Hardwire install for Escort

Ok so I found a picture-DIY install of a hardwiring kit for a radar detector on a mustang site for 05+...BUT now i cant find it. I just bought a Escort 9500i (lovin it) and i bought the smartcord to hardwire it...but im terrible with electrical stuff. Anyone know of the thread/article i was looking at a while ago? Thanks guys.

Greg

I guess you didn't try the search function where I just found this:

tug hard at the overhead housing and it pulls loose quite easily, connect your + wire to the black w/blue stripe and your - wire to the all black wire

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I did use the search but it was a v1 install...i swear i saw someone do a detailed escort install. (without wiring it to the overhead housing)

Wiring it to the overhead housing is the way to do it. Mine's been like that for 3 years and have had no problems

Otherwise search for "escort" and you'll find it

Theres no Negative wire with the smartcord...only ground and positive..

SVTsupremecy said:

Theres no Negative wire with the smartcord...only ground and positive..

Click to expand...

I am assuming you are joking. If not ground = negative.

Mike

see my #1 post...."im terrible with electrical stuff"
Thank you tho mike, good hearing from you by the way.

so with a smartcord, all i have to do is + wire to the black&blue dome-light wire and my -wire to the black wire in the dome light?

SVTsupremecy said:

see my #1 post...."im terrible with electrical stuff"
Thank you tho mike, good hearing from you by the way.

Click to expand...

No sweat. Thats' why I asked!

+12V, "hot", and + all mean the same thing on a car.

Ground, GND, and - all mean the same thing on a car; the car's frame is hooked to the negative battery terminal so most cars are "12V negative ground."

From what the other guy said, connect your + (+12V or hot) wire to the black w/blue stripe and your - (negative or ground) wire to the all black wire.

Here is a schematic of the overhead console:

http://iihs.net/fsm/?dir=40&viewfile=Overhead Console.pdf

Look at the very end of the first page and you'll see the wiring diagram for the two map lights.

From what I can see you can use either #53 (BK-LB = black with light blue stripe) OR #54 (LG-YE = light green with yellow stripe) for the +12V or HOT connection, and then use 1205 BK (black) for the - or ground connection.

Hope this helps.

Mike

write up for RADAR detector

I found this write up I did a while back. Hope this helps you.
It is a VERY EASY job.
My 15 y.o. daughter wired her teachers '05 'stang on a bet. she won.
Good luck.....

YES you can tap into the light to power a detector.
YES it will turn itself off in just a few minutes.
This install info is for a NON POWERED mirror.
NOTE: This is for a 2005 GT. The newer models MIGHT have a slightly different wiring plan.
I have had my detector installed like this for almost a year and NO problems.
Feel free to ask me any questions you might have. Good luck
You really wont need it, this is a very simple install.


Save your money on the smart cord.
PARTS:
1. A small inline fuse, 5 amps will be plenty.
2. 2 feet of “two wire phone cord with plug”.
3. Two sets of wire taps. Your choice. Or just tap directly to the wires and solder and tape.
(Most phone cords are two wire.) MOST! two wire GRAY phone cords have a RED and a GREEN wire inside. This is what I used and this is how I will describe the installation.

NOTE 1: My ESCORT 85 X50 would only allow me to wire it one way.
After you strip or use taps on the wires, just touch the plugged in phone wires to the stripped wires and the radar WILL beep or it won't.
Just switch wires if it does not. P.S. Turn on the radar before you try this.

NOTE 2: There are three BLACK wires coming from the light assembly,
two blacks are wired from the lights into a BLUE wire that has shrink wrap on it. This BLUE is the HOT or positive lead. The other BLACK wire coming from the harness is a loose BLACK lead for the entire light assembly (Lights and Motion sensor).

1. Pop off the overhead light case. Use a flat screw driver or just your hands...it is held in by just TWO compression clips on either side of the light.

2. Unplug the wiring harness to make your life easier.

3. Find the lose BLACK wire and tap that for the ground.
The RED phone wire goes to this.

4. Find the two BLACK wires that are wired to the BLUE light leads
and tap that for the power. The BLUE wire is longer and easier to tap.
The GREEN phone wire goes to this. Use the fuse here between BLUE wire and the GREEN wire.

5. Run the GRAY phone wire with the plug through the open slot in the headliner. The two feet of phone cord will be enough to mount the radar with suction cups anywhere on the high side of the windshield. Just tuck the extra cord into the headliner.

6. Plug in the factor harness, TEST EVERYTHING NOW! Reinstall the light case and you are done. P.S. You can leave the RADAR on it will shut down when the light turn off and restart when you turn off the alarm or open the doors.