I was going to intall one in my car but I dont have a cig lighter because the s2000 start button. I have an inline fuse and plan to get the plug from radio shack or so but I didn't know where to tap into power at. I was trying to have it only have power when the car is on ACC or ON, not constant power. Any help guys?

Thanks,
Chris

 

Get a test light and hit the fues panel. Also you can always grab one from the radio harness...

 

I used the cigarette lighter wire to power a relay when the ignition is on. I then wired from the main fuse box, (near the battery) with an inline fuse to one side of the relay contact, the other side of the relay goes to the radar detector. I did this as my radar detector was falsing too much due to noise on the power line.

The power cable for the radar detector needs to have the cigarette lighter connector removed. Ohm out to find what color wire is positive, (center pin of the cigarrette lighter is poistive). You will probably need to extend the power cable with some wire. I routed mine along the roof liner, (just tuck it in behind the windshield). Then down the A-pillar, (this you will have to pop off) and into the maze of wires under the dash.

Derek Vanditmars

 

I bought a bel 985 radar detector and mounted it above the rear view mirror, on the right side. It fits nicely, and the mirror acts to support the radar detector so it doesn't vibrate. I think this is an ideal location if your radar detector fits.

I hard wired the radar detector to the sunroof switch wiring. This way there are no wires running from a remote location. I used in-line splices, so that I didn't have to cut any wires. Access the sunroof wires by gently pulling down on the switch housing. You may want ot use a butter knife to help remove it.

 

985 is what I have, how did you keep it up there.. velcro? and does it stay on after the car is turned off?

 

Aren't you worried about significantly decreasing the range of your radar detector? The tint at the top of the window, and the added dots around the mirror would really cutdown on your range/ability to see the cop (for the radar detector).


thesaint

 

do tint and the "little dots" painted around the windshield really affect the radar detector's ability to sense radar??? i thought this was the ideal spot for maximum radar detection range because of its high and central position in the car.

oh, and i think that hooking it to the sunroof switch would not provide constant power, but it would also not provide power in "acc" mode as you wanted because the sunroof can only be operated in "on" mode. this should work for you though, since you usually dont need to worry about radar when your ignition is not turned anyway.

 

In the manual it says only some cars with this weird metalic windsheld effect detection. I just relized you cant really move the sunroof with the car off. What about mounting, velcro worked for about a day on my other car then it fell off.

 

The bel 985 comes with a suction cup windshield mount, but it doesn't fit that well for my location. I contacted bel and asked them to send me a windshield mount for a bel 980. It fits fine. The radar detector works great in this location. No problems with early detection.

Since the sunroof won't work with the ignition off, there is no power to the detector with the engine off.

 

Yes from what I have gathered tint has a pretty substantial effect on the range on the radar detector. The manual for my V1 specifically says not to mount it on the windshield where there is any of that tint crap. Also, when you’re mounting that high, you’re going to lose range from behind too. Because the detector is going to have the roof of you’re FD blocking its path. The best location is centrally mounted on windshield. That allows for optimum range for true 360-degree radar detectors.

 

double post......

 

I have been thinking about taking off the domelight cover and wiring in a jack, and then just having a small cable go from the radar detector to the jack in the domelight. Of course this is constant power, so that may not be ideal.

I simply can't see how the tint can affect a radar detector, as long as it is not the foil type tinting. Surely the factory tinting (the blue stuff) couldn't affect anything other than laser, maybe?

 

Yes in the Bel manual it claims that window tint does not affect the detection unless it is the foil type, which isnt always a tint its also clear, is found on most new GM vehicles.

 

I'm sorry, I forgot to mention that the radar detector works great in this location. I also forgot to say that I don't have any problems with early detection.

I have had this detector, in this location, for nearly a year. I wired in the jack, so I can unplug the detector for use in another vehicle.

 

I know from experience that the signal strength is stronger when the detector is not behind the tint at the top of my windshield. Both in the Spec V and the FD. Car and Driver did a good report on this, and even the non-metallic tint had an effect on detecting a signal. Bottom line from that article, using a V1 detector was that all tints affect range, metallic tints really decrease range and that the ideal position is high up on the windshield in the centre of the car.

thesaint

 

I also have a V1, and was considering hardwireing it above the rear view mirror, seeing that the center of the dash will soon be covered by my tri pod gauge mount. I will check my windshield, but if i remember correctly it does not have any stuff above the rear view mirror.