Re: Radar Detector Installation

[Lee Levitt <wheelman@shore.net>]

>From: dan_masi@MENTORG.COM (Dan Masi)
>On Feb 11,  1:21pm, Mark Blum wrote:
>> I would like to hard-wire my Bel 745 radar detector on my A4.  I
>> seem to  recall someone posting instructions for wiring into the
>> sunroof control a  few months back, but I can't find anything in
>the
>> archives (have you ever tried to find anything in the archives?).
>
>I wrote something quite a while back about it, but I wired into
>the fuse panel.  You'd be much better off wiring into the sunroof/
>dome light area, though... I only wired to the fuse box because I
>already had the a-pillar off and was wiring my cell phone in at
>the same time.
>Somebody on the list did wire into the sunroof area, I forget
>who.

That would be me. I'd advise against it. When I operate the s/r motor, the
current drops to the detector and it resets (going into test mode). One of
these days (and it's been two years now this way <g>) I'm going to take the
cover off and rewire it, probably into the light switch if that is
appropriately switched with the ignition. If not, I'll probably just live
with it.

And always use inline fuses. BDDDT...wife yelled "fire!" <OUCH>

BTW, I *hate* those little suction cup thingies that mount the RD. I
fabricated a small wooden block that screwed to the frame just above the
windshield. The block is just smaller than the RD, so you can't see it. And
let me tell you, drilling vertically upward is pretty exciting. You can't
help but picture going through the sheetmetal. There actually is plenty of
room, but still...

Only problem was that I had to, um, trim, the visor since it interfered
with the detector. I removed 1 inch or so of the outside trim from the end
of the visor, removed 1 1/2 inch of the foam padding, cut the internal
supporting bar, and then reinstalled the tip. A small piece of extra rolled
vinyl trim around the joint finishes the job.

Sorta like a circumcision, only I made the thing an inch shorter and then
glued the tip back on <g>

Can't tell it's not original unless you look *carefully*.

HTH,

Lee
Lee Levitt, mailto:wheelman@shore.net
Director, Business Development, Software.com - http://www.Software.com
webmaster, NeedhamOnline - http://www.NeedhamOnline.com
and Bicycle Classics, Inc. - http://www.BicycleClassics.com
1990 Audi 200T, 75K
1995 Range Rover County LWB, 45K, member Bay State Rovers
1987 Wicked Fat Chance, 1981 Condor