Hardwiring a Radar Detector in the Magnum

**DMAG** · 03-26-2005, 07:34 PM

Written by Dr Bonz

Well, I went ahead and hard wired my Valentine One into the Magnum today. It was pretty easy and took me about 30 minutes to accomplish. I ended up using the front cig. lighter as my power source. You'll want to use a source that goes off when you turn the key off in the ignition and this one is perfect.

You can't use the one in the center console (between the front seats) if you have the "smoker's package" since it is ALWAYS on (even if you don't have the key in the ignition). You can correct this if you want by changing the fuse in the back of the car to a secondary position making it just like the one up front.

Here are the "tools" you'll need.

A screw driver to help you unplug the wire harnesses from the back of the climate control and the cig. lighter
a wire stripper
a wire hanger to help you pass the wires.

First you have to remove the plastic housing around the radio and vents. It's very easy and just pries right off by unclipping the clips:

Just lift it forward. You'll have to reach behind it to unplug the three harnesses. One between the two vents and two to the climate controls:

It helps if you put the gear shift back into neutral since when it is all the way forward in park it tends to get in the way.

Next you pull out the ashtray panel that contains the cig. lighter.

You then unplug the wire from the back of it. There is this pain in the A** plastic clip that you have to pry off with a screwdriver.

There is a red (hot) and black (ground) wire attached to the back. Here is what the plug looks like unplugged. I'm holding the plastic clip that you have to slide out to remove the plug:

Next I buried the wire from the detector. I reversed the detector's hanging bracket so I could slip it under the headliner in front by the windshield. In this location you can still see the panel from your driving postion but it makes for a nice stealth location as you cannot see the lights from behind the car and it is difficult to see from the outside unless you practically put your nose on the windshield.

Also, it keeps the detector as high up as possible which is ideal for the best range in radar and lidar detection.

Tucked the wire under the A-Pillar cover.

Then down the door under the plastic cover:

**DMAG** · 03-26-2005, 07:34 PM

Then I passed it under the dash toward the center console.

It is a tight squeeze getting it from that location into the space behind the ash tray.

I used a looped wire hanger to pass the wire into this space:

Voila!

The V-1 has a plug like a telephone with four wires in it. You'll only need two of them to power it. Obviously if you have another brand of detector this will be different.

I cut the plug off and from previous installs in my other cars I know that the green wire is the hot one and the red wire is the ground (I know it sounds weird but trust me on this Smile

The other two are yellow and black. You don't need them so I just taped them off separately.

I believe they are for use with the small remote display that comes with the V-1.

I then just slid the green wire into the slot on the plug that contained the red (hot) wire and the red wire from my detector slides into the plug that has the black ground.

I then just plugged it back into the back of the cig. lighter. I didn't reinstall that plastic clip. You won't need it as everything stays in pretty tight.

I now have power to my detector. I tested it by removing the key and opening the passenger door and it goes off along with all the other accessories as planned.

The cig. light still works as well:

I then put all the plugs back in and replaced the panels and here is the final result:

And the outside view:

**flhthemi** · 05-15-2005, 05:59 PM

You DO NOT need to break off the tab on the cigarette lighter plug to disconnect it. If you simply PUSH in on the plug and while pushing it squeeze/depress the release tab with your thumb and pull it back. The part you need to squeeze/depress is in the 12 o'clock position when the ashtray assembly is in the dash. Not all cig plugs will fit tightly without the locking tab still in tact.

**redinorange** · 05-15-2005, 07:22 PM

Nice how-to. Good job, Doc.

**SStlthy** · 05-15-2005, 08:31 PM

Nice write-up DMag! I'll be doing the same with my Valentine. The bracket: did you use the black bracket with the two suction cups?

**DMAG** · 05-15-2005, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by SStlthy

Nice write-up DMag! I'll be doing the same with my Valentine. The bracket: did you use the black bracket with the two suction cups?

I can't take credit....it was Dr Bonz's write up. I just spread the news.

**Feisty 1** · 06-05-2005, 11:23 PM

How would I change the fuse to a secondary position for my console power supply?
You lost me on that one.

**Rice Eater** · 06-06-2005, 12:51 AM

Whats the scoop on the Valentine dectector...i never heard of that.

**SStlthy** · 06-06-2005, 12:27 PM

www.valentine1.com
Love mine.

**RadarmagneT** · 06-27-2005, 03:28 PM

In my Charger, I was able to tap the over head console for the accessory power. I cut the cig adapter off a replacement cable (from Radio Shack) and hardwired it to the Acc and Ground from the overhead console. Worked GREAT!!!...

I'll pull the overhead off again sometime and post instructions with the harness and wire colors to tap.

**thewagon** · 07-23-2005, 11:11 PM

Excellent writeup on the radar detector install. I've tried the headlight switch, but the voltage would drop after a few seconds. I want these as stealth as possible, not some large coil cord hanging down. As the other guy said, the clip remains behind the lighter socket and I used 3m connectors to splice thru the wire for a good connection.
Just one note if I may, please use electrical tape and/or wire nuts rather than cellophane tape for all connections. Less potential issues in the long run.

Andrew

**TivoManiac** · 08-17-2005, 10:51 PM

Greetings all. New Magnum owner here. Just got mine last Sunday. Trying to move my V1 and I'm wanting to be sure I don't break anything. You mention removal of the plastic cover that surrounds the vents, radio, etc. I'm afraid I'm going to break it. Where are the "clips" that are mentioned?

advTHANKSance!

**Aikidoka** · 08-17-2005, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by Rice Eater

Whats the scoop on the Valentine dectector...i never heard of that.

Me either. I've always used the Escort but I havent had it in the car for awhile.

**TivoManiac** · 08-17-2005, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by Aikidoka

Me either. I've always used the Escort but I havent had it in the car for awhile.

You can find out about the V1 at http://www.valentineone.com

**barnsy** · 08-22-2005, 10:48 AM

Just after some advice. I've just installed my satellite radio system and used the cig lighter as my power source. When I pulled the cig lighter out there was already a connection made to the DVD modulator (I think). i went ahead and hard wired my Satellite to the cig lighter. My question is how much stuff/accessories can you hard wire to this cig lighter? before overloading the wiring.....