Ahh! Help Installing Radar W/ Pic

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Ahh! Help Installing Radar W/ Pic

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Ahh! Help Installing Radar W/ Pic - 4/28/2008 1:40:54 PM

Aiml3ss

Posts: 26
Joined: 4/28/2008
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Hello guys and gals!

Ive been roaming through this site for about 2 months now and today I registered! Woohoo! Anyways, Ive been having trouble hard wiring my radar to the sunroof thing. I have an 2000 A6 and every DIY Ive seen on this topic, the sunroof has been different. So, with that in mind, i took a picture of my sunroof device thing. (Im retarded when it comes to cars

) Im sorry if this has been posted before...

Here it is:

Which wire do i connect to? and how?

Thanks and Im glad to be apart of this family!

< Message edited by Aiml3ss -- 4/28/2008 2:40:29 PM >

Post #: 1

RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/28/2008 2:01:19 PM

zippy_gg

Posts: 130
Joined: 2/20/2008
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Nice picture too!

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Unofficial SoCal Crew member
05 Dark Graphite BMW K1200LT
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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/28/2008 2:04:16 PM

Aiml3ss

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Joined: 4/28/2008
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Thanks? I was hoping it would make it easier for people helping me... We shall see!

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/28/2008 4:08:23 PM

Aiml3ss

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Joined: 4/28/2008
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Bump... No one knows how to do this? Cmon I know there are some smart people in this forum!

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/28/2008 5:47:54 PM

Audi 90Sport Quattro

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Joined: 3/26/2008
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Find a 12v power source that is still on with a volt/amp meter with the key out and connect it to that. What RD are you using?

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/28/2008 5:59:14 PM

Aiml3ss

Posts: 26
Joined: 4/28/2008
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Thanks for replying!

I gotta find where I put my voltage meter. Anyways, What do you mean by RD? Sorry I don't know anything about electrical wires and cars...

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/28/2008 7:18:12 PM

Aiml3ss

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Joined: 4/28/2008
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Uh... Hopefully someone will answer my question by tomorrow. Good night people! Thanks again!

Andrew

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/28/2008 7:21:16 PM

omeara7

Posts: 17
Joined: 3/22/2008
Status: offline

I just hard-wired my radar detector and I found that the sunroof wiring harness does not supply enough amperage to power the radar detector. It's putting out 12-14 volts but not enough amperage for the detector. I tapped into the dome light power supply (I used the left-hand harness) and it works great now. I wanted to tap into the sunroof too, because the detector would only get power with the key in the on position but this works fine for me (it actually fixed my interior LED issue because the LEDs weren't drawing enough power but when I hard-wired the radar detector, enough was being drawn so they work perfectly now)
-Jon

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/28/2008 7:41:38 PM

Aiml3ss

Posts: 26
Joined: 4/28/2008
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Thanks for the reply Omear,

Hmm, So the sunroof idea wont work for my car? How do I take off the dome light power thing? Do you think you could post pictures or steps on how to do it? Thanks again for replying! I think im getting closer to hardwiring my radar! Woot!

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Post #: 9

RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/28/2008 7:44:25 PM

omeara7

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Joined: 3/22/2008
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Audi 90Sport Quattro meant 'Radar Detector' by 'RD' -- (As in "What radar detector (RD) are you using?")

The sunroof switch's harness is the one in the middle. Like I was saying in my last post, there was not enough power from this harness for my radar detector but this might not be the case for you. I'd test it 1st because it may work for you. I've got a Beltronics Vector 955 which works pretty well, considering I only paid $150 for it new. I'd love a Valentine One (they're the best IMO) but they're just too expensive.

-Jon

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/28/2008 7:49:57 PM

Aiml3ss

Posts: 26
Joined: 4/28/2008
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I have a whistler pro 78. I too was gonna get a V1 but there way to damn expensive. It came with a hardwiring kit but I don't know anything about electrical wires and stuff. Do I have to strip the wires or..? Yes, i too am embarrassed by my lack of knowledge. Here are the wires that came with the radar:

Do i use this to hook it up to a wire in the sunroof or dome light? Do i have to buy new wire and/or strip the current wire I have? Im clueless...

Thanks!

< Message edited by Aiml3ss -- 4/28/2008 8:08:19 PM >

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/28/2008 8:16:29 PM

omeara7

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Mine has a phone-cord style power cord so I just plugged in the DC adapter that the detector came with and tested the 4 wires on the connector to see which ones were 12V and which ones were ground. It turned out that only 2/4 wires are actually used (the inner-2 wires). Any phone wire should work (assuming yours is like that too).
So I cut a spare phone cord that I had and spliced the appropriate wire into the 12V feed from the dome light switch and then I spliced the other wire and put it underneath one of the gold screws up there for the ground. I'm guessing the 'U' shaped connector is on the detector's ground wire? If so, that will work nicely for just sliding that under a screw/bolt up there. You're probably going to have to cut into a 12V wire like I did. You'll have to carefully cut away the black tape that's wrapped around the wires. It might be easier for you to cut off that rectangular connector and strip and splice the end of the wire into a 12V line.
-Jon

< Message edited by omeara7 -- 4/28/2008 8:36:23 PM >

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/29/2008 4:57:21 AM

Aiml3ss

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Joined: 4/28/2008
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Thanks! Which wire is it in the picture? Here i drew arrows on the picture of the sunroof device:

Is it the first arrow? or the second? And do i cut into the red wire and attach the black one to it and then wrap it with electrical tape?

Thanks!

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/29/2008 7:22:23 AM

zippy_gg

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aiml3ss

Thanks? I was hoping it would make it easier for people helping me... We shall see!

Your original post did not include the picture... but I see that you fixed it.

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/29/2008 10:03:44 AM

Aiml3ss

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Oh oops my bad. On my computer it showed up... Weird!

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/29/2008 5:14:49 PM

Aiml3ss

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Joined: 4/28/2008
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No one can answer my question? Im super duper close at getting this bad boy installed. I just need to know which wire in the above picture do i splice into.

Thanks!

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/29/2008 6:48:06 PM

omeara7

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Sorry, I didn't remember which wires I tied in to and I didn't have time to look until now....

I used the 2nd wire in from the left (the red one) in the harness right next to your left index finger in the picture. Then I grounded it to the gold screw right above that harness. It's very helpful to use a voltage meter to determine which wires are 12V but since you can't find yours you can trust me

.

Make sure you don't cut that wire too close to the connector in case you need to re-cut for whatever reason, plus it'll be easier to work with if you have some slack.

-Jon

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/29/2008 6:55:58 PM

Aiml3ss

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Thanks Jon!

I will let you know if all goes good when I try to install it tomorrow!

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/30/2008 12:36:12 PM

Aiml3ss

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Joined: 4/28/2008
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It worked!

Thanks so much Jon and everyone else who tried to help me. I tapped into the wire you told me to and it frickin worked!

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/30/2008 2:58:41 PM

vrso2

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try this : http://www.audiforums.com/m_620837/tm.htm

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/30/2008 4:01:02 PM

omeara7

Posts: 17
Joined: 3/22/2008
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Sure thing Aiml3ss.

I like the technique we used because I was able to leave a foot or so of extra wiring in case I want to move the detector to the middle of the windshield. I have read that having it mounted high can result in less sensitive radar detection (which isn't good!). You could do this with the fuse-panel method too but this way seems eaiser to me (less hiding of wires).

Also, when you pull the key out of the ignition, the dome lights are switched to a different circuit for some reason. This actually works out for me because if I forget to turn off my radar detector, it'll turn off and then back on again when the circuit switches, which makes the detector beep (nice little reminder).

-Jon

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/30/2008 4:28:26 PM

Aiml3ss

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Joined: 4/28/2008
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Ya the extra wiring is a great feature. I have my radar mounted just below the rearmirror to the right. Is that a good spot? I always thought the higher the radar is on your windshield the better. Maybe im wrong.

Thanks again!

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Post #: 22

RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 4/30/2008 4:58:31 PM

omeara7

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Joined: 3/22/2008
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I have mine just above and to the left of my rear view mirror. I think it should be ok as long as it has a clear view out the front and rear windshields. I always thought higher was better but I did read this article which says not to mount it too high because the detector won't pick up laser as well. If it picks up laser, it's pretty much too late anyway, although not always.

-Jon

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Post #: 23

RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 5/2/2008 10:13:18 PM

joetm

Posts: 567
Joined: 1/6/2008
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listen take teh radar apart ... use some super glue and mount the detector in the grill of your car and fabricate the disply into your dash somehow... this is the best spot for the detector ... completely centered on the car... itll be clean inside and not noticable at all on the outside ... a little fiberglass for the dash and you go tyourself one of the sweetest customized setups ... as far as i kno im the only one with this setup that ive heard of

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RE: Ahh! Help Installing Radar - 5/3/2008 5:42:34 AM

zippy_gg

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quote:

ORIGINAL: joetm

listen take teh radar apart ... use some super glue and mount the detector in the grill of your car and fabricate the disply into your dash somehow... this is the best spot for the detector ... completely centered on the car... itll be clean inside and not noticable at all on the outside ... a little fiberglass for the dash and you go tyourself one of the sweetest customized setups ... as far as i kno im the only one with this setup that ive heard of

The problem with this setup is that you lose the ability to detect a radar signal coming from behind. The Escort has 2 antennas, one looking forward and one looking backward. In your case the rear facing antenna becomes useless because the body of the car blocks all signals from behind. While you will be able to detect a speed trap ahead you may not be able to spot a cruiser coming from behind, the greatest risk at night on the highway when you can't make out what kind of car is closing in on you.

_____________________________

Gilles & Kathy
Unofficial SoCal Crew member
05 Dark Graphite BMW K1200LT
05 Audi A4 3.0 (For sale)
00 Audi A6 2.7T (Spare bike)
03 Saab Convertible (Other spare bike )

Samco TBB, 710n DVs, APR 91 chip (1 bar). Piggie

(in reply to joetm)

Post #: 25