I'm new here, but I've searched the forum for this b/4 posting.

My question is I have a radar detector that I keep plugged in but both of my 12v ports are constant hot. They don't shut off when the key is off. Checked the manual and they don't address this. Anyone know how to change this? 2006 F150 Lariat 4x4 by the way. thanks

 

Yeah - rip the dash apart, bust out the voltmeter and start rewiring!!

 

one option is to wire the detector straight to a switched power source like the radio. That way you might be able to hide the wire somewhat also.

 

Hmm... The rip the dash out plan is a good idea, but I think I'll try something a little more difficult. That option is just too easy.

My old Grand Cherokee had a spot in the fuse box that you could plug the fuse into a constant hot spot or below it for it to go off with the key. The only thing Jeep got right unfortunately.

 

I ran mine off of my radio trigger.
The radio has 2 power sources... one constant and one to turn it on.
I don't remember the color, but just search online for the harness and you'll fin it.

I spliced into that wire, I think it's orange, and ran a wire (through a fuse) up behind my a-pillar molding and to my radar detector. So it looks very clean.

Good luck!

 

Yeah thats american cars for you. My acura shuts power to the socket when you shut off the key. Pretty handy except when you need it to stay on like for example to charge your cell phone.

Let us know what you decide to do.

 

Hardwiring the detector in is the easiest way to get around that. Tapping the radio switched power wire is the easiest way to go.

If you don't feel like pulling the radio out you could always just get a test light and probe the fuese box. Find a fuse that has switched power and use a fuese tap, I think Auto Zone sells them.

 

Word. This is what I did.

 

I bought one of those cig lighter splitters from Wallyworld and cut the cig lighter plug off and spliced the wires into the switched power from the radio. This gives me a place to plug my Sat radio and radar detector in and it's all hidden behind the radio and it all powers up when I turn on the truck. BTW, my radar detector is just above the dash tray and I just slid it out and ran the wire down behind the tray.

 

Depending on the brand of RD you have, here is a another simple wiring choice.

Passport detectors use a phone jack type plug on the unit, and it goes to a cig lighter adapter. Well, don't hack up the stock wiring. Keep that in case you need to switch vehicles.

Go to Radioshuck, buy a simple 12' phone line, cut one end off, skin the RED(+) and GREEN(–) wires, and hook them up to their appropriate sources. I used the Remote Power off my Alpine for the power, so it turns on and off with the stereo, and found a solid ground source.

Voila. Works perfectly. Good luck.
joe

 

I found a way around it. I bought the cordless solo s2 by Escort. I was just tired of wires and now I can place it anywhere without restrictions.

 

Don't you have the same problem of it being on all the time?

 

Cordless detectors = a large decrease in detectability

 

Nope it senses when there is no movement and shuts it off automatically.

 

If your saying they dont have as good of range, I dont know. But it works great, and I could never go back to a corded one. BTW you can still plug it in with a cord if you really want to for some reason.