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Old 12-04-2011, 07:56 PM   #1
ST Eye
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Default DIY - 2012 Impreza GPS/Radar Detector Hardwire

FIRST - write-up for the 2012 Impreza!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a simple DIY to show you how to hardwire a GPS and/or radar detector on the left side of the dashboard:

1) First we are going to remove the left dash trim panel:


2) Pop open the fuse cover panel, put your hand inside and push the clip to pop off the panel:


3) Panel removed:


4) I took some fish tank air tubing and split it down the center:


5) And placed it around the large opening in the dash frame to act like a grommet since the edges are sharp:


6) I used electrical tape to secure the tubing and to further reinforce the surface. Also was liberal in wrapping the wires around that area:


7) Route the wires down the side of the dash, if you have a Garmin with the traffic data module, you can secure it to the side with double sided foam tape.


8) Used a mini fuse add-a-line that I picked up from the auto parts store, I tapped into the "Cigar" fuse block. Added a 10AMP fuse for protection. Hooked up the ground wire on the bolt that holds the hood release. I highly suggest getting the add-a-line, it is clean and safe, require no cutting of factory wires:


9) I connected all the wires to a dual cigarette socket so I didn't have to cut the GPS/radar detector wires. Zip-tied it all together and secured it to the top of the fuse panel.


10) This is what it should look like after you put the panels on. I had to pull the rubber molding back a little bit to tuck the wires behind it:
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Last edited by ST Eye; 12-04-2011 at 08:21 PM.
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Old 12-04-2011, 08:15 PM   #2
ST Eye
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Finished result:




All in all, I am happy with this install, it is pretty clean. I like the fact that I was able to fit the FM traffic module behind the side panel.
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Old 12-04-2011, 10:42 PM   #3
cegan09
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very nice.

But how effective is the radar detector in that position? Aren't they supposed to have a clear view forward and back, meaning the higher the better?
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Old 12-04-2011, 10:47 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cegan09 View Post
very nice.

But how effective is the radar detector in that position? Aren't they supposed to have a clear view forward and back, meaning the higher the better?
I'm sure it's not the most optimal position, however I have had it in this position for 15 years, and I seem to get good results. Others have mounted it above the rear view mirror. I prefer to not be able to see the lights on the radar detector from behind the car.
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Old 12-23-2011, 09:49 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ST Eye View Post
FIRST - write-up for the 2012 Impreza!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a simple DIY to show you how to hardwire a GPS and/or radar detector on the left side of the dashboard:

1) First we are going to remove the left dash trim panel:


2) Pop open the fuse cover panel, put your hand inside and push the clip to pop off the panel:


3) Panel removed:


4) I took some fish tank air tubing and split it down the center:


5) And placed it around the large opening in the dash frame to act like a grommet since the edges are sharp:


6) I used electrical tape to secure the tubing and to further reinforce the surface. Also was liberal in wrapping the wires around that area:


7) Route the wires down the side of the dash, if you have a Garmin with the traffic data module, you can secure it to the side with double sided foam tape.


8) Used a mini fuse add-a-line that I picked up from the auto parts store, I tapped into the "Cigar" fuse block. Added a 10AMP fuse for protection. Hooked up the ground wire on the bolt that holds the hood release. I highly suggest getting the add-a-line, it is clean and safe, require no cutting of factory wires:


9) I connected all the wires to a dual cigarette socket so I didn't have to cut the GPS/radar detector wires. Zip-tied it all together and secured it to the top of the fuse panel.


10) This is what it should look like after you put the panels on. I had to pull the rubber molding back a little bit to tuck the wires behind it:
I just hardwired my radar detector, thanks for posting this. The only thing I did differently was where I chose to attach the ground wire and I am using heavy duty velcro to secure the radar detector above the dash display so I can mute it when I want to easily.
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Old 12-23-2011, 11:23 PM   #6
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No problem! I am glad you got something out of it.
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Old 01-03-2012, 07:17 PM   #7
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By the way, I used to place my radar detector directly at the center of the steering wheel mounted low on the windshield and seemed to get really good results as well. Probably not very good rear protection though I would guess.
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Old 01-03-2012, 08:36 PM   #8
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That add a line thing is pretty neat. I had not seen those before.
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Old 01-03-2012, 08:58 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sans meaning View Post
That add a line thing is pretty neat. I had not seen those before.
They are pretty neat. It essentially adds another circuit without needing to splice behind the fuse panel. Makes for a clean install.
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Old 01-04-2012, 10:13 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ST Eye View Post
Finished result:




All in all, I am happy with this install, it is pretty clean. I like the fact that I was able to fit the FM traffic module behind the side panel.
***1053;***1077; ***1087;***1083;***1086;***1093;***1086; ***1087;***1086;***1083;***1091;***1095;***1080;***1083;***1086;***1089;***1100;.
O, sorry. Not bad
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Old 01-05-2012, 11:36 AM   #11
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Please advise if the add-a-line is a ATM or ATC.

Thanks.
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Old 01-05-2012, 01:59 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Commuter 2.0i View Post
Please advise if the add-a-line is a ATM or ATC.

Thanks.
It is ATM (mini).
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Old 01-05-2012, 03:11 PM   #13
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Thanks for the info. My company (electronics distributor) has some in stock (Bussmann P/N BP/HHH).
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Old 01-05-2012, 07:58 PM   #14
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I've been to Pepboys and Autozone and both places have the mini's out of stock!

One other question. How easy is it to remove the A-pillar trim to snake a wire through there and up to the headliner?
I don't like having my radar mounted that low because it doesn't get its optimal signal down low.
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Old 01-05-2012, 11:01 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MINIz guy View Post
I've been to Pepboys and Autozone and both places have the mini's out of stock!

One other question. How easy is it to remove the A-pillar trim to snake a wire through there and up to the headliner?
I don't like having my radar mounted that low because it doesn't get its optimal signal down low.
If you are going to mount the radar detector near the headliner, I would tap off the 12v from the map light. I have seen numerous threads on Valentine 1 installations that are mounted near the rear view mirror that use the wires.

I am hesitant to wiring anything up the A-pillar since I believe that the curtain airbag is in that area. In my '08 STI, I think the A-pilar plastic trim has part of the airbag inside. Might want to research a bit to see if it is part of the airbag.
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Old 01-25-2012, 11:42 PM   #16
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For those who don't have an auto dimming mirror, would you be able to tap into the prewired harness behind the map lights for power rather than the map light itself? Would it really matter?
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Old 01-26-2012, 12:10 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HinGurl View Post
For those who don't have an auto dimming mirror, would you be able to tap into the prewired harness behind the map lights for power rather than the map light itself? Would it really matter?
Not sure, but it would sound plausible for both to work. There are Valentine 1 install threads that should tell you the correct wires to tap into for switched power.
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Old 01-29-2012, 04:46 PM   #18
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sorry, im not too familiar with car wiring. can you elaborate on how you grounded the circuit, and how the cigarette socket interfaces with the add-a-line? thanks
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Old 01-29-2012, 04:55 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by impreyza
sorry, im not too familiar with car wiring. can you elaborate on how you grounded the circuit, and how the cigarette socket interfaces with the add-a-line? thanks
The add a line plugs into where the cigarette socket fuse plug in. It splits to two fused circuits so the add a line uses the original fuse plus one for your detector. Grounds are easy---any screw into metal should work. I used the screw under the trim panel that you remove to hide the wires and it worked fine.
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Old 01-29-2012, 05:08 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HinGurl View Post
For those who don't have an auto dimming mirror, would you be able to tap into the prewired harness behind the map lights for power rather than the map light itself? Would it really matter?
You can tap into the prewired harness for the auto dimming mirror even if you do not have the auto dimming mirror
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Old 01-29-2012, 06:13 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeeper View Post
The add a line plugs into where the cigarette socket fuse plug in. It splits to two fused circuits so the add a line uses the original fuse plus one for your detector. Grounds are easy---any screw into metal should work. I used the screw under the trim panel that you remove to hide the wires and it worked fine.
how does the cigarette socket work that you added in the fuse area? where did you buy that
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Old 01-29-2012, 08:02 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by impreyza View Post
how does the cigarette socket work that you added in the fuse area? where did you buy that
I had bought a cigarette lighter socket splitter (makes one socket into two) and clipped the male connector, so you now have a positive and negative bare wire leading to two sockets. If you only need one, then just use the one socket.

Basically the add-a-line will be your hot (positive) connection, the ground wire (negative) will be connected to anywhere that is metal on the body. So these wires will be connected to the splitter and you then connect your radar detector into the socket. This allows you to connect your device without having to cut the original wiring on your device.

One thing you want to do is make sure the positive wire is the center of the socket, as opposed to the wall of the socket which should be be negative connection.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kennyyu View Post
You can tap into the prewired harness for the auto dimming mirror even if you do not have the auto dimming mirror
Very true, but I wanted to install my Garmin and radar detector on the bottom of my windshield.
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Old 02-01-2012, 07:48 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by impreyza

how does the cigarette socket work that you added in the fuse area? where did you buy that
?? You use the add-a-line and plug it into the space in the fusebox where the cigarette lighter fuse is normally plugged in. There are pictures in this thread.
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Old 02-15-2012, 10:08 PM   #24
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one final question... how did you attach the wire to the ground bolt? do you have the size of a nut that fits?
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Old 02-15-2012, 10:16 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by impreyza View Post
one final question... how did you attach the wire to the ground bolt? do you have the size of a nut that fits?
I just stripped enough wire to make a loop that goes around the bolt, then tighten.
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