Hard Wiring Radar Detector

[juvatpilot]

Having finally read the owners manual, I've concluded that, unlike the C5, the C6 does NOT have the dedicated pigtail in the passenger foot-well fuse panel designed for adding an electrical device . . . such as a Radar Detector.
So, does anybody have any suggestions on the best way to hard wire an Escort 8500 on a C6 Convertible so that it comes on and off with the ignition?
Thanks,
Juvatpilot

 

[warren s]

If the C6 has a rear view mirror with map lights like the C5 you can tap the power there.

Check my website under Simple C5 mods, there may be a similer connection option.

 

[lwilliams]

I want to do the same thing oddly enough but don't the map lights stay on when the ignition is turned off?

 

[warren s]

Yes it does stay on. The small power light on my Escort (tiny letter "h") draws so littel power that even if i left it on for days it wouldnt drain the battery.

 

[lwilliams]

True but I like wiring it in so when the key is turned off it dies also. I was able to do that on my previous cars at the fuse box but it apparantly is hard to get to it in the floor on the passengers side. I will try again in a few days.

 

[lwilliams]

It works great! I hard wired mine straight into the fuse that controls the heated seats and grounded it under the dash. The wire hid nicely behind the trim.

 

[juvatpilot]

Thanks for that input. Sounds like the best option so far. When (If?) I ever get my MS vert into the order queue and achieve delivery, I'll give it a try.
Juvatpilot

 

[tonyhood]

Firewall?

It works great! I hard wired mine straight into the fuse that controls the heated seats and grounded it under the dash. The wire hid nicely behind the trim.

Where did you run the wire through the firewall to get to the fuse box?

 

[tonyhood]

Radar Detector permanently installed

I just thought I would follow up on the forum and say that I did get my radar detector hard wired. The detector mounts in the very upper left hand corner of the winshield with the suction cups mounts. It's almost completely out of site and doesn't block your vision at all. I ran the wire along the winshield header and just tucked it up under the molding, down the passenger side window post, and down the fuse box hidden in the passengers floor pan. Mini fuses, but pretty easy to cut down a standard spade lug. Very neat installation and radar protection.

 

[C6son]

my dad hard wired his in the passenger floor board too, i think he said he wired it into the seat heater like lwilliams said

 

[Smittybilt]

Are those fuses always hot? or do they turn the detector on and off when you start the car. I'd like to have the detector turn on when the car is started to keep from having to turn it on manually everytime. Thanks. Smitty

 

[tonyhood]

Yeah, the seat heater fuses go off and on with the engine switch. Works like a champ.

 

[Smittybilt]

Tony;

Thanks for the info. Smitty

 

[UB2 SLOW]

True but I like wiring it in so when the key is turned off it dies also. I was able to do that on my previous cars at the fuse box but it apparantly is hard to get to it in the floor on the passengers side. I will try again in a few days.

Key? Dont you mean button? Just kidding, The C4's had the same thing in the arm rest compartment under the little carpet. Have you tried looking there?

 

[Don Colapietro]

C6 hard wiring radar detector

Having finally read the owners manual, I've concluded that, unlike the C5, the C6 does NOT have the dedicated pigtail in the passenger foot-well fuse panel designed for adding an electrical device . . . such as a Radar Detector.
So, does anybody have any suggestions on the best way to hard wire an Escort 8500 on a C6 Convertible so that it comes on and off with the ignition?
Thanks,
Juvatpilot

not easy but I have hooked up several this way. Unplug the connector from the back of therear view mirror. I use a Blue Point tester that is powered from the 12v acc. plug. it will ID both ign.hot and the ground. CAREFULLY skin back a 1/2 in section of insulation on each wire. I used a cordless soldering iron tomake the connections. A little tape, push the braided cover back up,add a small black wire tie and you're done. The detector draws so little it has never caused a problem. Hooked up my wife's Caddy the same way