Retrobmx63
Member
- :
- 08 Mazdaspeed3 - Black Mica
So, I originally was going to hardwire my radar detector to the fuse box using an add-a-circuit. But when my hardwire wire came in the mail, I noticed it wasn't the same as the picture on the website. It was supposed to come with a bare wire end to fit into the add-a-circuit. But instead it came with a male connector end with a 3M tap connector.
Not what I was expecting in the mail.
So I'm an optimist and used what was given to me, instead of cutting off the connector and going with my original plan. I know a lot of people have hardwired their detector to their map lights. I didn't like that because that has power all the time. I decided to try to tap into the Auto-Dimming mirror. I knew for a fact that it only came on, when the accessories were on. So that was my target.
Tools:
Screwdriver - philips
Pliers
First I took off the map lights housing. There are metal clips on each side that hold it in place. You can try to shimmy something under there and pull, or you can just give it a little force and it will pop out anyways.
After the housing is off, disconnect the connector powering the map lights. If you want your radar detector on all the time, you can tap it right here. Pin 2 is 12v (orange wire). However, I had a multimeter and saw that Pin 3 is also 12v. If any of you more electrical savvy can answer why that is, go ahead. I'm not great with electrical know-how.
Now this is why I was really excited to wire it to the Auto-Dimming mirror. There is already a nice clean wire housing leading into the headliner. There is a perfect amount of room to fit the "telephone" cable in along with the mirror wire. You can just pull down on it.
To take the entire wire housing off for better access, just squeeze the bottom and jiggle.
This is the connector that goes to the back of the mirror. Mazda marked one of the pins. I though it was 12v. Good thing I took out a multimeter and discovered the mark was for negative apparently. The other side was 12v. Here's where you need to pay attention though. Both the wires are black. The negative one has little ridges on it, and the positive wire is smooth. So when you trace back into the headline, remember to tap into the smooth wire.
Radar to the left, mirror to the right.
Before you tap the mirror wire, you'll have to split them apart to gain access to the smooth one (12v) independently.
There is very little slack on the mirror wire. So it is much easier to tap it while it is hanging out of the headline. You can then shove it back in later.
There is a perfect screw to attach your ground wire to.
A little preventative planning here. I left slack on the power end of the radar wire and twist tied the rest. This way, if I decide to move the radar detector down the windshield, I won't have to take everything apart. I can just give it a little tug.
Tuck the wires back toward the back of the car. There is a nice little area for it. Oh, and turn the key and test out the radar detector before re-assembly. If all is good, re-assemble. And look at how clean the install looks. You can't even see that you did anything. The wire is hidden by the map wire housing.
This is what the final product looks like.
So when you leave your car, you can even take off the suction cups so there is literally no trace of a radar detector for thieves to clue in on.
Phew that was a lot of typing.
Not what I was expecting in the mail.
So I'm an optimist and used what was given to me, instead of cutting off the connector and going with my original plan. I know a lot of people have hardwired their detector to their map lights. I didn't like that because that has power all the time. I decided to try to tap into the Auto-Dimming mirror. I knew for a fact that it only came on, when the accessories were on. So that was my target.
Tools:
Screwdriver - philips
Pliers
First I took off the map lights housing. There are metal clips on each side that hold it in place. You can try to shimmy something under there and pull, or you can just give it a little force and it will pop out anyways.
After the housing is off, disconnect the connector powering the map lights. If you want your radar detector on all the time, you can tap it right here. Pin 2 is 12v (orange wire). However, I had a multimeter and saw that Pin 3 is also 12v. If any of you more electrical savvy can answer why that is, go ahead. I'm not great with electrical know-how.
Now this is why I was really excited to wire it to the Auto-Dimming mirror. There is already a nice clean wire housing leading into the headliner. There is a perfect amount of room to fit the "telephone" cable in along with the mirror wire. You can just pull down on it.
To take the entire wire housing off for better access, just squeeze the bottom and jiggle.
This is the connector that goes to the back of the mirror. Mazda marked one of the pins. I though it was 12v. Good thing I took out a multimeter and discovered the mark was for negative apparently. The other side was 12v. Here's where you need to pay attention though. Both the wires are black. The negative one has little ridges on it, and the positive wire is smooth. So when you trace back into the headline, remember to tap into the smooth wire.
Radar to the left, mirror to the right.
Before you tap the mirror wire, you'll have to split them apart to gain access to the smooth one (12v) independently.
There is very little slack on the mirror wire. So it is much easier to tap it while it is hanging out of the headline. You can then shove it back in later.
There is a perfect screw to attach your ground wire to.
A little preventative planning here. I left slack on the power end of the radar wire and twist tied the rest. This way, if I decide to move the radar detector down the windshield, I won't have to take everything apart. I can just give it a little tug.
Tuck the wires back toward the back of the car. There is a nice little area for it. Oh, and turn the key and test out the radar detector before re-assembly. If all is good, re-assemble. And look at how clean the install looks. You can't even see that you did anything. The wire is hidden by the map wire housing.
This is what the final product looks like.
So when you leave your car, you can even take off the suction cups so there is literally no trace of a radar detector for thieves to clue in on.
Phew that was a lot of typing.
