sisken

A while back I had an installer put in a Passport SR7 radar detector. I had him put the display unit under the flip-up cover where the ashtray is. In the process of doing this, he removed the lighter socket.

After a while, I got tired of not having the extra lighter socket, so I decided to restore the ashtray and move the radar detector components around: https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...1&postcount=68

The problem I'm having now is that in order to get power for the radar detector, the dumbass installer didn't just tap into the lighter socket power, he completely cut the connector for the lighter socket off of the dash wiring harness. So the plug that connects to the back of the lighter socket is long gone. Now I want to tap back into the power and reconnect the lighter, but I have no connector.

I looked around at getting the part from Mazda, but you have to buy the entire wiring harness ($200+). Clearly not worth it.

Any ideas? Can I just connect a couple of spade connectors to the terminals on the lighter socket, wrap the whole mess in electrical tape and be done with it? Anyone know how I can get just the connector for the lighter socket (anyone have an old wiring harness laying around)?

airspeed

One way is to cut the connector on the lighter side and crimp both car side & lighter side wires together. But if you want an option to disconnect the lighter again in the future, then get new male & female connectors(not Mazda ones) from any electrical store and crimp both to the car side & lighter side.

Just a suggestion.

truemagellen

one word, solder

Gerael

wait a minute... you might wanna make sure that what you're tapping back into can handle the load of both devices... if not.. could blow some fuses.. and maybe wires/circuits

i dunno the layout.. so just check

truemagellen

Gerael makes a good point

one must know that the max amp load of the lighter plug in the front is lower than the center console one...in fact it isn't recommened for much more than lightweight electronics (a cell charging for example...not multiple devices).

The sr7 takes probably a couple of amps...if that...I wouldn't add much more either

I would direct connect the Sr7 to the fuse box...then reattach...solder would be best....easiest since you don't have much wire to work with

check out this DIY I recently made for the blinder...I describe taping the fuse box...easy

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-blinder-x-treme-laser-jammer-install-74885/#post1097810

sisken

First off, thank you to everyone who's replied to this thread so far. I know this isn't the most exciting topic on the board and I really appreciate people taking the time to help out a car wiring newbie like me.

So truemagellan has convinced me that my best bet is to power the SR7 by tapping into the fuse box using a 'mini add a fuse', which means I need to do two things: 1. rewire the SR7, 2. reconnect the lighter to its original wires.

I've attached a couple of pictures that show the situation I have and how I'm planning to fix it. I'd be really thankful if you folks could take a look at it and validate that I'm not doing anything that will fry my car.

I realize that I could make a lot of these connections without adding extra male/female connectors, but I'd like to do this in such a way that if I need to disconnect the lighter or SR7 easily in the future I can do so.

Thanks in advance!

truemagellen

everything looks good!

the only thing that looks odd is the diagram just because you used yellow to indicate ground and black as the 12v hot, I think they need to be swapped

keep us updated

oh wait not to make you use up more of your time but you could relocated the lighter plug to the left of the glove comparment where there is that small hole that is covered, a few people have done it...just a suggestion,,, it looks out of place in this new spot but may be useful for you application

Shinka in MD

one other option... have a used autoparts dealer try to find a wrecked rx8 (or for that matter, probably the mazda 6 or many other models share the same cigarette lighter components) and buy the connecter with a few inches of wire and splice back on to your harness... then go shoot the installer...

sisken

Nice catch. looks like I messed up the diagram. I've fixed it and updated my orginal post.

One last question on the wiring: would you splice into the ground for the lighter to ground the SR7, or attach the SR7 ground to a bolt, or does it really not matter?

Yeah, shoot the installer...I had that thought when I first opened up the dash and saw that he had completely snipped off the lighter connector ...I've managed to get over it without causing anyone physical harm.

That's a great idea about trying to find a junkyard to snip a connector of a wrecked RX-8. I've already submitted a request online. Hopefully I'll find one without too much problem. In the event that I can't find the original lighter connector and end up using solder, what's the best way to insulate the mess? Just wrap electrical tape around everything?

While this is all going on, I've sent my audio head unit to have the firmware upgraded (so I can install an Icelink) so when that comes back I'll be installing that and dealing with this lighter stuff all at once. Should be in a week or two. I'll update the thread then.

Thanks again for all your help!

truemagellen

takes a couple extra minutes to use a bolt...I'd go for it

the noise coming off a radar detector can be messy and if you are plugging in a cell phone or more importantly an audio device (mp3 player) it would be a pain

there is a few nice bolts under the steering column

I used the one on the left side that looks like it connects too large metal sheets together...you can also use the one for the clutch but it is a little bit messier over there

if you use the one I suggest you can run the ground and the power through 3/8inch wire conduit and mini zip tie it hassle free over the OBD port

sisken

That sounds like a great idea. Could I alternatively use this bolt under the ashtray (see picture, bottom left)? If I attach to a bolt, what's the best way to do it. I have a cut wire, so would I just strip off a bit of insulation, attach a eyelet connector, and put it around the bolt under the nut? If I use the bolt in the footwell, do I need to worry about anyting falling apart when I take off the nut?

truemagellen

that is just a nut unfortunately...it may work if you sand under the nut and the threading it is attached too. only problem is I'm not sure if that piece connects to the chassis ground, or if that piece has too much resistance to ground.

it can't hurt to try it...if it doesn't work use some nail polish or other lacquer to coat the now exposed metal...protect it from corrosion/rusting

good luck

Shinka in MD

I liked datasmiths ground location he used for his bel stealth radar detector...

look halfway down the page here:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...2&page=4&pp=15

it's a really good common ground point...

I took the bolt out and put it through a large ring connector with six short wires soldered to it... the other end of the six wires are connected to a six-pin molex connector (you can find them at any Radio Shack). Then I plug the matching connector with the ground wire to my radar detector, or whatever, into the ground connector I just installed. This way I have 6 solid grounds in place- anytime I want to add another circuit, all I have to do is push another contact into the connector and I'm set to go.... I hope this description makes sense... easier to do than to describe! When I installed it, I made a small harness that is run through cable loom (conduit) above the steering wheel, and terminates under the ashtray. There are three connectors here: one that provides ACC and BATT power and ground for my motorola IHF1000 bluetooth handsfree phone adapter, one that has ACC and ground for my phone charger which is buried under the ashtray with the phone power connector snaked out under the passenger-side trim panel, and a third connector I installed for future use- a charger cable for my iPod. This keeps everything out of site, and I can close my ashtray to hide the remote display for my Valentine V1. The other end of my custom harness has power connected using Littlefuse Add-A-Circuits to the fusebox in the driver side well. At least until I find a wrecked 8 I can buy a fuse box out of and steal some contacts to add to my vehicles fusebox in some of the empty holes...

truemagellen

I think that is the same bolt I used for grounding

really most of them are good

and I soldered most of my connections (butane solder iron is my weapon of choice)

sisken

Progress! Paul over at MazMart was able to find a stock connector for the back of the lighter without charging me for the whole wiring harness (which would have been over $500). Should be here in a week. I've got all my other parts lined up--wire, butt connectors, add-a-circuit fuse plug--so I should be good to undo the damage the installer did next weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

truemagellen

haha good job Sisken, your taking this very seriously

good luck with the install, I found my heated seat switches so I'm adding a nice factory switch for my Blinder Laser Jammer

sisken

Yeah, I guess discovering the hack job the installer did on my car got me all fired up!

Besides, what else is there to be serious about if not my RX-8? :-)

Snake8

Can you use the lighter plug in the front for the air compressor that comes with the car? I've used it before. If what you said is true, I've damaged it?

truemagellen

if it is still working you haven't damaged it, besides the fuse would blow, no damage would occur unless the fuse was faulty

I think you got lucky the fuse not blowing it happens...the wiring in the car was done beyond spec so the harness probably woulnd't melt down anyhow thank goodness

Snake8

Yeah. I guess I was lucky...I'd better not use the cig lighter for that any more then. I'll use the acc outlet in the center instead. Thanks for the response.

truemagellen

no problem bud

sisken

Well, I've pretty much undone the crappy job done by my radar detector installer.

Last weekend I did the following:
- Spliced a OEM connector for the back of the lighter socket back onto the factory wiring harness (thank MazMart!)
- Used a Littelfuse Mini Add-a-Circuit to tap into the ACC circuit to power the radar detector (used to be hooked up to the wiring harness where the lighter used to be) and spliced the ground for the radar detector into the common ground bolt behind the interior fuse box (thanks everyone for helping me find it). Ran the power and ground up over the steering column and into the center console where the wiring block for the radar detector resides.
- End result: My radar detector is powered and I have my lighter back

While I was at it, I hooked up the Dension Ice>Link Plus for my iPod, which is working great for the most part.

Thanks again for everyones' help. My RX-8 feels whole again. :D

truemagellen

great job Sisk

Shinka in MD

Good work sisken, happy to hear you've sorted everything out. If you haven't already done it, buy some split loom cable covering... you can find it at many auto supply stores like Pep Boys and at www.partsexpress.com... and cover the harness you ran from the fusebox over the steering column to the center console. There are so many sharp pieces of metal under the dash and in other places in the car, everytime I've run new wiring I've come up with a new cut.

I have gotten so I do everything I can on my 8 because I know I'll do a better job than most installers... no offense intended to anyone if you are an installer... but I'm a design engineer and EE and I know that no one will spend the kind of time I will spend and be as meticulous as I am when I work on my car. They couldn't afford to spend that kind of time and still remain competitive in business.