Radar Detector Hardwire Installation
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,781
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
Radar Detector Hardwire Installation
Ok guys,
After trying to find the installation procedures for w202's, I didn't get much luck. So, I just did the installation myself and the instructions are listed below.
I wired it into the cigarette light adapter, so no need to deal with fuses and such. First, take out the Casette Holder/OEM coin tray. Then gently pry off the plastic rectangle around the shifter then gently pry up the panel that contains the window switches. After getting those things off, lift up the coin holder area (directly in front of the shifter). You will see two screws on both sides, two gold screws. Those hold the cigarette adapter and ashtray in place. Unscrew those and then lift it out. You will see a wiring harness attached to the ashtray/adapter. The brown color wire is the GROUND. Tap into that for your grounding wire. Then, look behind the ashtray/adapter. You should see a small opening with wires in it. Locate the black wire, that's the 12V source. Tap into that for your 12V to power your radar. That's it for the wiring part.
Where you place your radar detector is up to you. I put it right behind the rear view mirror, some people put it above there and some below. Up to you. Running the wire would be the headliner above the glass. Stick the wire there and go to the right towards the passenger side. Go down the pillar then stop at the bottom of the dash. Look underneath the glove compartment dash area, you will see three screws. Unscrew those which results in the panel coming off. Run the wire through there and put the panel back up. Then, run the wire up alongside the plastic panel to behind the console area, which then you can finish wiring the 12v and ground into the cigarette adapter.
Put everything back together the way you took them out (reverse procedure) then power it on and it should work!
*MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE KEY TURNED IN THE IGNITION* I forgot at one point and blew the fuse to the cig adapter and the glove compartment light.
Hope this helps everyone and finally we have a way to hardwire the w202s. Searching the forums, most of them are 98-99+ wiring instructions, which atleast didn't help me in my case
After trying to find the installation procedures for w202's, I didn't get much luck. So, I just did the installation myself and the instructions are listed below.
I wired it into the cigarette light adapter, so no need to deal with fuses and such. First, take out the Casette Holder/OEM coin tray. Then gently pry off the plastic rectangle around the shifter then gently pry up the panel that contains the window switches. After getting those things off, lift up the coin holder area (directly in front of the shifter). You will see two screws on both sides, two gold screws. Those hold the cigarette adapter and ashtray in place. Unscrew those and then lift it out. You will see a wiring harness attached to the ashtray/adapter. The brown color wire is the GROUND. Tap into that for your grounding wire. Then, look behind the ashtray/adapter. You should see a small opening with wires in it. Locate the black wire, that's the 12V source. Tap into that for your 12V to power your radar. That's it for the wiring part.
Where you place your radar detector is up to you. I put it right behind the rear view mirror, some people put it above there and some below. Up to you. Running the wire would be the headliner above the glass. Stick the wire there and go to the right towards the passenger side. Go down the pillar then stop at the bottom of the dash. Look underneath the glove compartment dash area, you will see three screws. Unscrew those which results in the panel coming off. Run the wire through there and put the panel back up. Then, run the wire up alongside the plastic panel to behind the console area, which then you can finish wiring the 12v and ground into the cigarette adapter.
Put everything back together the way you took them out (reverse procedure) then power it on and it should work!
*MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE KEY TURNED IN THE IGNITION* I forgot at one point and blew the fuse to the cig adapter and the glove compartment light.
Hope this helps everyone and finally we have a way to hardwire the w202s. Searching the forums, most of them are 98-99+ wiring instructions, which atleast didn't help me in my case
