount of play between the metal connector piece and the plastic tube. What you want to do with the invisicord "needle" is to get it inserted/wedged between the metal connector piece and the connector "tunnel". You can usually push the stock wire & connector to one side (a little bit) to help the process. As suggested, clipping the end of the invisicord needle a tiny bit to a point can help. Just take it easy and don't force it so much that you bend/break the needle. This is all done much more easily if you have the connector free from the mirror.
Z//
Inserting the cord shouldn't be too tough. Bear in mind how these connectors are constructed. The existing wire has it's own metal piece to which the wire is soldered. That piece sits inside a tunnel in the connector itself. There is a small amount of play between the metal connector piece and the plastic tube. What you want to do with the invisicord "needle" is to get it inserted/wedged between the metal connector piece and the connector "tunnel". You can usually push the stock wire & connector to one side (a little bit) to help the process. As suggested, clipping the end of the invisicord needle a tiny bit to a point can help. Just take it easy and don't force it so much that you bend/break the needle. This is all done much more easily if you have the connector free from the mirror.
Z//
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
you may also cut the terminals on the cord at a diagonal so the are sharper and slimmer. Take a voltmeter and check for the coorect voltage (5Vdc?) and push it in. You can also push up on the mirror and it will pop out of it's holder (if I remember correctly) making it easier to work with. The std holder for the escort detector is BS - it did not hold for me constantly falling after a period of time. They have a HD suction cup available or better yet I have seen a new holder that affixes to the bottom of the mirror on the forums - looks pretty cool and will not fall.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...tor-mount.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...tor-mount.html
with no issues. I do have two sets of extra suction cups. But they have been doing good. The invisicord could be tough as the pins are a little hard to insert. Unless you use a good needle nose. Grip firm and
plug them. Make sure you get the polarity right the first time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
I have the Escort 9500xi. I have the std mounts in three cars. Using the invisicord in the Z-06. I have been using them for over 6 months
with no issues. I do have two sets of extra suction cups. But they have been doing good. The invisicord could be tough as the pins are a little hard to insert. Unless you use a good needle nose. Grip firm and
plug them. Make sure you get the polarity right the first time.
with no issues. I do have two sets of extra suction cups. But they have been doing good. The invisicord could be tough as the pins are a little hard to insert. Unless you use a good needle nose. Grip firm and
plug them. Make sure you get the polarity right the first time.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Thanks for all your help
I finally got my valentine one, invisicord, and blendmount installed on my 2010 GS Vette. For me it was quite a challenge. It took me one hour and 45 minutes. Had a problem getting the plug out of the mirror but got through that. Had a problem inserting the two wires from the invisicord into the plug, but got through that. Had a problem with the blendmount where the horizontal adjustment has two sets of holes to use. I used the holes closest to the mirror. Bad choice. When the mount was totally installed, I could not adjust the mirror cause it was hitting the mount. Had to uninstall and then use the horizontal mount holes furthest away from the mirror. Plugged in the invisicord to the valentine one. No power. 
Now I had to take out the plug again and tweek the wires from the invisicord. Finally, it worked!!! My fingers are numb from this project but it feels good to finally complete it. (I just thought I would pass my experience on to you guys.) And YES, I could not have done this without all your help. I would still be in the garage if you guys didn't offer to guide me with this. Thank you.
Now I had to take out the plug again and tweek the wires from the invisicord. Finally, it worked!!! My fingers are numb from this project but it feels good to finally complete it. (I just thought I would pass my experience on to you guys.) And YES, I could not have done this without all your help. I would still be in the garage if you guys didn't offer to guide me with this. Thank you.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
To keep the pins from pulling out of the wiring harness, tie wrap the Invisicord to the mirror wire harness. This will act as a strain relief and keep the small Invisicord pins from getting pulled out of the connector. Installed mine 2 years ago and no problems.
