Help: Wiring up a remote radar detector...

[MotoFanatic]

All,

 

I'm thinking about getting a remote radar detector for the LGT. This requires attaching the detector to the front bumper. I've seen instructions on how to take the bumper off but the question is how would you run the wires to the interior of the car without drilling into the firewall??

 

If I have to drill through the firewall, where's the best place to do this and is there anything I should watch out for??

 

Thanks in advance!

 

-moto

[TSiWRX]

Moto,

 

I had a different problem - in that the wires from my laser jammer (Escort Shifter ZR3) used "telephone/data plugs" at their "interior" end, and I was thus totally not inclined to pass the wires through the firewall using a grommet, for fear of tearing off those pesky retention tabs should I decide later to un-install the units and transfer them to another vehicle.

 

From the front, my emitter units are placed adjacent to each side of my front license plate (OH-required), each equidistant to their respective headlamp units. The wiring was trailed up behind the bumper (I did not remove the bumper, as the units are lightweight enough to simply be anchored to the plastic bumper fascia), up through the holes at the corner of our headlight's "eyes," and then following the lip on the side of the hood/fender cut-out. Keep trailing the wires on towards the windshield, using care while prying up on the two black bumpers/covers on each side of the car near the corner of the hood, as you approach the passenger cabin and routing the wires through and underneath these pieces.

 

A well-padded flat-head screwdriver can then be used to pry "up" on the fender panels at the seam joining the fender with the A-pillar. I favor going in from the "inside" of the fender, once you've opened the door on that respective side. A bit of leverage while an assistant (or just yourself) slides-in the wiring through that temporarily pried-open gap will then net you a passage in to your passenger cabin. Leave enough slack, and you won't need to worry about any pulling/pinching. Trust me on this - I've done it two three separate cars over the course of the past two years, and I've had no problems nor complaints.

 

This will result in zero appearance of wires trailed externally.

 

To tidy up, you can run the wire straight in to the cabin by popping off the dash's side end-caps, which will then allow you to pass down under dash and in to the major trim cover areas, thus routing your final wiring according to your aesthetic/placement desires.

 

 

If you prefer to go through the firewall, there is an un-used grommet in the driver's side footwell area - leading to just behind the wheelwell mud/splash-cover (simply remove Pop-Its to gain access to this area), when then enters up and in to the engine compartment. Easiest way to trace this route would be to follow the harness leads going from the engine compartment into the cabin near this area. You can find a picture representation of this route by searching for "boost gauge" and "driver side grommet."

 

Best of luck!

 

-A

[MotoFanatic]

Hey TSi+WRX,

 

That's a great write up! I really appreciate you taking the time in doing that. I can't say that I understood it all in my quick read and seeing as how I'm usually a visual person, I'll have to get some free time and have a closer look at the things you wrote about.

 

As for the retention clip, I figure the best way to save those is to tape them down before passing it through the firewall but I have to see how difficult it is.

 

After seeing the neighborhood police officers practicing laser, I thought it would be in my best interest to invest in an Escort SRX. Sometimes detection just isn't enough especially when we're talking about laser.

 

You wouldn't happen to know of a cheap place to get an Escort SRX/ZR3 would you?

 

Again, I appreciate your help. I'll let you know how it goes after it's said and done.

 

-Moto

[Earthworm]

It's very easy to cut off a connector and crimp on a new RJ-11 connector after you pass it through - I don't know how much a crimper tool costs, but the connectors have to be pennies each... I'd even be willing to ship you mine from work since I never use it any more (not since the old days of decnet). Just as long as you promise to send it back!

[TSiWRX]

MotoFanatic and Earthworm,

 

To both of you, a big for some wonderful suggestions of passing those annoying "telephone/data" ends through the firewall! Thank you both so much!

 

Earthworm, I'd take you up on your offer, but I'm happy with the way things are now, and I wouldn't want to hog your cache if I am not going to re-do the wiring. Hopefully, upcoming modders can take advantage of your most generous offer, and also very practical idea.

 

MotoFanatic, think nothing of it - I'm just glad to help.

 

Also, I actually purchased my Shifter off of eBay.

 

This, however, is not without risk, as Escort has been known to -NOT- honor warranties through third-party/non-authorized retailer transactions. If you can find a private party who had retained their original sales receipt from a Brick & Mortar or Internet authorized retailer, that would be a good way to go - as would an eBay seller who self-honors their own "one year return warranty," which can be had with a bit of searching. Patience, though, would be key in the latter, as these units don't pop up all -that- regularly.

 

I mainly bought the Shifter as it was the logical pairing to my Escort. However, please note that the Bel RX65 with LaserPro 905 combo is essentially the same unit, only with slightly different biases in performance and features. I would choose which one best fits your local/regional enforcement protocol, and just fly with it, since I truly believe that all upper-end detectors are great units with very little trade-off in absolute performance when compared to each other.

 

The Valentine 1 and Blinder combo - although the two will not "talk" to each other as the Escort/Shifter combo and Bel/905 combo would - is also an excellent pairing at comparable, if slightly higher price-point, and depending on your local enforcement practices, may be an even more appropriate pairing.

 

Best of luck, and I wish you safe and speedy travels!

 

-A

 

PS: Moto, since you're a visual guy, for the part of my routing that read -

 

To tidy up, you can run the wire straight in to the cabin by popping off the dash's side end-caps...

 

This is best depicted in the "Installation of cabin air filter" thread in the Walk-Throughs section, which shows popping off this panel, albeit on the PASSENGER's side, in post number 7 (seven), the last illustration (on the far RIGHT).

 

And -

 

...which will then allow you to pass down under dash and in to the major trim cover areas, thus routing your final wiring according to your aesthetic/placement desires.

 

Is best illustrated in the "DRL disable, in 10 minutes" thread, first post by Deer Killer, in the same Walk-Throughs sub-Forum.

 

 

Finally, as for routing through the driver's side gromet -

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showpost.php?p=55329&postcount=19

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3101&highlight=unused+grommet

[jim1969]

Hey TSi+WRX,

 

That's a great write up! I really appreciate you taking the time in doing that. I can't say that I understood it all in my quick read and seeing as how I'm usually a visual person, I'll have to get some free time and have a closer look at the things you wrote about.

 

As for the retention clip, I figure the best way to save those is to tape them down before passing it through the firewall but I have to see how difficult it is.

 

After seeing the neighborhood police officers practicing laser, I thought it would be in my best interest to invest in an Escort SRX. Sometimes detection just isn't enough especially when we're talking about laser.

 

You wouldn't happen to know of a cheap place to get an Escort SRX/ZR3 would you?

 

Again, I appreciate your help. I'll let you know how it goes after it's said and done.

 

-Moto

Just so you know, radar detectors are illegal in DC. If they can detect it you'll get a ticket for having it, even if you're not speeding.

[TSiWRX]

Ooooh....and VA too, if I remember correctly!

 

Very good point, jim1969! Thanks for that spot - I had not noticed the location of MotoFanatic.

 

-A

[MotoFanatic]

Thanks a lot everyone. I can't thank you all enough for the great input/advice.

 

Earthworm - Thanks for offering to lend out your crimp tool. I think I know somebody at work who might have one if it turns out I have to cut but I'm crossing my fingers that I don't have to. *crossing fingers*

 

TSi+WRX - Once again, thank you for taking the time in helping with the research and posting the links. I can't wait to get started. You make it sound easy. I just hope it's as easy as it sounds.

 

jim1969 - Thanks for the heads up. That's one of the reasons I want to go with a remote. It's well hidden and also supposedly undetectable by radar detector detectors (VG2). Try and say that 10x fast.

 

Thanks again everyone! You guys are the exact reason that this forum great!!

 

-Moto

[TSiWRX]

MotoFanatic,

 

Again, NP. And truly, if you're decently mechanically handy -let's put it this way, when I play around on my car or the wifey's, she first yells at me to stop %$&!ing with them, and then pleads for me to not break them - I have complete faith that you'll have no problems.

 

As for radar detectector detector undetectability, unfortunately, this is one area where my scant knowledge simply cannot help you with. Having lived in detector-legal areas for all of my rather short life, so far, I've not paid much attention to this issue at all. Radardetectors.net is the discussion Forum part of the Radarbusters.com commercial website - great info. can be had there.

 

What I can caution you about is that if you're looking to go active against laser enforcement, I would advise you to ascertain what are the legalities for laser jammers in your particular area, as the emitter units of these jammers will definitely be visible externally, especially to trained eyes.

 

Best of luck, and again, I wish you safe and speedy travels!

 

-A