Hardwiring RJ-11 Radar Detector for Toyota MKI MR2
Using Standard Phone Line Cable (Valentine 1, Escort Passport, etc.)

Materials

Illustrated Log


Photos taken by Mike Choi on Nikon Coolpix 775. Not retouched. Arrows/Text added with Photoshop, optimized for web in ImageReady.

1.

Give yourself enough slack at this end and test it by plugging into detector. Start here. Make sure key is out of ignition. For extra safety, disconnect negative battery cable.

2.

Start by tucking in the wire into the headliner, and then using a flat-head screwdriver, gently lift the plastic covering on the A-Pillar and tuck the cable in.

3.

Short of removing the dash, this is the best I could do to tuck the cable in at the top of the dash at the A-Pillar. Use a flat-head screwdriver to tuck in as much as you can. Open door and slide it down...

4.

...to here and tuck it behind the plastic trim pieces and behind the floor carpeting material. Remove the center console trim (where radio and climate controls are; by removing two screws at the top and sliding it out. The radio is attached to the trim piece. Unplug the console light plug, radio plug, and radio antenna plug. It helps to have the e-brake level pulled up and the ashtray removed (simply lift up) to make room for removal.

The cable should come to the back of the center console and where there is a huge gap at the rear of the console where the wire can be pulled from the front.

5.

Let's take a look at the RJ-11 (phone line) plug connector (the male side). With the tab up, the pins are numbered from left to right. (Technically RJ-11 has 6 pins, but most phone wire only has 4 wires or simply 2). Pins 1 and 4 are not used. The coloring of the wires varies greatly, which is why you have to do it by its position on the connector, NOT by its color. On mine, Pin 2 was Red (for the 12 volt power) and Pin 3 was Green (for ground). Just jot this down before you cut off the wire here. Peel back the outer sheath (not the inner 4 wires) to prepare for splicing.

6.

Here is the lighter socket. We will be drawing power from the lighter socket. (Another suggestion is to use the wiring for the radio to get the power, but that varies with your car and any aftermarket stereo system you have, and you have to know which one is ground and which one is 12V. The lighter socket plug should be the same everywhere.) The lighter socket has 4 wires going to it, but only 2 of them are of interest: The solid red one (12V) and the white one with black stripe (Ground).

7.

This is the connector that goes to the lighter socket. Separate this connector to make splicing easier. Note the color of the Power and Ground wires.

8.

The other connector has the same wire colors (my Red one looks Pink due to discoloration...). This is where we will insert the splicers for splicing in the wires from the RJ-11 wire.

9.

There! Spliced in. Follow direction on splicer box. 3M splicers (like the kind that comes with the Valentine 1 or Escort Passport 8500 Hardwire kit are the best, but hard to find. This is what I found at my local Home Depot).

10.

Plug in the wire to the detector. Turn key to "ACC" position and your detector should power up.

DISCLAIMER: I am not liable for damages that you cause to your car or radar detector by reading this page and following the directions. This is merely a write-up of how I did it, and maybe it'll be helpful reference information to you. You promise not to sue me by reading this page. Cool.

Mike Choi / mike@325ci.com