I need to find a power source for my Valentine One radar detector. I am going to hardwire it and need a power source that is off when the truck is off. I would like to tap something in the overhead console. I have the sun roof. This is on a 04 Eddie Bauer. I was looking at the wiring diagram and it looks like most of the wires are always hot. The sunroof switch looked good for me, but the wire looks like it is always hot and then shut off with a relay at the switch, so it might not be a good one. I know I can test each wire myself, but thought I might save some time if someone here knows.

If not in the overhead console, do you know a fuse I can just add a tap on and run it off that?


Thanks

 

an easy way to find what wires are hot and when theyre hot is to use a test light on a wire that you think is hot with only the ignition on. then try it with the ignition off. you can even do this with your fuses to see if you want to just run a wire from your fuse box.

 

Since I did not get an answer here, I just went ahead and started testing the wires for what I needed. The red wire going into the Sun Roof switch and the red wire going to the Rear Windows Vent Switch are both good sources. They are powered only with ignition on and stay on until the door is opened, like the radio. Easy to tap and run the wire for the Valentine One. Lots of space inside the overhead console for the excess wire and the foam that is in it should prevent any new rattles from the additional wires.

Tapping in the fuse panel for the Magellan Nav Unit proved more difficult. Not a lot of extra room in it for any additional wire or a fuse tap. Also, very few fuses that are not always hot. But, I got it to fit and now the Magellan is also hardwired.

 

Didn't happen to take any pics of this little trick did you?

I need to hard wire my Garmin; Cobra and XM in somewhere as well.

Thanks

 

I hardwired off the auto dimming mirror. Very clean install.

 

No PICs. It is a very tight space just to work in.

Very easy to find what you need. Just pull down the overhead console. No screws involved, just some clips holding it in. You can use a screwdriver to pry gently. Once it is off, look at the conector that goes into either of the switches I mentioned. They both have a red wire. Tap either one for any device you want to install up high.

I assume a Garmin will go on the dash or be installed in the dash with a Pro Fit adapter or such. This being the case, the easiest and most appropriate way to get power is at the fuse panel. It is behind a small panel in the passenger footwell. It is on the right hand side on the footwell. Pry it off and then take the cover off the fuse panel. Your owners manual tells you what each fuse is for and the panel cover has a good diagram to figure out what number each one is. I personally think tapping a fuse with any safety features tied to it is a mistake. Get one that runs something non-critical. I like to use a fuse tap to get my power. It is easy and can be taken off when you no longer want or need it. You can get it from any auto parts store for $2 or $3. Just remove the fuse from the panel and install it in the tap. Then add another fuse to the tap for the device you want to run. Now install the tap into the fuse panel where the fuse was. Only difficult part is clearance. You have to choose a fuse location that has enough room around it. A 12 volt test light is invaluable when doing this stuff. Only costs $5 or $10 at a auto store and will save you hours of heartache. Much easier to use than a volt meter.

Just a note some people do not know. You can test a fuse to see if it is hot without removing it. They all have tiny little spots on top that you can touch with the test light to see if it is hot.

I am not a mechanic or anything like that. This stuff is very easy to do, so give it a try.

 

PLEASE EXPLAIN!

That mirror drives me crazy!

 

In the plastic channel leading to the mirror are the wires. I just tapped in and
ran the cord a few inches to where I mount the detector above the mirror. Turns on and off with ignition and has worked great.

 

Thanks for the tips on the radar; this should work perfectly.

 

The Garmin will definitely be dash mounted and the switched fuse is great thanks.

 

2026 describes the procedure I used to add a circuit---I believe what he calls a "tap" is called "Add a circuit" by the "Little Fuse" company----available in my area at a store called Farm and Fleet---you may find at AutoZone or your local auto parts store. The advantage is the original circuit stays in tact and should not void any warantee---the tap has room for two fuses---the original and the second fuse you add that is connected to a wire with a pinch on connector on the end---you just run your wire into that pig tail and squeeze it tight. Very simple, clean and cheap. This way you have not tampered with the original circuit. However on my 2000Nav with the fuse box on drivers side you pull the dash cover off and there is a black cover over the fuse panel---unfortunately with the "add a circuit" adapter in place that black cover wouldn't fit so I left it off---the whole thing is still covered with the dash cover so I didn't think this was a problem.

 

I had the same problem with the fuse cover. Easy to fix. The cover has some plastic on the inside that slides between the rows of fuses. Just had to snap one of the plastic inserts off and the cover went on fine. 2 second fix that took 10 minutes to figure out.

 

Perfect; thanks... projects keep getting lined up and ready to be taken down... now if I can figure out the keypad sequence on the 03 for autolock and lock and alarm...