Radar detector install in MZ4 roadster

[tribe]

I always like to direct wire my radar detector into my car, but hate having a wire hanging when I'm not using the RD. My solution is to add a power jack in the rear view mirror which can be used for a RD or GPS unit. Make a power cable then you can remove your RD without having a wire to tuck and hide. I don't have very detailed photos, but hopefully enough information in case anybody else wants to do a similar install.

The install is for a Escort Passport 8500 (manufacturer refurbished from eBay for $150). I'm pretty sure Bel and Valentine detectors use the same power wiring, but you may want to check to make sure.

Here is what it looks like after the install:


Parts needed:
telephone power cord
DC power jack (Size M from radio shack: 2741582, $3.29)
DC coax plug (Size M from radio shack: 2741569, $2.99 for 2)
Quick splice connector (18-22AWG from radio shack: 6400037, $1.99 for 3)
two conductor wire (had it my garage...)
O-ring terminal (had it in my garage...)
heat shrink, electrical tape



Tools needed:
drill, flat blade and phillips screwdriver, wire stripper, soldering station/gun, solder, multimeter

Power Cable

The wiring colors are not consistent on the different telephone cables I found, so here is a quick sketch of what I found for my Escort power cable using a multimeter


Determine how long you want the power cable, then cut the telephone cord to length. Slide on heat shrink tuning and DC coax plug "cover", then solder the terminals to the DC coax plug using the above wiring diagram and the one on the DC coax plug package. Screw on the DC coax plug "cover", then heat shrink. I also added some electrical tape after. Here is what the cable looks like:


Power Jack

I removed the covers around the base of the rear view mirror using a small flat blade screwdriver. It helps to turn the mirror side to side to get the two plastic covers off. I found a good place to mount the power jack, then drilled a 5/16" hole. Next, I soldered the two conductor wire to the power jack with heat shrink. Again, electrical tape afterwards to make sure there will not be a short. Then, remove the dome light (I was able to do this with just my fingers). Mount the power jack into the plastic cover, run the two conductor wire up through to the opening by the dome light. Put the plastic covers back around the rear view mirror base. This can be tricky with the two conductor wire, so be patient.



Next, wire the two conductor wire into the vehicle wiring harness. For power, I used the green/white wire which can be found in one of the three bundles near the dome light (switched power when the engine is on). Use the quick splice connector. For ground, I used a phillips screw that is on an aluminum bracket near the dome light. For this I used a o-ring terminal.

Test the detector to make sure it works, then put the dome cover back in. I may go back and add a fuse inline with the power... not sure if it's necessary.

[tjank123]

Looks clean. I have my phone wire hanging down for my V1 install. I never know how to tuck it.