Nanook

So I thought I'd start a new quick thread of the install I did with pics for those interested.
Notes
-this is an ignition switched install and will turn off with the vehicle
-2014 RX350
-Escort 9500ix detector
-connector is 8" "invisicord" (Escort specific) with blades ground narrower/thinner to fit into plug

Pics are not in sequence as I had already completed and had to take apart to take photos.

Pics are self explanatory...use vehicle black ( power supply/hot 12v) to invisicord red/yellow and vehicle white (gnd) to invisicord green/black.
After grinding blades smaller they just press friction fit into the tight space beside each of the blk/wht wires up tight to the copper connector.Add a piece of tape to secure/insulate.

Search Invisicord on web..get the cable for your detector and length as needed


Here are the blades not ground yet


Slide the top half cover down




After removing top half of cover you're left with lower half..unsnap from top and pivot off














Finished...the antenna to the right is the car starter btw

greeknasty

nice tutorial. wonder how effective it is at that height... in my g35 coupe i have a mount that goes under the mirror that aparently is the most effective method. too bad my LEO use laser now

here is what i have (not my photo but exactly what i have)

greeknasty

here is link to a mirror mount..a lil pricey but worth it if your into radars

http://store.blendmount.com/blendmou...-350-p796.aspx

Nanook

My answer to laser...notice 4 jammer heads and radar antenna behind lower grill center left

Nanook

This mount is in my opinion is a real invite for a thief and too much "in your face"..just my opinion..the top windshield mount works fine...I ran it as such in my ML for some time now before changing to a built in..

txes

I prefer them mounted out of the way also.

This is my Escort mounted in my ES.

John

tempestv8

Thankyou heaps for this very useful post. I wanted to find a switched ignition power source for a dash cam, but didn't know where to begin. I had planned to pull apart the dashboard to tap into the cigarette lighter, but then realised the RX doesn't have an ashtray and therefore no cigarette lighter.

lexusrus

You will need to step the 12 volts down to 5 volts for the dash cam with something like this:

takeshi74

You could solder pin connectors to an adapter like the one in the prior post and use the same mirror power as in this thread but one problem with that approach is that you'd be hard pressed to find a place near the mirror to tuck the box as there isn't much room up there. That adapter also has way too much wire for that sort of mounting since it is intended to be connected to a fuse panel. It is made with a lot of wire so you can run it to the top of the windshield if desired.

Given those problems, I hard wired to the fuse panel using an Add-A-Circuit (fuse tap) and ran the cord up to the mirror as I did on our previous RX (400h) and with several other vehicles. The box for the converter is mounted in the dash along the way. Using the fuse panel with an Add-A-Circuit is a very common approach to hardwiring all sorts of things regardless of the make or model of the vehicle and such installs are easily reverted to stock.

EDIT: You might have better luck tucking or at least zip tie-ing an Invisicord like this mostly out of sight for a dash cam install:
http://invisicord.com/osc2/catalog/p...products_id=58


Note to V1 owners if your install requires a V1 splitter for installation, Invisicord also makes a cord with a splitter built in:
http://invisicord.com/osc2/catalog/p...products_id=59

I used this in each of our current vehicles as we have a V1 and V1connection LE.

However, it still has power points which are basically shaped like the old cigarette lighters. Our 2015 has one near the floor in front. That said, you don't need to pull the dash apart. The fuse panel is readily accessible and you don't have to tap/cut/solder any wiring with something like an Add-A-Circuit.

I know I'm replying to an old post but while the Blendmount and other mirror mounts are an effective solution they're not the most effective solutions. Mounting near the top of the windshield for most vehicles is generally also a very effective placement point -- especially for lower vehicles like sedans and coupes.

Also an old post but unless you're taking your RD down every time get out regardless of mounting location (or you have an integrated RD like the K40, 9500ci, etc) you're inviting thieves.

I've used both approaches and neither have been in my way so I've been using Blendmount with the last several installs. Of course, YMMV and there are multiple options. It's pretty easy to mock up something to simulate having the RD on your windshield before dedicating the time and expense for a given solution.

lafenatu

Hey Guys-

This is my first Lexus vehicle and I have always mounted a radar detector with a mirror tap & blendmount. It looks like the products are not available for the RX 350, has anybody mounted a radar detector in their RX 350? If not, where do you usually mount it at? I am not really looking to mount it on the windshield and then have the plug laying across the dashboard, down the navigation screen and to the plug. It looks horrible to me and I am trying to avoid that.

Thanks!


-Rob

takeshi74

Are you not able to find a Blendmount, a cord or both? The Blendmount I used was a really old one back from when they were still testing them for use with Gentex mirrors and selling them as MGT Motorsports.

There wasn't a compatible MirrorTap for my 2015 RX 450h so I used an Invisicord with micro connectors (1/2 x 1/16) and did the same as the OP to wire though with the micro connectors there was no need to grind like the OP did. It looks like the MirrorTaps come with multiple tap sizes.

In another previous vehicle I couldn't use a Blendmount and there was no convenient power near the mirror to use a MirrorTap or Invisicord. I used the suction cup mount to mount near the top of the windshield and ran the power cable down to the fuse box and used an Add-A-Circuit to wire.

Edvins

Hi all -

GREAT write-up on the mirror tap wiring. thanks! I could use some guidance/knowledge from the group. I am able to get the "always on" power connection (red wire) to work from the mirror harness very easily. no problem. I could not for the life of me get the the "key on" power connection (Black wire in the harness) to work. then...some how I did get it to work. HOORAY!! I tested it by shutting the car off and on several times. GREAT!

So I zip tied the wires to ensure they would stay in place to finish the job...no power! And now...no matter how I try to connect to the Black "key on" wire in the harness, I get absolutely nothing. I am using the thin connector on my mirror tap cable - works great on the ground side and on the always on connection, but I cannot get the switched power connection to work! I am confident that I am getting the mirror tap spade in to the harness... As I said above, I am VERY easily able to get it to work on the "always on" wire...

So it seems it could be one of two things -
1) an intermittent connection in the wiring to the mirror connector itself. in which case I have a larger issue,
2) or , a fuse.

I see no reference in the manual or any online sources to a fuse for the mirror or auto-dimming feature. Does anyone know if there is such a fuse, and which one it might be?

Any other suggestions! We are going on a 5 hour drive tonight, so worst case, I will temporarily connect to the "always on" power source so I can use my Valentine...

thanks for any suggestions!

Ed