Hardwiring question: direct to fuse box or steering/radio?

[LittleOverPSL]

I'm going to hardwire both cars - Honda Pilot and VW Golf. The Honda is going to be easy, I'll wire it up to the overhead console.

The Golf is the challenge. I got the wire looped thru the overhead liner, A pillar and down between the dashboard panel and A pillar. Right now the end is dangling by the hood lever.

The fuse box is right by the door (access with driver door open, fuse box on the side of dashboard).

If I go the fuse box route, it will always have power. Risk is that I may leave it on. However, I don't leave RDs on the windshield so it's minimum. I suppose I can add a switch to the wire and make it switched.

Or I can tap into a wire that gets juice with ignition. I tried to get under the dash, after struggling with it I got the dash bottom off (it isn't open as I've found in my previous Japanese cars). To my dismay, all wires were nicely zip tied and all and way up (I need rubber hands to reach there). I'll have to take this to an auto store, CC, BB, etc. Don't mind a reasonable charge as long as nothing is broken. Also, in this car the radio is ignition swiched at start up. When the car is turned off, the radio stays on until the key is removed.

Another option is to wire it to the map lights near the RVM. But these always have power.

What would you suggest/recommend?

[A-TownNavi]

i would personally wire it to the RVM and just turn it on and off accordingly. if you dont wanna do that, i would wire it to the stereo. i ordered an invisicord and couldnt be happier with the result. good luck 8) .

[DogGod]

If you do wire it to something that has constant power, eventually you will get used to turning it off every time. As for the VW I was helping a friend wire something into his Audi and I swear they are the most confusing cars to work on, I would say take it to Best Buy and have them put the wire kit in, they will do a great job. If you wire it yourself and break something you have to take care of getting it fixed, if they break something they pay and take care of it.

[cooljay]

I have mine hardwired to a switch then from the switch direct to the Cig. Lighter fuse. Had no problems and it works great. If you want to make sure everything is done correctly and don't want the fear of breaking something stop by circuit city or best buy and they'll do it for ya.

[LittleOverPSL]

The Golf doesn't have a powered mirror, so the invisicord isn't an option. I suppose the stereo wire would work, but getting to it is a b*tch. The cig lighter is always on so no ignition benefit there (then may as well hook into fuse panel).

Yes, the German cars are done quite different from the Japanese. The handling is quite different too. I've always owned Japanese models (Datsun, Mazda, Toyota, Subaru, Honda ), this is my first German car and their ride is so much more fun. I wouldn't go back to a Japanese model again.

Anyway, back on topic. I'll see if I can get an add-circuit fuse or a fuse tap from radio shack. Or if I can get the map lights panel off and tap into it.

[dmarcus48]

I've got an acura tl, went with an invisicord into the mirror/sunroof/domelight harness. Its a switched power wire and I didn't need to splice any wires.

Dave

[Orbital75]

I have a VW as well and I wired to the fuse box. This was very easy.... I ended up tapping the Cig Ligher Fuse.

[Arashi666]

Yes, the German cars are done quite different from the Japanese. The handling is quite different too. I've always owned Japanese models (Datsun, Mazda, Toyota, Subaru, Honda ), this is my first German car and their ride is so much more fun. I wouldn't go back to a Japanese model again.

I do like German cars, theyre immense fun like my dads BMW, but in every day life when im not trying to have fun, ill take my Honda any day

NOW to the matters at hand, like you said the Hoda will be easy, I did mine in like 15-20 minutes

for the VW, id wire to either the fuse box with a add-a-circuit, that would be my 1st choice, or another way is to wire to the stereo like I did on mine, a bit easier on aftermarket stereos, but if you know what youre doing a OE radio is easy as well

[SmaartAasSaabr]

Yes, the German cars are done quite different from the Japanese. The handling is quite different too. I've always owned Japanese models (Datsun, Mazda, Toyota, Subaru, Honda ), this is my first German car and their ride is so much more fun. I wouldn't go back to a Japanese model again.

Everyone who goes from a Toyota to a VW says this, then 2 years later half of them pull up in a Camry and they just say "shut up. Just shut up" The other half end up with a front yard filled with various Volkswagens...

[Arashi666]

Yes, the German cars are done quite different from the Japanese. The handling is quite different too. I've always owned Japanese models (Datsun, Mazda, Toyota, Subaru, Honda ), this is my first German car and their ride is so much more fun. I wouldn't go back to a Japanese model again.

Everyone who goes from a Toyota to a VW says this, then 2 years later half of them pull up in a Camry and they just say "shut up. Just shut up" The other half end up with a front yard filled with various Volkswagens...