DIY-Replacing Rear View Mirror/Hardwire Radar Detector

[Gt86er]

Here are pictures of how I installed mine.

[was385]

Oh OK, now I understand what you did.

BTW, for anyone who did hardwire it, how did you ground it? I see the ground wire, but the harnesses I've seen have a screw hook for the ground.

[Lil Abner]

Originally Posted by was385

Oh OK, now I understand what you did.

BTW, for anyone who did hardwire it, how did you ground it? I see the ground wire, but the harnesses I've seen have a screw hook for the ground.

There are 3 wires in the harness:
Blue: (+) Reverse
White: (+) Positive
Black: (-) Negative

So for a radar detector, use the Black for your ground, White for your positive. There is no need to ground to the chassis of the car.

[was385]

Originally Posted by Lil Abner

There are 3 wires in the harness:
Blue: (+) Reverse
White: (+) Positive
Black: (-) Negative

So for a radar detector, use the Black for your ground, White for your positive. There is no need to ground to the chassis of the car.

I understand that part of it, it's that the hardwire harnesses I've seen for sale just come with a bolt loop to ground to the chasis. Does anyone know of an adapter or another harness that can just tie into the wire?

[Lil Abner]

Are you referring to something like this:

Passport 8500 Hard Wire

In that link, there is a red push-on connector and a black ring terminal. The black ring terminal just needs to be cut off and attached to the black wire in the factory harness.

Does that still answer your question?

[was385]

That's exactly what I'm talking about. As someone who hasn't really done electrical work before, what's the best way to attach it to the ground wire? Can I hook the cut wire up to a T-Tap?

[Lil Abner]

Originally Posted by was385

That's exactly what I'm talking about. As someone who hasn't really done electrical work before, what's the best way to attach it to the ground wire? Can I hook the cut wire up to a T-Tap?

I would add a push-on connector like the positive wire in the hard wire kit. Look at the picture below. I used the red T-taps on the factory wires, and red Push-On connectors on the aftermarket side. These connectors can be found at local auto parts stores.

If you can't find the connectors, let me know. We may be able to work something out for me to send you some.

[blalor]

Originally Posted by was385

BTW, for anyone who did hardwire it, how did you ground it? I see the ground wire, but the harnesses I've seen have a screw hook for the ground.

The bolt that holds the fuse box to the body serves as a ground. I crimped a large eyelet to the ground wire for the V1 hardwire adapter, and put the bolt through it. Worked like a charm. Need pics?

[was385]

Originally Posted by Lil Abner

I would add a push-on connector like the positive wire in the hard wire kit. Look at the picture below. I used the red T-taps on the factory wires, and red Push-On connectors on the aftermarket side. These connectors can be found at local auto parts stores.

If you can't find the connectors, let me know. We may be able to work something out for me to send you some.

Alright thanks, I'll have to run out to radio shack or napa when the kit comes in. Just to clarify, do the wires you're running this off only go to the homellink mirror?

[Lil Abner]

Originally Posted by was385

Alright thanks, I'll have to run out to radio shack or napa when the kit comes in. Just to clarify, do the wires you're running this off only go to the homellink mirror?

Those wires in the picture go to the mirror AND radar detector. I didn't take a picture of the rest of the wiring. So I think you're wondering if there's enough power up there to power both things? Answer: YES

[Ranatsu]

I wanted to add to this thread. I had my valentine 1 hardwired into my 04 STi utilizing the oem compass mirror harness. I happened to have the mirror sitting around so I hacked off the harness coming from the mirror, and put quick disconnects on the newly exposed wires.

I then took the hardwire kit for my valentine 1 and put quick disconnects on the exposed wires here as well.

I then found the wires that were hot and ground and hooked those up correctly on the harness, and plugged it into the car.

So when I traded my STi for the BRZ I pulled the harness back out and had it sitting around waiting to see if it would work in the new car. So today I went out to check it out and, yep for me this install was plug and play.






So yep I was able to plug it all in and tuck the wires. Took me all of maybe 10 minutes.


for reference the blue is switched power on the factory 04 compass mirror harness and black is ground.

[was385]

Hypothetically speaking, if I were to accidentally cut through the three wires while trying to expose them for the t-taps, is there any problems with just covering them up with electrical tape where the white plug used to be... hypothetically speaking of course.

[Lil Abner]

Originally Posted by was385

Hypothetically speaking, if I were to accidentally cut through the three wires while trying to expose them for the t-taps, is there any problems with just covering them up with electrical tape where the white plug used to be... hypothetically speaking of course.

Well, for using T-Taps, you actually don't need to strip the insulation back. Just put the T-Tap around the wire, and squeeze together with pliers until they snap. They will penetrate the insulation on their own.

But yes, hypothetically speaking, you can just tape off the ends of the wires. INDIVIDUALLY please.

[was385]

Originally Posted by Lil Abner

Well, for using T-Taps, you actually don't need to strip the insulation back. Just put the T-Tap around the wire, and squeeze together with pliers until they snap. They will penetrate the insulation on their own.

But yes, hypothetically speaking, you can just tape off the ends of the wires. INDIVIDUALLY please.

Yes, definitely individually. I wasn't trying to strip the individual insulation off, just the rubber tubing that surrounded all three of them together. Which brings me to my next point, I'm hooked up with the ground wire to black and the other to white and yet nothing. Anyone have suggestions? I'm about to just cut my losses, tuck this stuff back up in the headliner, and move on to just wiring it to the fuse box which seems a little more idiot proof (which I apparently desperately need).