I am new to this board so I apologize if this is repetitive. I just, this Saturday, purchased a 2001 F-150 Lariat 4x4 5.4L; well the whole nine yards. I am curious as to the best place to hook up the positive and negative wires for my radar detector. Someone told me to grund one side and jam the other in with a fuse. I don't think that I want to take that route. Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

I used the fuse box for my radar detector, but made sure there was an inline fuse in the wire as well. Also solder-coated the stripped wire before inserting it into the fuse box. Only took about 10 minutes to hardwire the unit in and it's a neat safe installation.

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2000 F150 Harley-Davidson: Superchip, K&N FIPK
Hard Tonneau, Hidden Hitch, 2-Meter Rig (KG0UK)
'99 FLHRCI, '95 XLH

 

Bayou Boy
Welcome aboard!
I don't know if you have an overhead console or not but there have been some threads about wiring it up to the compass/temp wires. I dont have a console but, what I did was run some wires under the headliner to the dome/map lights. Using a test light 1 of the screws to the map lights is hot all the time and one of the other screws is the ground. I just fished the wires through the base of the domelight, added ring connectors and screwed them under the proper screws (making sure I kept the connectors as far away from the bulbs as possible). Worked out really well. My radar detector is mounted above the rear view mirror. Remove the center block holding the ends of the sun visors and gently pull down the headliner in the center. I ran an electricians fish tape from the domelight hole to the windshield. Its a little bit of a pain getting it by the windshield cause there is a 1/2" metal lip just behind the rubber edge to the windshield. That was the only difficult part.

Good luck.

Hobbit

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99 XLT,4.6L Auto,4X4,tow pkge,Factory Side Steps and Mudflaps, K&N filter,BugflectorII, Amazon Green/Silver, Pace Edwards Rolltop Cover.

 

Since you have a Lariat, there is a switched 12V in the overhead console. Pull down firmly on the console sides and it will pop off. It is held up with 4 clips. Watch out those lamps are HOT if they've been for any length. Undo the plug and set the console aside, then play with the power wires to find the one activated with the ignition key. I don't remember what the color was, but I do remember it was an end wire. There is a screw up there into the body metal that you can use for ground. I also have my alarm LED up in the overhead console, pointing directly down. (unique)

[This message has been edited by XTRUKY (edited 02-14-2001).]

 

Bayou,
The thread below applies to the Super Crew but you may find the pictures helpful. BOL

https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000681.html
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Fog Lights with parking lights .... how does he do it ?

https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000552.html

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2001 F-150 Super Crew Lariat 4x4
5.4 engine; Chestnut w/ gold trim; Captain's Chairs; Ford/ Duraliner bed insert; Six disc CD changer (in center console); Fosgate FNP1614 component speakers (front); Pioneer TS-A6855 speakers (rear); 8 inch MTX sub in custom built, center console, sealed enclosure; ZAPCO AG150 amplifier; Moon roof; 98/99 Expedition center console; Bed extender; Class 3 trailer hitch



[This message has been edited by FedExPilot (edited 02-14-2001).]

 

IF YOU HAVE THE CLASS 3 HITCH, THERE IS A HARNESS UNDER THE DASH FOR THE TRAILER BRAKE MODULE. I USED THAT TO WIRE UP A CB. ALTHOUGH I LIKE THE OVER HEAD CONSOLE IDEA.
MAKE A QUICK DISCONNECT PLUG SO IF YOU NEEDED TO REMOVE IT IN A HURRY IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

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2000 F-150 X-CAB 4.6 5 SP
K&N FILTER, AIRBOX MOD,
HOMEMADE RAM AIR, KC LIGHTS IN GRILL, BUG DEFLECTOR, WINDOW GUARDS, CB W/ DUAL ANTENNAS, ALPINE CD, ORION AMPS, JL 10'S.
MANY MORE MODS TO COME

 

Hey B777,
Thanks for the heads up about the timer on the map lights. I didnt know about that, I was wondering why my detector always beeped like it was just being turned on when I opened the door to the truck. Another mystery solved. Thanks!

Hobbit

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99 XLT,4.6L Auto,4X4,tow pkge,Factory Side Steps and Mudflaps, K&N filter,BugflectorII, Amazon Green/Silver, Pace Edwards Rolltop Cover.

 

I'm kinda new hear too but I had the same thing. I took mine down to my local stereo shp and they hard wired it into the stereo. It's been working fine for me.

 

I did exactly what Hobbit did.
Last summer I grew tired of the cord hanging down and I mounted it just above the rearview mirror.
The nice thing about hooking it up to the map lights is that they are powered all the time but they do have a timer that turns them off after 15~20 minutes after you turn the truck off.
I leave my detector on all the time now because the truck shuts it off and then turns it back on when I open the door again.

 

I too did what FedExPilot did. I wired mine into my overhead console. It's easy, and minimal wire routing.

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--Lariat4WD--

2000 Ford F-150 Extended Cab Flareside 4x4 Lariat
5.4L;auto;3.55LS;Black/Silver;ORP;remote keyless;floor-shift 4wd;Class III;AM/FM/SingleCD
Mods so far:
Lund X-Terminator bug shield; Vent Shade Vent Visors; Westin Black step bars; Pendaliner bedliner; GSP black Safari Grille Guard; GTS TailBlazerII Slotted taillight covers; Clear corner lenses; under hitch backup lights; 2 KC Hilites Daylighter 6" 150W black round; Cranked torsion bars; Removed lower striping; Replaced factory ORP decals w/ silver; 2 Polk Audio EX10 10" subs under rear seat; Sony XM754HX amp; Viper 300ESP alarm
Pending
2001 Lightning taillights; White/black gauges; Replacing factory gold/maroon Lariat decals & upper stripes with silver & black
Warranty Paint Work
Entire bed possibly being repainted due to primer showing; also painting roof and passenger door due to factory defects; Changing all silver 2-tone to black
Wish list:
More lights; Flowmaster 40 Series SI/DO exhaust; Optima red top battery; Remote starter & Prox. sensor; In-dash TV/CD/DVD/AM/FM head unit; BedRug & Soft Tonneau cover or Roll bar (not sure yet); Aluminum dash kit; Build house w/ huge garage.


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