Does anyone know the best way to hardwire a radar detector in a 2003 Maxima so it it can be mounted high on the windshield without a visible wire hanging down? Thanks for any help.

Remove the lower part of the steering column (the plastic shroud). Then use a test light and backprobe the ignition harness and find out which wire comes on when the ignition is on (in the on position). Splice the radar detector wire into that wire. Then route the radar detector wire under the dash, up through the A-pillar, and along the roof lining to the center of the windshield. It will be easier to feed the wire down from the A-pillar first (let gravity work for you, not against you).

It's too bad, you cant tap into the mirror wiring. There is 12 VDC there, for the compass and auto-dimming feature.

Otherwise, you could go wireless. $$$

I put mine on the driver's side, low by the A-pillar, and ran straight to the fuse box. I bought a conector, designed for the plug-in fuses, and had it going in about 10 minutes.

I just slid the wires behind the rubber door seal, and back up under the dash.

I hard wired radar detector into the "switched" circuit on the lighter. Just tap the wire to the center with the positive lead, ground the other one. wire tied the loose stuff under the dash, ran up the drivers post (behind the trim, of course), across the front headliner edge to the detector, that is just infront of/under the mirror. No more dangling wires/irritated wife/cops. It was easy, but I have done this to various cars, including 1985 TBird, 1991 Sable, 1996 Volvo, and now 1998 Sentra and 1999 I30. Just make sure the connection is switched by the ignition, otherwise the detector will stay on until the battery goes down/cows come home. Radio Shack sold me the last connector kit. The newest Escort detector will not adapt easily, since the wire socket looks like a phone cord plug, but that was easy to fix too...(I30 has a telephone lead routed to the detector...)

I used the auto-dimming wiring for my V1 in my I30. I just took a test light and stabbed each the wires until I found a power that came on with the ignition.

Works great, comes on automatically, and only took me a few minutes.

Jeff Williams wrote:It's too bad, you cant tap into the mirror wiring. There is 12 VDC there, for the compass and auto-dimming feature.