Stock clock pass-through to stereo?

maxxell · 04-07-2005, 11:44 AM

Hey all, I was just wondering whether anyone had passed a wire down from up where the stock clock is down to where the stereo is. I want to run my GPS receiver from basically the cigarette lighter up to the clock so I can have the receiver wire hidden. And since I'm running stuff through, I might as well run the radar detector wire through as well.

So can it be done? Is there anything I should know about removing the clock piece? I have taken apart the dash before, and if it's just a similar set of clips, it shoudn't be difficult.

Thanks for your help.
And I'm a fan of the new management for this forum.

Number1 · 04-07-2005, 12:00 PM

Hey man,

Yeah, definitely possible. I've routed my Radar Detector power through up there, works great. To pop the clock out, used your fingers and grab a hold of the top left part of the panel holding the clock, lift up a little bit and sitck a flathead screwdriver in there, then lift up, it'll feel like you're going to break it but it will just pop out the in the back, I never got the front of it out(the hooks just wouldn't go with some major force of some type). You'll also need to take out the ducts for the air vents. Take the cup holder out because the screws that hold it in also fasten some part of the ducts. It is pretty straightforward after that, just undo what is in your way, hardest part is the lifting the clock panel out without having a heart attack. Wish I could remember more details better.

maxxell · 04-07-2005, 12:09 PM

I guess that makes you SS3 Gogeta. I was a DBZ freak in college.

Anyway, how do you take the ducts out? That sounds intimidating. Plus, I have an '05 so the cupholder isn't a problem. Anyone with an '05 know how to remove the ducts?

maxxell · 04-07-2005, 12:26 PM

Hey, while I have the attention of the group. Anyone know how to either recess the stock cig lighter port, or shorten a radar detector plug? I want the lid to be able to close, but the radar detector power plug is in the way.

smeagol · 04-07-2005, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxxell

Hey, while I have the attention of the group. Anyone know how to either recess the stock cig lighter port, or shorten a radar detector plug? I want the lid to be able to close, but the radar detector power plug is in the way.

Why not hardwire it into the car?

maxxell · 04-07-2005, 12:58 PM

That has been offered to me before, but I love the fact that when I turn off the car, it turns off the radar detector. Wouldn't hardwiring it change that? I guess I could hardwire it directly behind the cig lighter, using those wires. But how much can I draw off those wires before running into trouble?

smeagol · 04-07-2005, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxxell

That has been offered to me before, but I love the fact that when I turn off the car, it turns off the radar detector. Wouldn't hardwiring it change that? I guess I could hardwire it directly behind the cig lighter, using those wires. But how much can I draw off those wires before running into trouble?

It's all in the way you wire it up. Just find a lead that is ignition switched, meaning it is 12v at key on/engine running, and has no power at key off. This is the desired situation, btw, and it is common. You can tap into the cigarette power lead and be fine, I'm sure, regarding the power draw (unless you plan on that lead powering any other accessories that draw serious amperage).

Anyways, on many cars there are unused ports in the fuse box for constant and ignition 12v sources. You could use any of them to wire up additional accessories. I'm not sure if the Sti has that though, as I haven't had to tear into mine yet. I'll find out this week when I install my Ipod dock setup.

maxxell · 04-07-2005, 01:27 PM

I think it might be easiest to nab the line just before the cig lighter. I cant imagine ever putting anything else in that plug except maybe a cell phone charger.

Should I worry about keeping the fuse to the radar detector? That seems to be the only thing that the actual plug from the radar detector does. I guess I could just snip the wires above the plug and attach them to the wires feeding the cig lighter. Though that wouldn't be easy, and is a little scary, to be honest with you. Plus if I ever wanted to upgrade my radar detector, it would be a real pain. I think it better to make a new cig lighter port somewhere hidden. Do they sell kits to make new cig lighter ports? They have to. I'll start looking for that.

P.S. Sorry for the train-of-thought style of posting.

smeagol · 04-07-2005, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxxell

I think it might be easiest to nab the line just before the cig lighter. I cant imagine ever putting anything else in that plug except maybe a cell phone charger.

Should I worry about keeping the fuse to the radar detector? That seems to be the only thing that the actual plug from the radar detector does. I guess I could just snip the wires above the plug and attach them to the wires feeding the cig lighter. Though that wouldn't be easy, and is a little scary, to be honest with you. Plus if I ever wanted to upgrade my radar detector, it would be a real pain. I think it better to make a new cig lighter port somewhere hidden. Do they sell kits to make new cig lighter ports? They have to. I'll start looking for that.

Yup, they have them, and I've used them for similar instances. Some radar detector manufacturers offer cables to be used for hardwiring them, FWIW.

G-REX · 04-07-2005, 09:21 PM

I bought an additional 12v outlet but I direct wired it up to the battery for an always-on solution. Needed something like that for my cell phone charger and I couldn't get to a wall charger. I also use a small power inverter on there too to power my laptop.

I mounted it behind the glove box. I took the whole glove box and the surround out of the car so it wasn't easy but I wanted it 1) out of sight and 2) not a potential hazard to a passenger.

The positive (red) goes to the battery with a fuse holder in there close to the battery terminal. It's 10 or 12 gauge wire with a 30-amp fast acting blade-type fuse. The negative (black) just goes to a body ground. I think I just removed a nut somewhere, sanded the paint off with a a small dremel tip and bolted it down.

I'll try to snap a pic tonight.

Going to do a few more mods to the electrical this weekend. I'm hardwiring my JVC KT-SR2000 Sirius receiver in. Just got an in-dash mount for it, looks awesome. And my Valentine 1 direct wire kit is on it's way. I'm going above the rearview mirror with that one.

G-REX · 04-07-2005, 10:18 PM

Here are some pics.

04-07-2005, 11:44 AM	#1
maxxell Junior STI Driver Car: '05 Fav Mod: My Carputer Location: Miami, FL Posts: 177 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Stock clock pass-through to stereo? Hey all, I was just wondering whether anyone had passed a wire down from up where the stock clock is down to where the stereo is. I want to run my GPS receiver from basically the cigarette lighter up to the clock so I can have the receiver wire hidden. And since I'm running stuff through, I might as well run the radar detector wire through as well. So can it be done? Is there anything I should know about removing the clock piece? I have taken apart the dash before, and if it's just a similar set of clips, it shoudn't be difficult. Thanks for your help. And I'm a fan of the new management for this forum. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

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04-07-2005, 12:00 PM	#2
Number1 Amateur STI Driver Car: 04 Blue WRX STI Gold Fav Mod: Pioneer 7600DVD Location: Bowie, MD Posts: 36 IWSTI Addict since: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Hey man, Yeah, definitely possible. I've routed my Radar Detector power through up there, works great. To pop the clock out, used your fingers and grab a hold of the top left part of the panel holding the clock, lift up a little bit and sitck a flathead screwdriver in there, then lift up, it'll feel like you're going to break it but it will just pop out the in the back, I never got the front of it out(the hooks just wouldn't go with some major force of some type). You'll also need to take out the ducts for the air vents. Take the cup holder out because the screws that hold it in also fasten some part of the ducts. It is pretty straightforward after that, just undo what is in your way, hardest part is the lifting the clock panel out without having a heart attack. Wish I could remember more details better.

04-07-2005, 12:09 PM	#3
maxxell Junior STI Driver Car: '05 Fav Mod: My Carputer Location: Miami, FL Posts: 177 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I guess that makes you SS3 Gogeta. I was a DBZ freak in college. Anyway, how do you take the ducts out? That sounds intimidating. Plus, I have an '05 so the cupholder isn't a problem. Anyone with an '05 know how to remove the ducts?

04-07-2005, 12:26 PM	#4
maxxell Junior STI Driver Car: '05 Fav Mod: My Carputer Location: Miami, FL Posts: 177 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Hey, while I have the attention of the group. Anyone know how to either recess the stock cig lighter port, or shorten a radar detector plug? I want the lid to be able to close, but the radar detector power plug is in the way.

04-07-2005, 12:58 PM	#6
maxxell Junior STI Driver Car: '05 Fav Mod: My Carputer Location: Miami, FL Posts: 177 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	That has been offered to me before, but I love the fact that when I turn off the car, it turns off the radar detector. Wouldn't hardwiring it change that? I guess I could hardwire it directly behind the cig lighter, using those wires. But how much can I draw off those wires before running into trouble?

04-07-2005, 01:27 PM	#8
maxxell Junior STI Driver Car: '05 Fav Mod: My Carputer Location: Miami, FL Posts: 177 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I think it might be easiest to nab the line just before the cig lighter. I cant imagine ever putting anything else in that plug except maybe a cell phone charger. Should I worry about keeping the fuse to the radar detector? That seems to be the only thing that the actual plug from the radar detector does. I guess I could just snip the wires above the plug and attach them to the wires feeding the cig lighter. Though that wouldn't be easy, and is a little scary, to be honest with you. Plus if I ever wanted to upgrade my radar detector, it would be a real pain. I think it better to make a new cig lighter port somewhere hidden. Do they sell kits to make new cig lighter ports? They have to. I'll start looking for that. P.S. Sorry for the train-of-thought style of posting.

04-07-2005, 09:21 PM	#10
G-REX STI Driver Car: 08 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: AP Stage 2 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 294 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I bought an additional 12v outlet but I direct wired it up to the battery for an always-on solution. Needed something like that for my cell phone charger and I couldn't get to a wall charger. I also use a small power inverter on there too to power my laptop. I mounted it behind the glove box. I took the whole glove box and the surround out of the car so it wasn't easy but I wanted it 1) out of sight and 2) not a potential hazard to a passenger. The positive (red) goes to the battery with a fuse holder in there close to the battery terminal. It's 10 or 12 gauge wire with a 30-amp fast acting blade-type fuse. The negative (black) just goes to a body ground. I think I just removed a nut somewhere, sanded the paint off with a a small dremel tip and bolted it down. I'll try to snap a pic tonight. Going to do a few more mods to the electrical this weekend. I'm hardwiring my JVC KT-SR2000 Sirius receiver in. Just got an in-dash mount for it, looks awesome. And my Valentine 1 direct wire kit is on it's way. I'm going above the rearview mirror with that one.