Hardwiring Radar Detector
 

Ok, so I am going to hardwire my Beltronics 995 and I want to use the mute button. I was thinking of placing it in one of the empty button spots on my dash area, anyone done something like this before? Is there enough room back there?
I'll attach some pics so you can see what I'm talking about.
Thinking of that rectangular one on the right.

There's always someone who's gotta be the guinea pig. ;)

Subbed. I wanna see the finished product.

Any clue how to get that trim piece off?

Just guessing, as I've never had to take it off before:

Start with the plastic piece surrounding it. Lightly pry from the side with a pocket screwdriver. That's the way 99% of small trim comes off. Just keep an eye out for clips that hook underneath to the dash so you don't break them.

Trial and error. :)

You can also try taking apart that module in your hand (looks like the power source) find the wire that connects to the mute switch and separate that wire to the panel on the right of the steering wheel where your DSC is located. From there you could have a pretty clean install. GL. keep us posted

EDIT: The blank switch located next to the DSC; you could probably pry it of by going from the back and pushing it out.

Ya, the trip pulls right off, and the button pops out by depressing the two tabs, one on top, other on the bottom.
The mute button fits in there good ( not this one, because this is the stock smart cord ) but the mute button from the hard line one, without the wire sticking out the front.
May have to trim a little, in the cavity where the button is, but I won't know until I go pick up the cord from Best Buy later.

@iggy097 How's that Beltronics working for you? I'm thinking of picking up a radar dector, but not sure what brand or series I'm looking for. I heard Beltronics makes good products.

It works great, no complaints here

I would never use the 'official' Escort / Beltronics hardwire kit. Too big and no really good way to mount it. Unless you absolutely need the lights that it has, I'd pass.

The past 4 cars I've owned I've used this:

ESCORT PASSPORT SMART MUTE RADAR Direct Cord Hard Wire | eBay

Swap out their ugly button with something a little nicer and you end up with this:

That's clean, but why did you choose to dremel the switch there?

That looks really nice. Thanks for the link, just ordered it, you saved me some cash.

How much of a pain was it to install the button there? Seems like a decent placement, as your hand is most likely by the shifter anyhow

It wasn't hard to install. Just a matter of running the wire over there.

And you obviously don't have to put the button there. I thought about putting it over to the left of the wheel in one of those blank spots too, but it makes no sense while driving.

I installed it where I did because it's close to the shifter, so it's easy to move your hand off the shifter and hit the button. Or while you're crusing your hand is over there anyways.

And I put it in the black plastic so it wouldn't be as noticeable. Ideally if you want to drill into the silver shifter trim that might be the best location for it functionality wise, but I didn't want to a) drill a hole in the silver and b) have a button very visible because it's black on silver.

Oh and I should mention when driving, the button is below the e-brake handle, so you just kinda have to move you hand over the button from the side you can't really go from straight up and hit it. So if you want better access you'll have to move it up farther or maybe put it in front of the cup holders? I really like where I have it though.

Also this is the button I used:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Viper-Avit...#ht_500wt_1413

It's a valet switch from a Viper alarm. I had one laying around, but if you don't it's a nice button and might be worth spending the $7 on. Plus you'd get 4 backup buttons!

It looks clean. But I like OP idea of already using the other pop out stuff.


Sent from mah Tapshoes

Seems like it would be a ackward place when the E brake was disengaged

I've never owned a beltronics, but I've had both the Escorts and cobras. Personally, I like the higher end cobra's the most. The escort (8500?) I had didn't even have laser or pro laser. Completely useless IMO. No cop shoots actual radar anymore. Its laser.

I never got a ticket with my cobra, even though I had multiple times when I was speeding and they 'tagged' my car. The moment they did the brake was pushed to the floor.

Although not a gen2. Just giving you another idea. I put it here so I can easily push the mute button when my hand is on the shifter.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...501_130157.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...3422hoiera.jpg

That looks real good!


Sent from mah Tapshoes

Thank you. WAsn't hard to do and there was plenty of room. Excuse the dust lol

nice one grumpy that looks legit, does it light up as well?

Yup fully functional. Can see the lights in the day and night

Looks great. What did you use to mount it?

Does the ON LED bother you? It's so freaking bright in my car that I just hide it behind ash tray door. Do like your location though.

I used the escort hardwire kit. Then just drilled holes in the dash piece and glued it in place. Its been like this for 2 years no issues. The lights never really bothered me, but if you do it with this method you could always just skip drilling the hole for the On light.

man that super clean grumpy grump.

@ahfunaki
3 questions
What fuse did you plug into?
Where did you put the ground?
What size drill bit did you use for the mute button?

No instructions with the ebay kit.

Thanks

My car has the Home Link mirror, so I just tapped into the same wire that was tapped into. I know that's not useful unless you have the home link mirror.

The ground I just used a self tapping screw and a star washer and grounded in the kick panel on the drivers side ( since it was close to the wire I tapped into for the power ).

And I can't remember what size hole I had to drill, but I also used a different button than you are using so it wouldn't be right anyways.

I pretty much was no help to you haha...

First, you get what you pay for with radar detectors. Cobras suck. The 995 is nice. If you rely on the detector to save you from laser, you are screwed. If it goes off, you have the ticket. Get the safe n sound hardwire kit. Much easier.
Attachment 59764
Attachment 59765

Notice the master on-off switch and the remote mute by the shifter (square).

Attachment 59766
Also have light to notify me when music is up loud. I have a Redline.

I could never mount mine up that high, I just feel like I'd be blocking too much signal.

How do you like the Redline? I was thinking about getting one but I don't know if I want to give up the false alert lockouts of my 9500i...

RX65 here. Worth every penny as I commute 40K+ annually for work and while I don't run too much than +10 over the limit I always use a rabbit it has saved me more times than I can count. Here my only real concerns are Ka/pop and laser. I run it in tech mode with no x, no tsr, no safety so it rarely falses. Ka hits are always real and not much you can do with laser other than be aware where it is used a lot and hope they get the rabbit.

Real nice installs in this thread. Might have to get a couple of harwire kits and install one in the speed and one in the company car.

Less than half is blocked by the black dots. It makes very little difference in sensitivity. I have done several different testing. High is best for the radar or very low (like a custom installed STI-R+). Other says mount low for laser. As I said before, if your hit by laser your already toast. Middle of the windshield is just advertising for LEOs.

The Redline is awesome. It has great range. It does alert a lot but I know where based on my daily commute. Several times I had additional signals at a normal alert and discovered a new signal for a local running both his front and rear radar always on. You could always add Live for Escort to given the lockouts. Several have positive experiences with it. I don't have it as no hardwire option. I will not give up my remote mute and hardwire. You can't see the detector when behind me or when an LEO is at the window (especially since I got the H&R Springs).

I'm running a Valentine One above the rear-view mirror. I haven't noticed any adverse effects on signal reception or sensitivity.