I am working on hard wiring a radar detector in an 04 S-Crew.

I can easily get power from the fuse box, but I can not find a good/strong ground.

Any tips on where a good ground is inside the truck?

thanks!I am working on hard wiring a radar detector in an 04 S-Crew.

I can easily get power from the fuse box, but I can not find a good/strong ground.

Any tips on where a good ground is inside the truck?

thanks!

 

I haven't seen anybody install a radar detector since the 80's. Man you are old school. I didn't think they still made them...

Any part of the metal body/frame inside the cab is a good ground..

 

If you found the fuse box there is a good ground next to it.It has two ground wires under a large bolt.

Mike

 

I had the same problem with finding a GOOD GROUND, here is what I found, & have these on hand.

1) 1 1/2 long thin bolt
1) small lock washer for the bolt
1) 2 nuts for the bolt
1) long neck pliers to tighten up the nuts

That bolt didnt seem to work for me , so here's what I did. I laid on my back on the passenger side floor & seen a hole pre-drilled in the metal frame below the dash just under the glove box area. You need to slide under the dash to see it.

I then used a small bolt w/ 2 nuts & a lock washer.

I just slipped the bolt threw that pre-drilled hole you found, put on the lock washer then tighten up the first bolt , then wrap your ground around the bolt just under the 1st nut, then tighten up the 2nd nut & your done, you now have a very secure ground for the radar.

I think I used the ignition fuse for power for some reason the radio fuse & power outlet fuse kept the radar on all the time, dont know for sure if it was because my 1st ground wasnt a good one which was the ground that i used on that bolt that was mentioned on the post mentioned above.

But using the ground with the nuts & bolt I put in threw that hole under the dash seems to shut the radar off when ignition is off. I then ran the pre-measured line under the a pillar & under the head liner & keep my radar to the left of my rear view mirror, the f 150 tint near the mirror causes the radar to be some what unseen from outside the vehicle & this tint does NOT interfere w/ the radar signals.

By the way the install of the radar took MUCH less time to do then typing this post.

Good Luck

z-u-

 

Have you been in cave or something, radars are still popular here in the no. east.
By the way there is nothing wrong w/ a little x-tra protection by a warning to indicate the law is around somewhere. Not that I speed a lot but some times I'm over the limit w/ out realizing it, you no what I mean.

 

I agree with blkFRDf1504x4lar2004. Here in the midwest, Kansas, They are outdated. You never see them anymore. And yes the law still uses radar. I used to see cars/trucks come in all the time with radar detectors in them, but in the last few years theres none with them.


Shane

 

In California, we just slow down when we see the police, sometimes. I think they go after people that travel 120mph and above, so you are safe at 119...

 

Great!
Thanks!
Just the post I was hoping to get here!

Thanks again!

 

Please don't close out the post. I was waiting for you to ask how to install an eight track player....

 

Here in Austin, Texas, just about 1 in 5 cars have radar detectors. We all have them, and we all drive fast. 10-20 over the limit is the normal traffic flow (unless traffic restricts you to a crawling pace). We also have "Stealth" police cars which are painted dark gray with only hidden light bars. At night, they are just about invisible.

 

I agree, radar detectors are still popular here in the east (MD/VA/PA, etc.). In fact they have come up with some pretty good updated models. A good one really isn't a cheap accessory by any means. So Kudos to you for having it and figuring out a way to get that baby hard wired.

 

just wonderin what kind did you get

 

I forget the #, but it is just your basic Bell 360, radar & laser.
It is coming out of one of my other cars that I am selling...

I also have a few other brands of radar detectors...all 360 radar & laser.

 

Upon further inspection of the facts, you seem to be the "old school" one here...

 

I guess we are just slow over here in Southern California....