Wiring the Radar

I got the Escort 8500 X50 radar and I want it to be at the top of my windshield but I dont know where to run the wire to. Do i just conect it to where the overhead lights are? If you have any pics that would be great too.

Thanks Evan

 

yeah tap into the dome lights.
use a voltmeter..

make sure you get constant, not switched power.

 

Ok thanks

 

i got that radar too

 

Easiest thing to tap into is the Compas/Dimm Mirror harness. it's got 2 switched 12v sources and a ground.
USE THE BLUE WIRE FOR +12v.
Thats how i hooked up mine, it works great.

 

that would be great if i had that mirror

 

you don't have to have the mirror.
the wiring harness is still up there.
it's the only switched 12V source up there too..

 

just dont run switched off of the dome lights...

 

Ok i will take a look at it

 

OK I cant findthe place to wire it too, do you have a pic

 

If you have an STI the color of the wire will be different, but the connector that looks like that should be floating up there under your map lights.
Just note which one has the splice on it.
you can either splice into the black wire for your ground, or just body ground like i did to one of the screws holding the map light in.

 

so you just cut the radar wire and connect it to the screws that hold in the light>

 

mine came with a fork head already on it. i used a little sand paper around the hole first to make sure i got a good ground.

 

is that a pic that you took or one that you found, what is that blue thing on the yellow wire

 

it's a pic i found from an obscure how too.
the blue thing on the wire is the splice. it's a tool-less wire splice.
it's a part included with a Valentine 1, but you can get them at radio shack.
it's like, 2 bucks for 10-15.

Here's the link to the whole how to. it's for a valentine 1, but the whole process should be smilier enough.
http://www.imagestation.com/member/...um_id=4292462839&rf=&ru=/album/?id=4292462839

 

i cut the wire of my radar and cut that yellow wire, then i put a nut on them all together and nothin is happening

 

like this

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a267/subaruwrxlowzer/****004.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a267/subaruwrxlowzer/****003.jpg

 

There wasn't anything in the cigarette lighter head that you needed was there?
also, verify your ground. there are 3 wires in there, one ground, 2 +12v. one +12 is on on ignition (Yellow) and the other is for when you shift into reverse.

Try using a body ground just to verify your wiring. just stick the ground into the hole for the lamp screws, make sure it touches the sides.

if that fails, are you sure you have + and - Right?

 

I dont know what i am doing anymore

 

All i know is that i have 4 wires coming from my radar, i take all 4 wires and put them together with the yellow wire. Then i nut it and nothing happenes from there.

 

You know the baiscs of electricity right?
Everything needs a + and a -.
now, when it comes to 4 wires, you have to find out which wire is + and which is -.
then you have to connect the + to the yellow wire and the - to the body ground.

Let me look around a bit to see if i can find something on the passport.

 

make sure you dont have it hooked so when the door opens it powers on.. he he he just a thought

 

Yeah, i have a red green black and yellow wire. I put the red and the green together with the yellow wire and then what else do i do from there, the yellow and black togeter and just tape it to the body?

 

Ok. Peel back the black plastic sheeting on the outside of the smart cord.
there should be a red and a black wire in there. attach the red wire to the Yellow one coming off of the mirror harness.
attach the black wire to the body ground i mentioned earlier. just loop it and feed the screw for the light housing through it.

test it before buttoning up, but this should work.
and obviously, remember to turn the key to the "on" postion.

 

whats the smart cord

 

also, the green and yellow wires are nothing. their meant for the smart end.

 

They call the coiled cord that your using the "Smart Cord" because it had that little head on it for the cigarette lighter.

Don't ask me why, i don't know.

 

ok i will give that a try, and the yellow and green i just dont do anything with

 

Thanks for your help too

 

yup, leave the yellow and green wires from the detector un-attached.

 

Ok i put the red detecter wire to the yellow dome light wire, then i held the black wire with the screw and turned on my car and it did nothin.

 

Try using the green wire instead of the red wire.
the place i read said that they might have been switched.

going to firestone tomorrow night?

 

i dont know for sure, i might be going out of town but if i do go i get there around 740, i will try the green wire.

 

Well, if you are coming, bring tools.
I'm planing on coming out there tomorrow.
i'll take a look at it there, because this is just plain weird.

 

Yeah i am going plain crazy to try anything else tonight. I have played with every wire and i dont know what else to do. I will maybe talk to yah tomorrow.

Thanks again for your help

 

should of just left it in the cigerette lighter like i told you jackas$!

 

The only thing i can say tonight is try each wire to 12+ while leaving the black one grounded.
if your using the body ground, make sure that the wire is touching the screw and the metal of the body.

 

i am going to try some more tomorrow, i will let you know if i get it

 

Ok i am not going to make it to firestone tonight, i might be there tomorrow but i will let you know when i get back in town.

 

did you get that to work yet?

 

No

 

Ok i got it to work, red was hot and green was ground