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Clean and easy 10 minute radar detector hardwire using Mirror Tap

Otis1971

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Jul 21, 2014
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Hi guys, I just purchased my 2007 Land Cruiser on Thursday and joined this site today. Today is Monday and I've just completed my first mod. Granted this was an easy 10 minute mod I think it's one many folks can use. I run an Escort 9500i radar detector and had always hardwired it using the kit from Escort. This usually is connected in the fuse panel near the drivers left foot (on US models) and running the wire up the A frame through the headliner and bring the wire out somewhere near the rear view mirror. I started to do this on Friday until I tool off the A frame interior trim. The airbags were a concern as I did not want to make any changes that might cause a malfunction of the airbag if it ever needed to deploy in an accident. So I went online and found a solution called Mirror Tap. I ordered it from California on Friday afternoon and it was in my mailbox in Tennessee today (Monday). That is some fast service! So for $29 I had my solution. I installed it today in about 10 minutes. Here is the break down of the install.

Tools needed: Phillips head screwdriver and a pair do small snips to cut 1 zip tie

Steps:
1. Open sunglass compartment in overhead center console
2. Remove the 1 Phillips head screw and set it aside in a safe place
3. Slip you finger between the overhead console and the headliner and pull down easily but firmly
4. Unplug the 3 modular plugs that connect the console to the wiring harness. These plugs are for the power moonroof, Bluetooth microphone and the overhead console lights.
5. I selected to connect the Mirror Tap to the back side of the modular plug on the wiring harness for the overhead console lights. I selected this plug for 3 reasons. 1- It was a two wire plug that had a power and a ground. 2- If for one reason I blew a fuse or caused some kind of damage it was only to my map lights and I could live without them for a while. 3- This power source comes on as soon as I unlock my Land Cruiser with the remote key and it goes off either when I lock the doors upon exit or after a few minutes if I don't lock the door with the remote key.
6. Put the key in the ignition and plug your Mirror Tap wire into you radar detector. If it works zip tie the Mirror Tap wire to the trucks wiring harness. You may want to test out the. Best way to plug in the Mirror Tap ends into the back of the modular plug. I tried it a couple of ways before I found the one I thought was most secure. Then I zip tied and shook the wires around to assure I had a solid connection that would not fail later.
7. Unplug the Mirror Tap from the radar detector. Gently pull down on the head liner above the rearview mirror and slide the wire of the Mirror Tap wire through the notch that the wire for the auto dimming mirror goes through.
8. Mount your radar detector and plug it in for a final test.
9. Put the overhead console back in place using the reverse order of removal.

This is a easy mod with a clean look and is inexpensive.

I did did purchase the 20" Mirror Tap but they have shorter options.
 

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I realise you are in the states but just a heads up, radar detectors are illegal in the UK and the rest of europe.

what exactly is a mirror tap, 'scuse my ignorance:think:
 
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Moggy, a mirror tap is a short 20" power cord that uses 12v to power a radar detector. The benefit is that it replaces the normal long coiled cord that comes standard with a radar detector. It allows you to hardwire the power source to the detector and frees up the 12v outlet in your car to use for another device like a mobile phone.
 
I realise you are in the states but just a heads up, radar detectors are illegal in the UK and the rest of europe.
Are they illegal in the UK? I used one for years after being done for doing 93 in a 70! It also detected laser as well as radar. At the time I bought it there was also a laser jamming product that was available and this was illegal, but the detector was all fine for use in the UK :) :)
 
Does your detector pick all the latest laser guns etc.
 
I was under the impression they were legal - to start they were illegal - then made legal, marketed more under a safety device to stop speeding, mine sounds a warning whenever over a road speed limit. The matchbox size device that jams signals is def. illegal and there have been prosecutions, as in the case of a hand held gun, the device sends it haywire, and the police know. I have been running a Snooper for 9/10 years and have been pulled in roadside checks with no comments or action taken, is immediately obvious and visible inside windscreen so must be o.k. Mine picks up radar, laser, fixed cameras, mobile cameras, red light cameras, and hand held guns, with 360 degree coverage around you. Cost £77 IIRC - well worth the money, sadly no longer made, this model superceded many times, not sure if all features mine has, but believe you have to pay for updates on positions of fixed cameras now.

John
 
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Pat, as far as I know it picks up all radar/laser in the us. The 9500i model also has GPS- this is valuable for 2 reasons. 1-it has a database of all red light cameras in the US and warns you that you are approaching a red light with a camera. 2- the GPS is used to help identify consistent false alarms. There is a pharmacy just down the road from my house. It consistently alarmed my old detector. The 9500i uses the gps to identify that alarm and location. After alerting on 3 separate times it updates it's self and will not false alarm at that location again. It's a nice feature to have.
 


thats a camera detector, not a radar detector, which is a different thing altogether. All they do, in adition to having fixed camera sites logged, is alert sites where police sometimes sit, which annoyingly means they just go off all the time!! They are commonly described as places where accidents are common, hence the safety angle, but you know what that means!

I stand to be corrected but as far as I know a radar detector lends you liable to being prosecuted for perverting the course of justice, same as flashing your lights to warn people of a speed trap. So they aren't specifically illegal to sell, but there is a risk of prosecution for using them. Thats why many retailers have now pulled out of selling them as there could then also be implications for them.

I have heard it said the detector for electric gates/garage doors can be slightly modified to foil laser cameras.

Or you could just buy a 60 series, then it's not a problem!!:thumbup:
 
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Moggy, this is an Passport 9500ix it is a radar and laser detector that also has gps and a database for red light cameras. Here is a link with all the details. From reading on the link it states it is only available in North America.
escortradar.com/passport9500ix/
 
Snooper site says detectors are completely legal to own and use in u.k.
 
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_detector

I imagine wiki to be reasonably reliable, but who knows. They say legal to own, technically illegal to use, but there's a loophole in the law that prevents prosecution (or something similar, I didn't take notes).

Scroll down to find a useful table of countries and ownership/use legality. Could be handy for a long multi national trip....
 
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