Windshield Accessories Wiring - Write Up

Hi All,

Until now I've had my windshield electronics cables hanging for my Passport 9500ix and my blue light. I also wanted to hard wire my GoPro, and get a CB semi-temporary installed. Here's a write up of how I did it. I'm not great at write ups, and I haven't done a lot of them, so I'm very sorry if I miss steps or pics. There are quite a few pics, but they come later in the post.

I should note a few things before I start. First, the power sources I used are likely temporary because eventually I plan to get one of the switching systems to power all of this. Second, although I love my GoPro, it sucks as a dashcam because I have yet to find a way to get it to auto power up and record when it senses power, even though I ran direct constant power to it. Third, I'm comfortable with the mounting of the CB, but I will take it in and out. The antenna is magnetic, the cable goes in through the third window and under the seats and mats, while the power is just plugged into the lighter outlet, all of this so I can put it in for certain trips and take it out when not in use (I don't have a constant need for it). But when in use, I like the placement.

1. Disassembly of the interior. I now realize that I should take pics during disassembly. Sorry guys, not a pro at write-ups. Lesson learned, but here is how I did it. Drivers side, I removed the two screws for the sunvisor, tug on it a bit, and the clip will release. Be careful to not pull too hard, then reach up, pull the harness out of the small hole (for the lights in the mirror), and unplug it. Then you need to take the clip for the visor holder, turn it about 40 degrees, and it will "click", then it just pulls down and out. For the drivers side pillar, I took a plastic interior tool, popped the plug out of the pillar where it says AIRBAG, and removed the 10mm bolt. On the passenger side I repeated the same steps for the sunvisor. For the passenger pillar/handle, using the interior tool, popped the two plugs out of the pillar handle, and removed the two 10mm bolts. The overhead console is different than the GEN II, there are no screws. Starting in the rear, pull down hard until the clips pop, and work your way forward. The entire overhead console pops out, then disconnect the single white harness and set aside. I did not need to disassemble the drivers side lower portion, but I did on the passengers side. Start by removing the center portion of the door/kick plastic by just pulling up, it will pop off. Then for the upper/forward kick panel, remove the one plastic nut that goes into the floor, and pull it to the inside, and it will pop off. Next is the center console. Gently twist and push down on the chrome ring for the shifter boot, and it will snap down. Unscrew the shifter knob. Start in the front near the cupholder, pull up like you mean it, and it will start to come up. Work your way back, open the center console, and pop it loose all the way around by firmly pulling up. BE CAREFUL not to pull up more than an inch or so until you expose the harness on the passenger side. Reach in, unplug, and slide the wire out from under the plastic tab that holds it in place. Pull up the parking brake handle, and work the center console piece upwards, and out.

Now everything was open as far as I need it to be.

2. The first thing I did was took the cable for the Escort/Passport 9500ix and ran it up into the headliner next to the mirror loom. I ran it across to the drivers side, aft of the visor clip mount, aft of the visor main mount, and out into the pillar. I zip tied it to the other wire bundle, being careful to avoid the pillar airbag or tearaway points for it. I rant it down between the pillar and dash, and it came out onto the floor. Then I took the remote mute/warning switch, 3M taped it to the column, and routed those wires down under the dash. Up underneath I used an add-a fuse mini, plugged it all in, zip tied the wires up and out of the way, and that one was good to go. This one was much less exciting, there really wasn't a lot to do but route wires and put in the add-a fuse. I don't like it because I can't put the cover on the fuse box, but when I get the interior switch module I'll change it.

3. Next I mounted the CB. I just kind of held it up in random places, and decided I liked it on the passenger side of the center console aimed up at me. I penciled the bracket outline, then took the bracket off, held it up again, drilled two very small holes, then used 4 self tappers to put the bracket on.

4. Next came the GoPro and the blue light. The GoPro wasn't easy, it uses it's own plug and cable, and needs stepped down USB power. I took an original GoPro cable, plugged it into a 10' USB extension cord. Then I took a USB lighter outlet, plugged it into a new AUX female lighter outlet, taped them up, and good to go. Now the GoPro is on USB power.

First, I ran the wires for the blue light and GoPro up into the visor, and into the center console area. You can see the lower right is the wire for the blue light, then the USB connection mid left is for the GoPro.



I ran those wires across the headliner, aft of the visor clip, aft of the visor mount, and down the passenger side pillar, and zipped them to the existing wire looms, again being careful not to interfere with the airbag or breakable mounts for the airbag.




I routed them down between the pillar and dash, and out the bottom they came.





I routed the wires further up under the passenger side of the dash, still being careful of that airbag. They can't be secured to that bottom dash panel because it deploys with the airbag, so I ran them parallel and secured them with the harness for the HVAC system, and I ran them over behind the center console. Here is the pic with the CB bracket on, and the wires for the blue light and GoPro hidden up under the passenger side dash.



I brought the wires through the small tunnel between the firewall and center console, and brought them in from the drivers side because it was better access than from the passenger side. I ran the wires with the existing looms, and secured them in place. I did extend the wires for the blue light (I was short), and I ended up coiling the remaining wire for the USB.


I tapped from the lighter outlet that goes into the center console, and I did this for a few reasons. 1) I needed keyed power, 2) the blue light is LED and the GoPro is stepped down, so they both use very little power, 3) I have never used that lighter outlet anyway. So I tapped the + and - from that outlet by wiring up the AUX separate female lighter outlet, the blue light wires, the console lighter outlet, and the +/- wires from the truck. Once they were all wired up, I plugged the USB lighter into the AUX socket, plugged the USB cable in, made sure everything was clear, and hit the power. With everything working, I secured all wires and the new plugs out of the way of the shifter and ebrake.



Once that was done, I turned everything back on and left it all on for a while just to make sure I didn't have any power problems. No hot wires, no blown fuses, all good to go. Then I put everything back together, and buttoned it up.

Once I had all the interior pieces in, I grabbed the CB, stuck it into the mount, and that was done. I'm happy with most of it. I'm not in love with how I actually wired it because again, I want to get one of those internal switching systems for accessories. But I don't have the time at the moment to get into that, and this was better than having all those damn wires hanging all over the place. So this all works for me for now. Maybe a rainy day in the fall I'll go for a more advanced light kit, remote start, and put in the aux switch system then. It will be easy enough to put the original wires back to the console lighter outlet. I would love to tap into the switched power for the phones under the dash that I'll never use, but I haven't figured out how to get that apart yet, and I don't know what it puts out.

Finished product...

 

Holy shit, what a job. Nice work, you are braver than I am.

 

Thanks. It really wasn't that big of a deal, more time consuming than anything. There were only a few screws through the whole deal. Everything really snaps in/out. Just need to take your time, pay attention, and read through the threads to get the inside on others experiences. I just have a very strong preference to keep things as clean as possible.

 

Nice work !

 

Enough shit on the front windshield to make it look like a police truck if I were to look in my rear view mirror lol

 

Thank you Traveler for the great write up and pics. I want to hardwire my GoPro Hero-4 Black and Escort 360. Also thinking about a CB again. Was looking at Spy Tec but not sure which one to get. Would like to know what other folks used. Again, great job!

 

Nice write up! if your ever looking to get into the area with the QI charger, you will need to take almost every panel, including the glove box out. you can reach down from the radio to it, but i found it to tight for me to work in that space.

 

Wow, that's crazy...there is seriously no other way to access the power to that thing? It's useless to me, I'd love to unplug it and take the power that it would use. I didn't have time to explore it too much the last time I got my interior apart, but I figured one of these days I'd go back in, take off the front part of the center console, and it would be there and accessible. Geez, what a waste.

 

I started thinking it was just going to be the radio stack I would have to remove, but my hands are large and it was hard to see what I was working with. Afer debating if it was worth it, a I decided I try and remove it. Turns out the panel with the cubby and buttons is tucked behind the panels on the left and right, as well as the center console. I could have ripped it out, but I wanted to do it right.

This is what I ended up adding.

 

Pretty sure this is not the case. This video shows how to disassemble the area with just a few panels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nfcFKdooNw

 

he's doing just the ECT mod, which is doable like the video shows. to actually play with the wiring for the light in the little cubby, or for the wireless charger in the cubby you will need to remove the panel.
or if you need to cut it like i did for my switch bank...

 

I want to hardwire my GoPro 4 to a push switch for power. Does anyone know if this part on Amazon will work?
Spy Tec Dash Cam Hardwire Kit - Micro USB - K1S, Mini 0806, Mini 0805, Z Edge and F170HD

 

I'm with you m8. I'll tackle just about anything mechanical but when it comes to wiring stuff in my new truck I break out in a cold sweat and get hives! I'll leave that kind of a wiring job to someone much more capable than myself.

 

nice write up!

 

Wow I didn’t know this. Thank you!

 

Looks like your filming for an upcoming “Back to the Future “ movie.