Another radar detector and dashcam hardwire
 

Thought I may as well post it, although I certainly haven't re-invented the wheel. I installed a dash cam, radar detector, and EZ-Pass around the rear view mirror, and thought I'd post the steps I took.

Components:
EZ-Pass
Livue LB100 Dashcam
Escort 9500ix radar detector
Escort hardwire smartcord (non-live)
Blendmount

Materials:
3M Dual Lock tape
Zip Ties
2 x T-Taps
Plasti-Dip

Tools:
Allen wrench (included with blendmount)
Drill with 3/8" bit
Flathead screwdriver
Snap-off razor blade

I spent a few hours meditating to decide where to mount the escort smartcord. For those unfamiliar, it's a little dongle with two LEDs and a mute switch. The mute switch mutes only whichever threat is currently active, so it's really more of an "I acknowledge the threat, shut up until the next one" button, so it's something I press fairly often while driving. I wanted to mount it such that it was inconspicuous and readily accessible for both me and my passenger. I've got a BRZ Limited so there's the tiny and absolutely useless cubbyhole (it's too small for a modern smartphone, you could only fit the keyfob or an old flip phone in it).

This is how I was able to disassemble.

There's two trim pieces on either side, just below the kneepads on the center console. Grab the forward ends and pry them out gently. Once they're off, reach under the passenger side, and get to the USB/Aux connector. Push it towards the rear of the car, so it pops out. Pull it out a couple of inches, then stick your finger in the rectangular hole and try to get purchase on something, then pull that panel (cubbyhole, pushbutton start if you have it, and aux/USB) out. I found a ton of instructions that just said to pull the piece out, but I could never get a good enough grip. After an hour of frustration, I found that you can get your finger in the hole and pull it out rather than trying to push from behind. You can then disconnect the harness for the USB/aux and remove that, and disconnect the harness for the pushbutton start if you have it, and remove the piece that has the cubbyhole.

You'll also want to remove the passenger side A-pillar. I just kinda pried it out from the top. There's this goofy green plastic lanyard that stays connected. It's a pain to remove, and a huge pain to re-attach, so leave it if you can still get to the components OK, otherwise be ready for frustration.

The shifter trim must go out. For this, I found that the best way was to pinch the ring between my thumb and forefinger on the driver's side or passenger side (you're kinda pressing the shift boot against the inside of the ring) and just pull it up enough to unseat it, then gently slide ti forward.

Then do the e-brake boot, which is pretty straightforward (Again. I did this a month ago and didn't get around to taking pics, but the e-brake boot gave me no problems so it wasn't anything unusual or complicated)

I mounted the smartcord to the inside of the cubbyhole with Dual Lock tape. I drilled a 3/8" (my biggest normal spiral bit) and then squared off the edges with the razor blade.

http://i.imgur.com/j4dB6gNh.jpg

If you look at that picture, you can see the flange on the inside of the USB/aux connector hole that I used to pull the piece out with.

Now, to wire the smartcord.

Get out of the car and get on your knees, bitch. Look in the opening revealed by removing the e-brake boot, and you can yank the connector off of the back of the center console cigarette lighter plug. Fish it forward out of the shifter ring hole, then use two T-taps to splice the Smartcord power wires into this. I was not going to use an Add-A-Fuse circuit since it makes the fuse box unable to close properly, and using zip-ties to hold it closed is unacceptable on this nice of a vehicle. I had to trim back about an inch of the black plastic sleeve around the wires to get to them.

http://i.imgur.com/g5A4vgRh.jpg

Make sure it works, and then button up the center console, you're done there.

I installed the dash cam power wire into the glovebox power outlet. There's sufficient clearance between the rear of the glovebox and the dashboard that you can just run the wire between them, so you're not infringing upon the space in the glove compartment or getting wires caught in the hinge.

http://i.imgur.com/w20fKZZ.jpg

I ran both wires (detector and dashcam power) up the A-pillar. I zip-tied them tightly to the bundle of wires already in there, to not interfere with anything. You can kinda pull apart the dashboard and the door seal along the forward edge of the door opening and push the wires into there, if you look closely you can see the round dashcam wire going down there.

From there, it's pretty straightforward to just push the wires into the headliner with your fingers, measuring properly so they come out by the mirror with just enough slack.

I removed the dash cam faceplate (The Livue has a gloss black faceplate with a silver lens ring, very conspicuous) and the EZ-pass label, and plasti-dipped the faceplate and the EZ-pass, then reassembled the dashcam and reapplied the EZ-Pass label.

The included Livue ball mount just sticks with dual sided tape. I positioned both of them so that they are not visible from the driver seat.

http://i.imgur.com/WppZAC1h.jpg

Blendmount was installed (it's pretty easy, they include instructions and tools)

http://i.imgur.com/4konH1Ih.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sN24blLh.jpg

That's freaking clean.

Will be doing this this weekend, debating running the smart cord to the just above and left the hvac controls. Will be easier to reach, just not sure how clean it'll come out.


Ended up running it just like you had it, didn't like how it looked anywhere else (by knee pad or on steering column. Thanks for the help!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7369/1...2f3e7f49_z.jpg http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/1...03a595d4_z.jpg

Let me know how the two sided tape works for you, I know when my car was sitting in the heat the adhesive for WA's toll transponder melted and the thing slid down my windshield leaving a messy adhesive trail.

Also, is there any possible issue running wires up the A pillar with the airbags there?

It's the same dual lock tape you get with the EZpass, and the only application of it in this install is holding the smartcord module. It's sitting on the tape, not being suspended from it, and it's very small and light, so I doubt there would be an issue. Trying to hang the detector with it might cause some problems.

I don't think there should be any problems. I removed the trim piece. Behind it is the airbag cylinder, and a bundle of wires going up to the headliner. I zip-tied my wires tightly to the bundle, so there's no way for the airbag to catch on it or anything like that.