Hey guys, I am about to hardwire my valentine by the instructions onon this site (http://paul.the-nest.com/02_WRX_Wagon/Modifications/Valentine_One_Radar_Detector/Valentine_One_Radar_Detector.htm) and I want to know if this wire they tell me to tap (I dont have the dimming mirror) is a constant power source, or if it turns on and off with the ignition, which I would prefer. Also how do I get the cord for the radar through the headliner?

-Thanks

it's w/ accessory start. so you will be ok. :)

thats how i wired my V1. your detector will turn on and off with the ignition key. I stuffed my wire bundle to the left side of the domelight. I pulled just about 3-4" of the power lead out of the front edge of the headliner and mount my detector right above the mirror. Make sure it sits level. Only drawback I can tell is that I suspect that drivers behind you can see your display, unless you have the remote display unit which will cause the lights on your detector to be turned off. The plusses are that your V1 will have excellent front/back/side reception:alien:

How did you get the wire under the headliner? Can I just move it over, or is it sealed or something?

-Thanks

The headliner is jsut clipped to the roof. The dome light and the little visor above the rearview are the main supports

Remove all the visors up front, and you can stick your hands in if you want to run power down the A-Pillar.

Thanks guys, I just have one more question, did you attach the 2 grounds to the left and right visor clip things like in the link? If so how did you screw it down?? It looks like there is barely any room at all, to get your hands in there?

-Thanks

Originally posted by STIRS
Thanks guys, I just have one more question, did you attach the 2 grounds to the left and right visor clip things like in the link? If so how did you screw it down?? It looks like there is barely any room at all, to get your hands in there?

-Thanks

why not grab ground from the same plug you are grabbing 12V switched power from?

I dont know how to do that, the black grounds came with metal ends that go around bolts, are you suggesting I cut these off and splice into the ground wire, both of the wires too? Also whic one is the ground?

-Thanks

Originally posted by STIRS
I dont know how to do that, the black grounds came with metal ends that go around bolts, are you suggesting I cut these off and splice into the ground wire, both of the wires too? Also whic one is the ground?

-Thanks

yes - you can use a vampire tap if cutting wires makes you nervous (see radio shack cat. no. 64-3052 as an example check this link for a pic (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F011%5F003%5F004%5F000&product%5Fid=64%2D3052))

Ground is the black wire (black is almost always used as ground... except in power cables for computers and such)

I took out the map lights an hour ago to see what was there, and there was a plug, which was unplugged, is this for the auto dimming mirror? Also can I ground the radar to the 2 screws that hold up the map lights?? I have pics but I cant acess my webspace right now, ill try to post them up asap.

-Thanks

Originally posted by DrD


yes - you can use a vampire tap if cutting wires makes you nervous (see radio shack cat. no. 64-3052 as an example check this link for a pic (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F011%5F003%5F004%5F000&product%5Fid=64%2D3052))

Ground is the black wire (black is almost always used as ground... except in power cables for computers and such)

I should just cut off the metal end of the V1 ground wire that is supplied and tap the other ground right?

-Thanks

Originally posted by STIRS


I should just cut off the metal end of the V1 ground wire that is supplied and tap the other ground right?

-Thanks

Yes - that's the easiest way to do it. If you don't want to use the tap, you can always just strip back the insulation on both wires, twist and solder them (that's the best way to do it)

Originally posted by STIRS
I took out the map lights an hour ago to see what was there, and there was a plug, which was unplugged, is this for the auto dimming mirror? Also can I ground the radar to the 2 screws that hold up the map lights?? I have pics but I cant acess my webspace right now, ill try to post them up asap.

-Thanks

If the connector you are referring to has three wires going to it (one is yellow with a red stripe - thats power, one is black - that's ground, and one is brown with a yellow stripe - that's the reverse inhibit line) - that's the one which you use

You can try to ground to those screws, but you want to make sure you have good metal to metal contact at the ground point and those screws don't really lend themselves to that (there are others which you could use - but nothing really accessible under the headliner) - by tapping an existing ground in the harness, you get that taken care of automatically.

Originally posted by DrD


If the connector you are referring to has three wires going to it (one is yellow with a red stripe - thats power, one is black - that's ground, and one is brown with a yellow stripe - that's the reverse inhibit line) - that's the one which you use

Yea theres the connector that goes tot he map lights and one that is unplugged, is it ok that this connector is unplugged, is it for some sort of accesory??

-Thanks everyone Im going to try this after work and see what happens.

Bump...

just use the clip on the end of your V1 ground wire and do like the link u referred to above showed. IT is a really easy install and I am not sure why it is giving you fits. The 3 wire plug is for the auto dimming compass mirror. Mine was taped in a bundle as I didn't have the accessory mirror once upon a time. when the center visor and the maplight is out, you can poke the radar connector out the frontside of the headliner which is kinda like egg carton material. Just dont pull the headliner down far as it could kink on you. You can dooo it;)

Originally posted by wrx320
just use the clip on the end of your V1 ground wire and do like the link u referred to above showed. IT is a really easy install and I am not sure why it is giving you fits. The 3 wire plug is for the auto dimming compass mirror. Mine was taped in a bundle as I didn't have the accessory mirror once upon a time. when the center visor and the maplight is out, you can poke the radar connector out the frontside of the headliner which is kinda like egg carton material. Just dont pull the headliner down far as it could kink on you. You can dooo it;)

Sorry about all the questions, I really want to do it right from the 1st time, and still a noob to mods, the only other time I messed with the electronics was when I installed my friends turbo timer.

Everyone thanks for your help.

I also did this on my wife's new XT. In the XT, there is a metal strut that runs from the front to the back. It has two screws visible with the headliner console off, so I used on of them to ground.

We are now a hard-wired V1 2004 Subaru turbo family :banana: