I have a Valentine1 and have a direct power cord, I wanted to know if theres anyway i can wire the ground and fuse tap to the panel of my doorjamb. Is there only a fuse panel next to the parking brake?

 

why don't you get the invisicord and go through your rearview mirror?

 

+1
Get the invisicord. I'ts the way to go.

 

if you don't have premium package, you don't have powered mirror, so you can't use invisicord. in that case, you can splice behind the panel into the right hand side power socket.

 

If you do not want to splice wires and therefore void your warranty, I suggest you go for the "add a fuse kit." You can find them at Pepboys and Autozone...Yes, the fuse box is located next to the parking brake in the AT models...


Make sure you get the Mini fuse one, and that it fits in your fuse box. There are different sized fuses.

First, locate the radio fuse in your fuse box. Take out the original fuse.

Just plug add a fuse into the fuse box, and then cut off the spade end of the direct wire kit. (the positive)

Place the original fuse that you took out from the fuse box in the other end where there is no wire with the blue end sticking out of it.

Place a 2.5 or 3 or 5 Amp fuse in the end where there is a wire with the blue end sticking out of it. Your radar detector should draw only 3 amps most. Since your RD has a fuse built in, it is safe to use a 5 Amp fuse.

Then, strip off the wire plastic coating to expose the actual wire.

Then insert the exposed wire from the direct wire kit into the add a fuse (blue part) and crimp it in. I also used electrical tape to keep the wire steady.

Ground the other wire from the direct wire kit to a bolt located right underneath the switches for trunk and VDC.

I then hid the wires away around the side panels (very easy, no disassembling required, just tuck them between the pillars and the rubber)

Mount your RD high and voila!

My Escort Redline is directly wired to the fuse box, and there are no exposed wires whatsoever. I even ran the line to my mirror...

This way, you do not void warranty or cause any electrical issues. I feel like the invisicord sucks power from the mirror, which may cause problems later because the mirror is not a fuse box...You are lowering the recommended current for the mirror.

If you want a video, search the youtube for radarroy's direct wire installation.

 

Thanks for the tip, but my direct hard wire comes with 1 ground wire and the other wire has a fuse tap at the end, so i dont think i need the "add a fuse"? I just had a problem finding a ground that would reach, ill try to find that ground under the VDC button tomorrow. I also need to find a mini blade fuse tap because i bought the wrong size originally.

 

The add a fuse kit will not void your vehicle warranty. Any type of splicing wires (the direct wire kit) using a spade or any other kind of splicing will void your vehicle warranty. It also may cause more risk of electrical issues.

 

My direct wire kit doesnt have a spade, it has a fuse blade tap, just insert the fuse into the tap and plug it into the fuse panel. No splicing necessary.

 

For the ground, did you use the bolt that holds on the bracket for the hood release? You said under the VDC button but its a little impossible to get back there. thanks