Guess what!

[MN Probe GT]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh ok....I'll tell......I hardwired my radar detector!!! The only problem is, the only way I could mount it high on the windshield was to have to go through the blue tint. I know that's bad, but I didn't really have a choice. Oh.....and that electrical book helped A LOT (thanks curt!) The dome light power wire is always on, and I didn't want that, so I looked in the book for the power wire that goes to the sunroof (which is hot during ON and start) and I actually found that wire (green with orange stripe) and I looked in the harness that went to the dome light and sure enough, that wires spot was empty (I don't have a sunroof). So I tapped into that wire and hooked it all up and BAM! It actually worked! But I had to reset all my preferences on my radio (After I had been cutting the wire and everything I thought, "Maybe I should take off the negative battery cable.....") I still haven't connect the ground yet (I can just file away some paint and put it under one of the screws right?) And stupid Sunday where all the stores close at 6pm (I got done about 6:30) I need to get like 1 foot of phone wire for the power wire to the detector. Target had lots of 15 foot ones.......too much. And the radio shack is gone at the EP mall (Well......everything is gone.....) So where can I get this? best buy? Oh.....and if anyone has a better idea where to mount the detector, please tell me. I played with it for a long time. Currently, I'm planning on it being just to left or just to the right of the map light. If I ever have to replace the window, I'll see if I can get it without the tint. Is that a good idea? or do I really want the tint?

[Eric94GT]

I don't think you'll want it up there because of the tint. I'd keep the tint if you got a new windshield, it helps the sun glare and look better. I have mine where it should be (right above the dash on the winshield). I have the wires going into the crack that separates the dash with the radio colsole cover and then I have it wires to the radio harness because that only gets power in ACC and RUN.

[tracer bullet]

Cool! I did that too a while back. Mine was a two piece deal, some of it is zip tied under the bumper near the lights, then the wires run to a seperate piece I have velcroed under the gage hood, with the lights and buttons on it. I hotted it to the cigarette lighter, I'm pretty sure it's also key power switched.

I wouldn't worry about the tint, I'm thinking that if it smell radar through the glass windshield, that a little tint won't hurt anything either.

[MN Probe GT]

It will reduce the range by like 20-30 % If I notice it's not good enough, I'll have to move it back. Then I'll have to run the wire down the a-pillar. Or.....I bet that wire runs down the a-pillar, so I could make another splice down there. I just don't like it down low. The wipers get in the way. If It didn't have the directional thing, I would put it behind the mirror. But I want to see which direction it's coming from.

[rebby]

Originally posted by tracer bullet
...cigarette lighter, I'm pretty sure it's also key power switched....

mine is NOT... you might want to check this w/a voltmeter...

also, does the v1 run @ 12v??? for some reason i thought that it ran @ something else....

[MN Probe GT]

Ummm....if it runs on the car, it runs at 12v. Unless there is some kind of internal transformer, which wouldn't make any difference because the input is still 12v. Anyway......it works with the wire I used. And the ciggarette lighter is ALWAYS hot. I don't like that. It does turn off and come back on when you start the car (V1 restarts if it's on when I start the car)

[rebby]

i like that the lighter is always hot... i can leave my PCS plugged in then... :)

[MN Probe GT]

I got it all hooked up and it works good. I went to radio shack and got a 2' phone wire, but it had to be gray, I couldn't get it in black. I'll have to find one later. I went through an area that normally gives a very small warning on my detector, and it gave about the same amount of warning. I think the increased height made up for blue tint.

[Eric94GT]

what do you need the black fone cord for?

[rebby]

Originally posted by Eric94GT
what do you need the black fone cord for?

this is from http://www.valentine1.com/moreinfo/Mount.asp

Making Your Own Power Cord

Valentine One uses standard RJ-11 (modular) telephone connectors. You
can use any telephone cable (the one that runs from the wall jack to the
phone) for a power cord. Complete cables are available in many lengths at
electrical or building-supply stores.

You can also make your own power cord using bulk phone cable cut to
whatever length you choose. To attach the RJ-11 connectors, you will
need a special attaching tool. Bulk phone cables, loose connectors, and the
attaching tool are available in most electrical or building-supply stores.

NOTE: The sequence of wires must be reversed from one end to the
other.

[MN Probe GT]

Yup! :) gotta love the V1 .........But I don't really like where it is on the windsheild. Super PITA to take it down and put it back up. I might put it an inch lower or I might just leave it there. For those of you who don't know, one of my many strange driving rituals is putting my radar detector in the glove box everytime I leave the car. Even if it's for like 1 minute.

[rebby]

i don't blame you... it's an expensive radar detector... i want one... :D

[MN Probe GT]

hmmm....I guess that has something to do with it......LOL......

[AspitFire]

I mounted my escort 7500 underneith my rear view mirror...still get signals from the rear..and is sorta in the middle of the windshiled...where any radar detector get optimal performance...i just ran the wires overhead and down the a pillar..into a fuse..had it like that over a year now...in other car also...i am upgrading the the 8500 this week.....cant afford a $400 radar dector..

[MN Probe GT]

I can't afford $88 tickets and increased insurance. I think below the mirror would block some stuff, and da popo might not like that.

[rebby]

the tickets have totally killed me insurance wise... fuckin' cops!!! i wasn't even going the speed limit when i got one of my tickets (i was 15 UNDER)!!! :confused:

[MN Probe GT]

I've learned it doesn't matter how fast your going. It's what kind of ar you drive, your race, your age. And in curts case.......we'll.....you're just screwed.

[rebby]

Originally posted by MN Probe GT
...in curts case.......we'll.....you're just screwed.

yeah, especially considering that i was dressed all grungy that day too... beth and i were visiting the state parks... :)

[tracer bullet]

Ha - I was looking at this this weekend, actually. I was vacuuming the car with a cheapo cleaner plugged into the cigarette lighter, and started thinking about what I posted about the radar detector.

I think what I did was relay it off the lighter - that is that was my constant power on, running through a relay, which in turn must be switched by a wire running through the key.

But yeah, the lighter is always hot. But I know if I unplug that wire, that the detector doesn't work anymore.

It's amazing what you can forget over the years, I put that thing in a long time ago! That and I must be getting senile!:help: