Guide: How-to Hard Wire Radar Radar Detector
 

I hard wired my Escort Max 2 Radar Detector this morning. Here's a quick guide. Special thanks to forum member 2SSRS@Gen5diy for finding a switched 12V source in the console.

Now for the install:

1. Pry the corners of the console. I used a plastic putty knife and a rag over the mirror to avoid damaging any trim.
   Attachment 774331
2. Next, pry the center of the console. The console clips should now be loose, so give it a firm tug and the console should free up. Disconnect all wires and set the console aside.
   Attachment 774332
3. Route your power cable from the windshield, through the headliner, and grab it from the console opening. You can buy a fused mirror tap to save time (http://www.mirrortap.com/mt2000.html#Micro). I made my own out of an old telephone cord and a soldering iron.
   Attachment 774333
4. On the back of the plug that feeds the airbag light, tap the Purple/White (+12V) and Black (-GND) wires. Now's a good time to check the wiring with a meter and confirm your radar powers up. Make sure you start the car for your testing. I learned the hard way this wouldn't turn on with accessory power =)
   Attachment 774334
5. Press the wire taps firmly into back of the plug and use a zip tie and electrical tape to secure it in place.
   Attachment 774335

Finished results:
Attachment 774330
Attachment 774336

thanks for the write up...working on this myself.....the plug with these wires....what is the trick to get it to release from its socket?

I used a flat head screwdriver. If you look at the image in step 4 above, place the screwdriver on the center white ridge, near the red clip. Push in and using the socket as leverage, give the screwdriver a little nudge/twist and it should slide right out.

I see what appears to be a notch in the white socket in the center...when you say push in and give a little twist...am i pushing the screw driver "under"(front to back in pic 4) the red part and twisting the red section up or is the screwdriver being put in the notch (top to bottom in pic 4) upright and releasing something on the front white portion..

I got as far as 2 map light plugs disconnected...its hard to see up in there to get a precise way to disconnect all the sockets


did you use actual taps into the socket or splice to the actual wire?

Thank you for the fantastic guide! Much appreciate it! If you could post it up under the How To sub section, that would be fantastic! If you don't want to, I would be more than happy to do it for you.

I ended up getting all plugs disconnected...took a little doing to figure out best position for the taps so that they actually stayed in..but all is well and detector installed...thanks again for your write up

I'm not seeing an option to move the thread. Can you or moderator help move the thread?

I'm glad it helped.

For the taps, I stripped an old telephone cord (about a 1/4") and put some solder on the red and green wires (center pins on my cord) to make them thicker/stiffer. I stuffed the wires behind the plug, making sure they made contact with metal crimps inside the plug. The telephone cord wire was a little flimsy, so I used a push pin to help seat them firmly.

Thanks a mill for the guide again and don't worry about it. I got it taken care of for you!

http://www.camaro6.com/forums/showth...64#post8903964

How do you tap wires in the socket? I guess I don't understand what you did. I can't tell from the pics what wires go to the radar detector and what don't. Did you buy taps? Do u have a link?

You could use something like this: http://www.mirrortap.com/mt2000.html#Micro

But, I just made my own out of an old phone cord. In step 4, if you follow the wires closely, I took the red wire from the telephone cord and stuffed it behind the pin socket for the Purple/White wire of the airbag light and I took the green wire from the telephone cored and stuffed it behind the pin socket for the black wire.

I've attached some stock images from mirrortap.com that do a better job of describing how the the taps work. Its basically a pin that you wedge behind the plug/socket. It makes contact with the stock plug's wire crimps.

If you prefer, you could just use a standard wire tap as well. I've never personally used them and prefer to solder/splice instead. But if you insist on a tap, something like this should work: http://www.autozone.com/ignition/ele...?checkfit=true

Has anyone used the mirror tap shown above? When I tried I could not get it to stay especially because the distance is so short when using the mirror mount. Any suggestions?

nice write up !
I have considered hard wiring mine. Escort sells a kit.
A couple of questions:

I like having mine mounted lower, closer to the dash. Is it a tough adjustment having it mounted so high up?

I also like being able to mute it from the power cord. It's down low and a pretty natural reach. Have you considered mounting the escort live module somewhere?
https://www.escortradar.com/store/ESCORT-Live-Android/

I bought the mirror tap cable...also found it too short...I was disappointed ...what i ended up doing was cutting the plug off the end of the mirror tap cable...then took a phone cable...cut to length i wanted..then soldered to mirror tap cable...i wire tied the mirror tap cable real well...this way if the mount comes loose from windshield...it doesnt pull the taps out....I had the detector tear the rj11 plug off the cable when this has happened....when/if that happens again...i can easily solder a replacement phone cable in place vs taking everything back apart and reinsert the taps in to the socket

I have considered it but I don't feel like tearing the car all apart to run the escort wires