SNAFU 4

After having my Passport on the spiral wire and direct wired another way for a while, I finally came up with a new way for myself to add privacy, ease of use and aesthetics. Here was my process:

1. Buy a direct wire cable for $10
http://www.walcottcb.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=158&products_id=763

2. Remove the third sun visor from above the rear view mirror using small flat head screwdrivers and needle nose pliers.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/twovettes/87c25182.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

3. With the driver's side sun visor down, position radar just to the right for clearance, and put the suction cups all the way up where the windshield meets the headliner (NOTE: It will take a few tries to get it to stick properly because the windshield has the black dots which stick out at that point). The 8500 should sit perfectly above your rear view mirror now, and just to the right of the sun visor.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/twovettes/4a1149d2.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">


4. Gently pull down headliner a few centimeters to run wire along driver's headliner, and down the front A-Pillar (no need to remove the trim).

5. At the dashboard, you are able to run the wire in between the dash and A-Pillar just by inserting wire vertically and gently pressing down with a screwdriver wrapped in cloth, a coin or anything else that will not hurt dash.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/twovettes/bc5d797f.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

6. Run the cord under the dash where it meets the door jam, and behind the fuse box. You can run this cord over the fuse panel, but behind the fuse door and still have no problems closing the fuse door.

7. Put the hot wire into an unused fuse that only activates when the ignition is on (I used the 15AMP fuse for "Rear Window Wiper and Heated Steering Wheel." This makes it so your battery will not run down while the car is off and you never need to turn the detector on or off again.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/twovettes/d559204c.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

8. Run the negative wire to one of the dash bolts to the left of the box (hard to reach but it worked for me), or further under the dash to a bolt near the dead pedal.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/twovettes/4d647c2d.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

My 8500 is now invisible from the front and side of the car unless you are looking in. The tinted upper part of the windshield totally blocks it from view. It is also in a high enough position to not be seen easily from the rear of the car either. Radar sensitivity has not been lost being behind the tinted section either.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/twovettes/1d38ea6d.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

NOTE: I decided not to use the additional mute button install I have seen on AW, but it would be extremely easy to add the additional mute button in dash.<ul><li><a href="http://www.walcottcb.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=158&amp;products_id=763">CL ICKY for cable example</a></li></ul>

ado_dado83

Will it work if you have Side Curtain Airbags like me????

banana s4

strip on the top of the windshield and you mount your radar detector up top it will reduce the sensitivity of your detector.

Boston Driver

so it will not be in the way of the airbag, which resides in the A-pillar. In the event of an accident in which the side airbag deploys, you could run the risk of the wire exploding out of the a-pillar along with the airbag.

Check out the link below for how to remove the A-pillar trim. A bit of the PITA removing the trim, but then you can secure the wire using zip ties along the existing wire harness that runs up the A-pillar.

You and others may think it is a bit overboard, but it is worth every ounce of sweat for safety's sake!<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/168740.phtml">removing A-pillar trim</a></li></ul>

Boston Driver

does the rearward facing sensor get blocked by the headliner if mounted up there. Hard to tell in the pics, but it looks like you are blocking the rearward sensor which is on top of the Passport detector.

R2.7TA6

My thoughts also, I think it would be partially blocked for rear pickup

brat2.ua

Yep, I think i read the same: That if you put it in front of tint - sensetivity would be reduced

SNAFU 4

Not been a problem so far. The rear response actually seems better now. If it is on the dash, the sensor is blocked by the seats, headrests, etc. It is a much more direct line right now.

SNAFU 4

That was the first thing I thought of, but it should be taken care of. The wire actually runs between the windshield glass and the A-Pillar, then makes the turn all the way at the front near the bottom of the windshield, then runs down below the dash/A-Pillar. I check all the diagrams and links, and it looks where it sits.

I will recheck though, and remove the A-Pillar if necessary. You are right, safety first!

SNAFU 4

Look at the obstructions when dash mounted vs. mounted this way. It seems good. Tested this out many times both ways, and same pickup points and strenth shown (using known radar spots).