Hardwired yet non hardwired GPS for $10.99 for those of us who hate cutting wire....

First of all, I am not one to do many modifications myself. It's not my idea of fun. I don't have the patience or the time or the inclination. I hate wrenching. I don't even do my own oil changes (but this truck may change that). I especially don't like to go too far from stock as I know from being a vehicle buyer in my life I prefer a non "fc,ked with" vehicle.

That said, If I can do something anyone can do it and likely better.


So for the few who don't want to tap into the fuse box or buy a hard wire kit. this is a preschool way to mod an "always on yet switchable" non permanent GPS in 20 minutes using one of the two 12v receptacles on the console. Without cutting a wire anywhere.

I did this because I need BT and didn't want to replace the stock radio or install a standalone BT unit. Unit is a Garmin with Traffic so I needed the Garmin adapter and did not want to cut it up.

I bought an extension 12v cable at Radio Shack with a switch on the plug side. This is so easy no pics are needed.


1. Take out cup holder assy buy simply pulling it out
2. Fish female side of reception though and behind the kick panel on passenger side. Leave wire on the floor.

3. Remove Glove box
4. Remove A pillar on passenger side
a. Remove caps and screw to OS Handle
b. Remove OS handle and side pillar cover

5. Leave GPS adapter tail where you want to mount GPS and run the cable under the edge of the head liner. No need to remove the liner. I ran the cable from the mirror to the right pillar and down just behind the glovebox where I plugged in the extension and put a small piece of Duct tape to hold.together.

5. Gather excess wiring and tie wrap. (I did not want to cut the wire because i did not want splices and there is A LOT of room behind and above the glove box. I tie wrapped the bundle to the steel cross bar running above the Glove box.

6.Replace everything and you have a clean hardwired.....yet not....GPS/BT unit that comes on and pairs with a phone upon start up.

Mine is mounted above the mirror where it cannot be seen easily from outside the windshield. The tail is about 4" sticking out from the headliner. The male end extends a few inches from the back lip of the cup holder and stays plugged in. (Thankfully there are two 12v receptacles)


So easy Pics and red arrows and circles are not needed....

 

I'd love to see the finished product...

 

x2

 

Ok Not much to see but here are some pics of the finished product.


I did a search for "GPS hardwire" and all these complicated procedures came up and hardwire kits and fuse kits, tapping overhead consoles etc......... (remember I don't like cutting wires) but I wanted to use the BT feature without intervention or cables running down from my RV mirror.

with the following caveats:

A>spend less than $ 20 and 20 minutes....LOL
b>Without changing anything about the electrical system of the truck or Garmin Unit
b> The ability to reverse everything in 10 minutes
c> the ability to switch off the GPS with a switch rather than having to tilt it down and find the switch on top of the GPS unit as they tend to fall off when messed with.

This is what I think people who want to hard wire in fuseboxes want to avoid. But I prefer to use what the vehicle already gives me. I tried to snap off the fugly receptical cap but it appears it doesn't simply snap off without breaking it. That is the only thing that bothered me.....LOL





View from passenger side....That little hump in the liner is the Traffic receiver tuck away. Its center mirror so it looks natural..LOL



From the outside..nothing much to see. Hidden by the tint



Behind the glovebox You can see the attached receptacles duct taped. LOL The excess wire from the extension is bundled tie wrapped and attached to the steel cross bar above the glove box

 

Looks very good. Have you had any issues getting the suction mount to stay on the textured, tinted surface between the sun visors? I was thinking of mounting my GPS where you did but was thinking it wouldn't stay there very well. Thanks!