Hello all, over the weekend I completed my first modification to the car … a hardwire installation for an 8500. The DIY section helped tremendously as well as this picture:
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...0&d=1070744593
(Thanks WHealy)

Escort’s hardwire kit had that bulky smart cord ‘thing.’ I didn’t know where it put it … I looked on the internet and viewed http://safe-n-sound1.com/ . They had a hardwire kit with a mute button that was inconspicuous.

It took just over an hour, a majority of the time was spent fishing a wire thru some tiny gap below the a/c controls and above the cigarette lighter.

First pic is the mute button, second is everything installed, third is a close-up of the three main ends (including a ‘mini-blade' fuse tap). Final picture is everything that came in the package.

Thanks again for all the previous posts on the forums, so much info, so little time.

 

Very nice CW.

Just remember to take it off when you park. Since you mounted so low it's going to be visible to every crack head and slacker looking to make a quick buck.

What's your next mod?

 

lookin' good.
Is that the x50

 

A job well done...looks like you went through some angst...but its paid off.

 

Nice job.

 

Thanks all, its an improvement.

Its the old school 8500 ... waiting on a deal for a shifter to upgrade.

 

I just ordered one the other day and found a better place for the mute button. I am going to put it on the tab of the ashtray tray and have it mute when I press down on the ashtray door. The ashtray door will be my mute button, if I can do it the way I'm thinking the door will be open just enough for the button to depress and mute but still look like its closed.