Hardwiring a radar detector

RJ-11 connector, and I think it's the two center pins that are used for power and ground. Worst case take your existing plug and verify with a volt meter.

I assume that that is in the fuse panel? I was trying to avoid going through the firewall. I looked at the cigarette light for example. It is powered when you turn the key to accessory mode. And my trucks a manual so is there anyway to get the dash piece behind the gear shift that sunken in out? Possibly to access the cig lighter wires. ? Unless I am going about it the wrong way. ?

Behind the Cig lighter is where I connected my GPS. Haven't had the chance to connect up my Valentine 1 Radar there yet. I'm stringing the cable across from the a-pillar to the cig lighter.

Why not pull it from the overhead display console area above the rear view mirrow (that has the interior lights in it)?

lasilver said:

Why not pull it from the overhead display console area above the rear view mirrow (that has the interior lights in it)?

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I did that for my old Radar. Constant power. Not switched.

The overhead doesnt switch for some reason... :confused013:
Tried it on my 04 and my 06. :S:

There should be a unused plug near your parking brake pedal - not sure what its for - but it has key-on 12v in the center'ish gray/pink wire.
You'll have to look around, the plug is likely to be taped up in there to something, not dangling.
I used one of those red clamping wire tap things - works fine.

Avoid taking that damn visor clip out - they're a p.i.t.a. Just remove the left side of the visor.
Be careful not to snag, scuff, or over-extend the wire if you have a lighted vanity mirror on the drivers side.
Run the wire behind the left mount, then tuck the wires back around the right clip side.

I just hard wired my radar detector a few days ago. Ran the wire across the headliner edge, down the driver side pillar, back towards the center above the brake/gas-pedal, and wired in to the cigarette lighter. Only took about 30 minutes all total.

SouthernBoy said:

I just hard wired my radar detector a few days ago. Ran the wire across the headliner edge, down the driver side pillar, back towards the center above the brake/gas-pedal, and wired in to the cigarette lighter. Only took about 30 minutes all total.

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This is what I was trying. Did you have to take off the dash piece in order to get to the wire? If not then where is the wire I am looking for?

To be super safe and easy I would just use a fuse terminal pin that hooks onto the fuse.and use the fuse for your cig lighter.its easier just so u dont have to tap into anything and mess with factory wires.

I have mine hardwired into the power mirror, check out these guys:
Safe-N-Sound1.com - Your scource for radar detector power cords & accessories

dad2bike said:

Behind the Cig lighter is where I connected my GPS.

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Another vote for this easily accessed source of switched 12V power.

gsbrockman said:

Another vote for this easily accessed source of switched 12V power.

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Most important, with all the ECM controlled stuff in these trucks, the Cig lighter is the only known safe wiring place to me.

Which wire should I tap. ? The pink wire with orange stripe or the black wire with the yellow stripe?

Wires on the cig lighter^

Positive will be the one going to the center of the lighter plug. Negative will be the housing. I don't recall the colors.

There's no center it's like a outlet plug two on top one on bottom pink goes to top left and black goes to the bottom. I would assume the black is ground and pink is hot but I am not sure.

Anyone know for sure?

yes it is. That's where I wired my Sirius, but I switched it to the other plugin so my sirius is on all the time...
You can also take off the triangular piece on the side of the dash, If you don't have power petals, you can use the power source for those, that's where I got the power for my gauges.