radar detector installation
 

Hi all:
I just purchased an 04 RX330, Black/Ivory, Premium Plus pkg. Anyway, I got it for my wife to take our son places, mainly, instead of my original plan of getting an 03 GS430 for myself. Decided to keep my 'vette until the new GS430 comes out next year.
Anyway, I want to install a new radar detector in her vehicle (I have been using the V-1 in my car, but am thinking of getting the Passport Escort 8500 for hers) and hardwire it if possible. At the very least, I'd like to do a cleaner installation than just letting the coiled cord hang down in front of the dash to plug into the lighter outlet.
Anyone have experience on this? Can I wend it beneath the the molding for the headliner and bring it down the A-Piller or behind the dash?
Any thoughts or suggestions will be most welcome.
PS: She loves the RX.

Thanks

SR,

You should be able to run a tap from the power that goes to the mirror using the hardware that comes with the V1.

Try putting 'hardwire valentine' in the search box at the top and you'll find a bunch of into on it. I don't recall seeing a thread on doing this with the RX, but in theory it should be pretty much the same.

Click here for a good DIY on how to do it on a GS.

I believe the side curtain airbags are on the A pillar and any wiring tucked in may interfere with it deploying.

I just hard wired a V-1 in my wifes RX330. I tapped into the 12 V plug at the bottom of the console and ran the wire under the dash and up the A pillar and then across to the rear view mirror area. The wire was a little difficult to bring down to the bottom of the dash but with a little time and patients it can be done. I have been waiting on a reply from a tech on how to remove the cup holder on the drivers side. This is where I would like to put the concealed display for the V-1 but so far no one can tell me how to remove. In the meantime I located it between the botom of the dash and the sliding console area.

May be a stupid question since I don't have an RX330, but isn't there power in the console & rear view mirror for lights or dimming or a compass? Any reason you don't just tap it there on a switched wire and not have to run it all around the car?

Thanks to all for your insights and threads. I found it interesting that during a brief conversation with the dealer on this subject, no one mentioned tapping into the rearview mirror's wiring harness-- makes sense to go to a nearby source rather than threading wire across, down A pillar (worries about airbags) and back to the center stack for the floor 12v outlet or fusebox. I will ask the service tech re: this mirror idea, but that sounds good to me.
Again, appreciate the informative threads, etc. Now I just have to decide if I get another Valentine or go with the Escort 8500 (have read good reviews about it and it's $150 less).
Any additional ideas/thoughts is appreciated. I'll post once I've done the install (will do it myself, but will get the dealer's ideas before proceeding).

Many thanks.

04 RX330, black on ivory, premium plus pkg.

Dave,

I guess you could do that. However, a V-1 uses a phone type wire to connect the power. If you use the concealed display then another phone wire connects to that. The part that gets hardwired into the electrical system of the car is the hub for this. It would just be a little hard to hide those connections at the rearview mirror. Running the wire along the headliner in the front is not difficult and looks (or lack of looks) much better to just have the unit itself seen and nothing else.

Wired our detector into the wire harness for the rear mirror using the wires located under the samll liner inside the sunglass holder just behind the rearview mirror....red is on with ignition and grounded to any unpainted sheet metal screw.

Hope this helps.
Bruce