[starzplacez]

Hello,

Sorry if this has been posted before, but I wanted to see if anyone has hardwired/spliced power from anything in the A-pillar or anything near the rearview mirror for a radar and dashcam. If so, a tutorial or some pictures would be greatly appreciated! I can't stand the though of running a wire all to way down to the cigarette lighter or into the handset compartment. :eek

 

[Fauster]

I have hardwired a radar detector in one of my previous vehicles (Mercury Villager?) from the overhead console switches. If I recall correctly, I tapped the power from a rear vent window switch so it was only on with the ignition. No pictures, but it was as simple as gently prying the console assembly down from the headliner (usually a couple of spring clips) and tapping into the existing wiring for power and ground.

Search for a local car stereo installation house and ask them for a quote to either run power up from the fuse panel or tap into the overhead console. I would expect the cost would be pretty reasonable.

 

[RusWolf]

I just got a new dash cam, DOD 470W+ and i was wondering about hardwiring it. Found several kits, DOD and dashcam store sell their kits for $40 and spytecinc sells their univeral kit for $10. Install seems to be pretty simple overall and should be no more than 1 hour even for a noob and with a smoke break.

 

[starzplacez]

I just got a new dash cam, DOD 470W+ and i was wondering about hardwiring it. Found several kits, DOD and dashcam store sell their kits for $40 and spytecinc sells their univeral kit for $10. Install seems to be pretty simple overall and should be no more than 1 hour even for a noob and with a smoke break.

Thanks! Got the Mio C320 and was thinking about just splicing the wires, but I will look into the SpyTecInc since they are on Amazon with Prime. I haven't poked around in the MKC to see where the fuse box is but shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[RusWolf]

Thanks! Got the Mio C320 and was thinking about just splicing the wires, but I will look into the SpyTecInc since they are on Amazon with Prime. I haven't poked around in the MKC to see where the fuse box is but shouldn't be too difficult.

haha cool!

Once you figure ish out post in this thread with pics, i want to do it as well.

 

[starzplacez]

haha cool!

Once you figure ish out post in this thread with pics, i want to do it as well.

These are actually what I ordered just now:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TGQ1Y3Q -- I like the Right Angle instead of the straight plug.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LFXA5YQ -- IMPORTANT because we need the Micro 2 fuse tap, and the kit on SpyTec looks like a normal or mini fuse... Didn't want to risk it..

Should be delivered this Sunday hopefully early enough for me to install.

 

[RusWolf]

These are actually what I ordered just now:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TGQ1Y3Q -- I like the Right Angle instead of the straight plug.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LFXA5YQ -- IMPORTANT because we need the Micro 2 fuse tap, and the kit on SpyTec looks like a normal or mini fuse... Didn't want to risk it..

Should be delivered this Sunday hopefully early enough for me to install.

Awesome!

Make pics so you can do a mini write up and if successful, works and looks good i will do it as well next weekend lol.

 

[RusWolf]

Should be delivered this Sunday hopefully early enough for me to install.

So, did you get the wires?

have you made an attempt to install?

 

[starzplacez]

Got them late Sunday so didn't get chance to do it, will try to figure it out this Sunday! Gotta find the fuse box supposedly in the front passenger side first! :nerd

 

[kkreit01]

I ran my radar detector power straight to the fusebox. I used an unused circuit. I poked around, and all were "always hot". I ordered the proper fusetap. It wasn't too bad.

 

[starzplacez]

I ran my radar detector power straight to the fusebox. I used an unused circuit. I poked around, and all were "always hot". I ordered the proper fusetap. It wasn't too bad.

Do you recall which fuse you used? So if it is always hot, how did you get it to turn off when you leave the car? Lastly, which fusetap did you order? Pictures would be great if you got it!

 

[RusWolf]

come on starz.. install it already lol

 

[kkreit01]

Do you recall which fuse you used? So if it is always hot, how did you get it to turn off when you leave the car? Lastly, which fusetap did you order? Pictures would be great if you got it!

I ordered this:

Micro2 Blade ATR Fuse adapter ADD A CIRCUIT + 5A fuse | eBay

I then bought a set of assorted ATR fuses from Advanced Auto.

Just pick any unused fuse slot, and remove that fuse. The manual has them all labeled correctly. I always turn off/remove my radar detector before exiting. Sorry -- I don't have pics.

I had the same issue in my '10 MKZ -- all the circuits in the interior fuse box were always hot. That seems pretty odd to me.

 

[starzplacez]

come on starz.. install it already lol

Haha I am trying!! My wedding's in 3 weeks and my folks and in-laws are in town already so my weekend has been chaotic! But I promise it's coming! :wink

I ordered this:

Micro2 Blade ATR Fuse adapter ADD A CIRCUIT + 5A fuse | eBay

I then bought a set of assorted ATR fuses from Advanced Auto.

Just pick any unused fuse slot, and remove that fuse. The manual has them all labeled correctly. I always turn off/remove my radar detector before exiting. Sorry -- I don't have pics.

I had the same issue in my '10 MKZ -- all the circuits in the interior fuse box were always hot. That seems pretty odd to me.

Thanks! I just thought maybe I've ordered the wrong thing since I don't really need to add a fuse but just putting it into the unused slot.

That's really odd about the always hot.. Not sure if my dashcam has a turn off after XX minutes of no movement feature..

 

[starzplacez]

I ordered this:

Micro2 Blade ATR Fuse adapter ADD A CIRCUIT + 5A fuse | eBay

I then bought a set of assorted ATR fuses from Advanced Auto.

Just pick any unused fuse slot, and remove that fuse. The manual has them all labeled correctly. I always turn off/remove my radar detector before exiting. Sorry -- I don't have pics.

I had the same issue in my '10 MKZ -- all the circuits in the interior fuse box were always hot. That seems pretty odd to me.

So I started to install today...but I can't for the life of me figure out how to access the fuse box in the passenger glove box. If I read the manual correctly, it is located inside the glove box in the lower tier right? I can't seem to figure out how to open it. Can you help me out here?

 

[RusWolf]

Maybe you have to remove the glove box door?

 

[dtd07]

the fuse box is not in the behind the glove box..its really below it...just pass the floor mat, it has a cover with 3 plastic pins that hold the cover it in place. the cover also has a cut out for the ambient lighting for the passenger side foot well, be careful around that area you do not want to break the LED defuses-er. its very hard to get to and have some padding for your knees... I have done this project and its a good deal of work to run the wires behind the A-piller (passenger side), then down the behind the glove box and into the fuse area. I will post picture of how in a few days...

 

[dtd07]

wire running for dash cam/radar

some pictures...
1st pic is the fuse cover...its under the glove box (arrow is where the ambient lighting sits)
2nd pic right side panel needed to be removed to see behind glove box.
3rd pic a piller panel...(per picture) Do Not remove, some cutting is needed and new clips needed when put back(at your own risk)
I pull my wires from the where the windsheld and A-piller meet at the tip near the speaker. I used a small ball chain, feed it down and with the right side panel open I was able to use a magnet on a flex neck and fished it out...then fed it back behind the glove box and down into the fuse area. Where I used a fuse tap per mention above and made my connection there.. I did cut the ends of the Mini USB connection too be able to fish the wire. from the a-piller I just tuck the rest of the wires on the headliner and made my way to the rear mirror and what is were I mounted the dash camera.

Can't remember what fuse I used to tap into...will update on that later..
Good Luck

 

[starzplacez]

some pictures...
1st pic is the fuse cover...its under the glove box (arrow is where the ambient lighting sits)
2nd pic right side panel needed to be removed to see behind glove box.
3rd pic a piller panel...(per picture) Do Not remove, some cutting is needed and new clips needed when put back(at your own risk)
I pull my wires from the where the windsheld and A-piller meet at the tip near the speaker. I used a small ball chain, feed it down and with the right side panel open I was able to use a magnet on a flex neck and fished it out...then fed it back behind the glove box and down into the fuse area. Where I used a fuse tap per mention above and made my connection there.. I did cut the ends of the Mini USB connection too be able to fish the wire. from the a-piller I just tuck the rest of the wires on the headliner and made my way to the rear mirror and what is were I mounted the dash camera.

Can't remember what fuse I used to tap into...will update on that later..
Good Luck

Wow! Thank you so very much for the pictures/renderings for this install! I feel much more confident now. A couple of questions for you if you don't mind:

- I was a bit confused on when you mention feeding the wire through the A pillar. Did you mean that you ran it from the center top of the the windshield to the top right corner of the A pillar, and ran it behind the top of the A pillar cover and to its side down to the right side cover and fed it through there? If you dont mind posting a picture of that part that would be awesome. I added red for my thoughts and blue for what I believe how you did it.

- Fuses, some mentioned here that everyone of them were always hot, and the cigarette lighter socket seems to be the cases too as that is how I have it for now. Which fuse socket did you use and what do you do to keep it from draining the battery? Just unplugging and plugging the dashcam back seems to be a hassle.

 

[dtd07]

The blue run is what I did and I have it connected to a delay fuse that turn powers on when accessories is on (or engine running) and it powers off once I open the doors like how the radios/power windows worked. Again I can't remember what fuse I tapped into, thinking it's F23 10A fuse (driver door window controls).