I hate having my radar detector sitting in the middle of my windshield with the power cord draped down to the plug. My '04 had it mounted in the top left corner of the windshield , with power coming out of the sunvisor post. In a previous post, calcustom showed us pictures of the inside of an '08 sunvisor post (http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-cts-forum-2008-beyond/134503-need-inside-gm-technician.html ). I don't want to cut into that wire harness to get power. I don't want to cut the harness (lease ) coming from the rear view mirror. I can't see anywhere else to get power for the hard wire of the detector. I need someone really smart to come up with the solution, otherwise got to move to a battery operated one. Pretty much you'd have to buy the Escort for ~$400. Or should I just slow down? :banghead:

I hate having my radar detector sitting in the middle of my windshield with the power cord draped down to the plug. My '04 had it mounted in the top left corner of the windshield , with power coming out of the sunvisor post. In a previous post, calcustom showed us pictures of the inside of an '08 sunvisor post (http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-cts-forum-2008-beyond/134503-need-inside-gm-technician.html ). I don't want to cut into that wire harness to get power. I don't want to cut the harness (lease ) coming from the rear view mirror. I can't see anywhere else to get power for the hard wire of the detector. I need someone really smart to come up with the solution, otherwise got to move to a battery operated one. Pretty much you'd have to buy the Escort for ~$400. Or should I just slow down? :banghead:



The majority of the harness to the sunvisor has a protective sleeve over the wires to prevent chaffing. As you get closer to the connector the wires are slightly exposed. I can take additional pictures of the connector end of the visor harness if needed to assist you better.


What about the map lite area next to the homelink buttons? Are you looking for a constant hot?

I'd appreciate what ever pics you can get. How hard would it be to tap a power source from the homelink area?

Slow Down and Note Where If You See State Police

I'm having my Valentine One installed next week, that is, if my CTS arrives.

You mean to say that there is no power source from beneath the dash to wire
a radar detector? I thought all cars had some sort of power box underneath
the dash.

Is wiring through the homelink area the only option? Yes, would love pictures
and instructions as I am going to have to instruct my installer what to do.

Thanks

Use a wire "tap" that you can remove when the lease is up...are you familiar with these?

08,

Never heard of those. Will my installer most likely
have it or will I need to buy elsewhere?

If the latter, what is the product name so I can
order online?

Thanks

08,

Never heard of those. Will my installer most likely
have it or will I need to buy elsewhere?

Thanks

they also call them T-Taps. don't worry. every installer has them

Tell me if I'm wrong, but if I run a wire to under the dash , it will be pretty visible along the left or right side of the dash. I'm trying to get that invisible look I had with my '04 coming out of the sunvisor post. I waiting for calcustom to show us what other options to get power from the area of the post.

I'd appreciate what ever pics you can get. How hard would it be to tap a power source from the homelink area?

Sorry for the picture delay. The white outer sleeve can be pushed back from the connector to expose the wires. As mentioned a wire tap could be installed.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg23/studio7701/IMG_6046.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg23/studio7701/IMG_6042.jpg

Calcustom,
Thanks for the pic. Was that pulled from inside or what? I mean is it hard to unplug that from somehere in the roof panel or where was it plugged into? That would be easy to tap into.

Calcustom,
Thanks for the pic. Was that pulled from inside or what? I mean is it hard to unplug that from somehere in the roof panel or where was it plugged into? That would be easy to tap into.

The pictures are of the new visors I have yet to install. I have not been able to determine if it is going to be difficult to reach the connector in the headliner. Seeing how the visor is held in place with clips and screws I can't imagine getting to the connector will be easy!

Oh I see, you have yet to find the plug in the headliner. If it's not straight up from where you go into the opening, how are you going to find it? I guess you don't know yet either. Please keep us informed if you find out.

This is a T-Tap

I'd appreciate what ever pics you can get. How hard would it be to tap a power source from the homelink area?

Actualy this would be quite easy. The homelink / maplite plastic panel comes out of the headliner area real easy. Just grap the outside edges of the housing and gently pull down. It is held in place with 4 clips, I took it down in 30 seconds or less, no tools required. I guess it just depends on what type of power source you are looking for if this area will work for you. Are you looking for constant hot, switched hot or? I'm sure there is at least a constant hot because of the homelink buttons work without the ign switch in acc. mode.

Calcustom,
I just went out and tried it. I pulled pretty hard on the edge by the windshield. It wouldn't budge. It felt real solid. Should I just pull harder? It would be a good source for the power if I could slip a wire into the front of it. Everything there are always on, which is what I want. MY detector powers down after 20 minutes. It powers up if it feels a power surge in the sytem, like a door opening.

Calcustom,
I just went out and tried it. I pulled pretty hard on the edge by the windshield. It wouldn't budge. It felt real solid. Should I just pull harder? It would be a good source for the power if I could slip a wire into the front of it. Everything there are always on, which is what I want. MY detector powers down after 20 minutes. It powers up if it feels a power surge in the sytem, like a door opening.

Pull on it from each side.

Calcustom,
I tried different locations around the rearview mirror to mount the detector. None of them look good. Won't fit above the mirror and it just interfers with the view mounting it below the mirror. I'm going back to mounting it by the left post where it is out of site most of the time. Plus no one outside the car can see it. This brings me back to finding power inside the headliner. Let's see who on the forum gets up into there first.

Not liking what I am reading here.

My car arrives on Monday (confirmed), and I have an appointment
with an installer on Tuesday to mount the radar detector.

How difficult is this going to be for the installer? Are they going
to be able to seamlessly mount my radar detector?

I can't believe there is no power box on this vehicle. Why does
the CTS have to do everything so radically different that it makes
it near impossible to add aftermarket devices?

Not liking what I am reading here.

My car arrives on Monday (confirmed), and I have an appointment
with an installer on Tuesday to mount the radar detector.

How difficult is this going to be for the installer? Are they going
to be able to seamlessly mount my radar detector?

I can't believe there is no power box on this vehicle. Why does
the CTS have to do everything so radically different that it makes
it near impossible to add aftermarket devices?

Don't even worry for a split second...a professional will have no problem whatsoever taking care of your detector....its quite a simple process, really, if you're familiar with this procedure. The "toughest" part is hiding the wire.

I can't believe there is no power box on this vehicle. Why does
the CTS have to do everything so radically different that it makes
it near impossible to add aftermarket devices?

Power box located in the right side of your trunk, right above the battery.
but most installers are to lazy to run wire all the way down there and have it fused

Actualy this would be quite easy. The homelink / maplite plastic panel comes out of the headliner area real easy. Just grap the outside edges of the housing and gently pull down. It is held in place with 4 clips, I took it down in 30 seconds or less, no tools required. I guess it just depends on what type of power source you are looking for if this area will work for you. Are you looking for constant hot, switched hot or? I'm sure there is at least a constant hot because of the homelink buttons work without the ign switch in acc. mode.

Where is the best place to tap accessory power (turns off when the key is off)? Preferably in the homelink / map light area. thanks

If it doesn't snow this weekend in Chicago, I'll try to get up into the sunvisor post and see if I can find easy power attachments.

Dont have a wiring diagram for the 2008+ CTS but just about every car I have installed radar detectors has switched power on the plug behind the rearview mirror. ITs a good spot and you can make a small 6-8 inch hard wire cable and mount it right next to the mirror.