Installing SRX

I have just bought a Passport SRX and was thinking about getting a carshop to install it for me, but i havent got a quote of less than $400. As a result, i have thought about installing the detector myself, but i wanted to get some insight from people on here who may have already done that. I have an Audi A4 just fyi. I have done some work on my car before so i am not completely new to messing about with cars and electronics, but my main concern is how hard is all the wiring from the display unit to the modual etc... any help would be very great, and installations guides (if they are out there) would do wonders. Thanks in advance!

Everything just snaps into the module via phone type push-in connector.The only hard part is mounting the front sensors and antenna.The rear sensor just mounts on the top of the plate with the same screws that hold your plate on.Make sure that the sensors and antenna are straight and level.Best thing is to sit and do your layout in your head visually while looking at your vehicle.Hold the antenna where you would like it to go and see if anything will be in your way,then do the same with each front sensor.

The only hard part is routing the wiring into the cabin. The rest is plug and play. Remember to mount the sensors so they have a clear view of the road, are pointed straight ahead and level and you will be good. The 3M mounting tape works great.

thanks for the quick reply's guys! Yeah i figured that the hardest part is going to be routing the wiring to the cabin. My friend has this installed on his S4, but had it done by some guy and has the display mounted right under the top of the dashboard of the speedo display. I figure that the only way to do this is my pulling off the display and passing the wire through there. I have seen another guy who also got it done professionally mount it in his ash tray (in the center console for audi) which is really nice because he can just close it to conceal it, but i think it would be really difficult to do this as the whole center console would have to be removed to do this.

I know the SRX comes with a guide as to how to install it, but does it say where to hook it up to for power and so it starts automatically when the car is turned on? Sorry for all the questions, i just want to make sure i know how to do pretty much everything before i start installing it and find out that i dont know how to do s***! I know how to run the wiring for the front 2 laser detectors and antenna as i have run wiring from the engine bay through the firewall before, so thats not the problem. More worried about having everything hook up properly.

Thanks again!

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Originally Posted by big_man1000

thanks for the quick reply's guys! Yeah i figured that the hardest part is going to be routing the wiring to the cabin. My friend has this installed on his S4, but had it done by some guy and has the display mounted right under the top of the dashboard of the speedo display. I figure that the only way to do this is my pulling off the display and passing the wire through there. I have seen another guy who also got it done professionally mount it in his ash tray (in the center console for audi) which is really nice because he can just close it to conceal it, but i think it would be really difficult to do this as the whole center console would have to be removed to do this.

I know the SRX comes with a guide as to how to install it, but does it say where to hook it up to for power and so it starts automatically when the car is turned on? Sorry for all the questions, i just want to make sure i know how to do pretty much everything before i start installing it and find out that i dont know how to do s***! I know how to run the wiring for the front 2 laser detectors and antenna as i have run wiring from the engine bay through the firewall before, so thats not the problem. More worried about having everything hook up properly.

Thanks again!

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I was in the same boat for my LI/9500ci install. I probably could've done it myself, but I decided to use a pro instead of getting it 95% right and messing up the power. You really can't mess up the actual head wiring - just label your extensions and it's plug and play. The power was the tricky part for me. I got quotes between $200 and $600 for my install; check with BestBuy if you have one with mobile installation near you - they gave me the best quote, but I wasn't impressed with the guy that would be doing the work.

ya thats the problem. there is a best buy near my house, but i went to them to do an audio install on my old car ('97 ford explorer) and i wasnt very impressed with their job. they messed up the door cards on my passenger and driver sides doors and the job just wasnt very clean or well done, which i dont want to be done on my car, which is why i really want to try and do it myself. could anybody out there give me help with the power part? thats all im really concerned with. like where i hook up the power supply to etc. or could give me a walk through of what to do

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Originally Posted by big_man1000

ya thats the problem. there is a best buy near my house, but i went to them to do an audio install on my old car ('97 ford explorer) and i wasnt very impressed with their job. they messed up the door cards on my passenger and driver sides doors and the job just wasnt very clean or well done, which i dont want to be done on my car, which is why i really want to try and do it myself. could anybody out there give me help with the power part? thats all im really concerned with. like where i hook up the power supply to etc. or could give me a walk through of what to do

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The power supply is the easiest part, get an add a fuse and hook it to the fuse box, then ground it and you are done.

As for Best Buy, they are the worst for any install, most of the installers are on site trained with very little experience. Circuit City had better installers for the most part. I would go to a local speciality car audio shop and ask questions to get an idea if the installer knows his sh*t.

I know there are some empty fuse slots in my car, but how would i tap into it per say or get power from it to the radar? sorry i have never tried tapping into a fuse. also how big of a fuse do i need, like what power rating?

As for best buy, yeah they are not very good quality installers and wont every go back to them again. I have never been to circuit city but i heard they were pretty decent when they still had stores open in the atlanta area.

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Originally Posted by big_man1000

I know there are some empty fuse slots in my car, but how would i tap into it per say or get power from it to the radar? sorry i have never tried tapping into a fuse. also how big of a fuse do i need, like what power rating?

As for best buy, yeah they are not very good quality installers and wont every go back to them again. I have never been to circuit city but i heard they were pretty decent when they still had stores open in the atlanta area.

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You can't use an empty one. You need to use a live one. I used the one for the radio, that way the SRX will turn on and off, whenever the radio does.

Parts Express:Littelfuse Add-A-Circuit Fuseholder for ATO/ATC Fuses

o ok cool thanks man, appreciate it. Its these little bits of info that i really need to prepare myself for the install. the minor details!

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Originally Posted by djrams80

I used the one for the radio, that way the SRX will turn on and off, whenever the radio does.

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LMAO DJ!

Just for archival purposes here, tapping into the radio fuse does not mean you will have to drive with the radio blasting music to use the SRX, LOL.

(It just means that the 'hot' wire from the fuse box to the radio has 12V when the car is powered up. If you tap anywhere along that wire you will get 12V.)

Darn I was going to use the radio power button for the kill switch!!:lol::lol::lol:

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Originally Posted by FoolishOne

LMAO DJ!

Just for archival purposes here, tapping into the radio fuse does not mean you will have to drive with the radio blasting music to use the SRX, LOL.

(It just means that the 'hot' wire from the fuse box to the radio has 12V when the car is powered up. If you tap anywhere along that wire you will get 12V.)

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Originally Posted by category4

Darn I was going to use the radio power button for the kill switch!!:lol::lol::lol:

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You guys are dicks! :lol::lol::lol:

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Originally Posted by djrams80

You guys are dicks! :lol::lol::lol:

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I've been called worse and from you DJ I take it as a compliment.:D

so i can basically tap into any fuse that is live (it is being used by one of the electrical components) and it will work for getting the SRX powered on when the car turns on?

You can tap into any fuse circuit you like. If you tap into one like the radio that is only powered when the car is on or in ACC mode then you don't have to worry about turning the SRX off, as it will power off when you turn the car off. If you tap into a circuit that is powered all the time, then if you leave the SRX on when you leave the car it may drain the battery down for you.

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Originally Posted by big_man1000

so i can basically tap into any fuse that is live (it is being used by one of the electrical components) and it will work for getting the SRX powered on when the car turns on?

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Some of those fuses are live when the car is off. Obviously, you don't want one of those.

what do you recommend? i would go with the radio, but i know audi has a feature that allows the radio to be turned on even when the car isnt. also i like to drive sometimes with the radio powered off rather than just volume (dont ask me why) so this would turn off the radar as a result. What would you recommend? would i be able to look at the fuse diagram to see which one would be used for the ignition? and also does it matter what strength fuse is in that slot and would i need to replace it with a stronger fuse

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Originally Posted by big_man1000

what do you recommend? i would go with the radio, but i know audi has a feature that allows the radio to be turned on even when the car isnt. also i like to drive sometimes with the radio powered off rather than just volume (dont ask me why) so this would turn off the radar as a result. What would you recommend? would i be able to look at the fuse diagram to see which one would be used for the ignition? and also does it matter what strength fuse is in that slot and would i need to replace it with a stronger fuse

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Radio is fine just because the radio is off the fuse still has power so the SRX will have power. On the add a fuse circuit use a 3-5 amp fuse in the new circuit for the SRX keep the original fuse in the old circuit tap.

Sorry if we confused you busting on DJ.

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Originally Posted by big_man1000

what do you recommend? i would go with the radio, but i know audi has a feature that allows the radio to be turned on even when the car isnt. also i like to drive sometimes with the radio powered off rather than just volume (dont ask me why) so this would turn off the radar as a result. What would you recommend?

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If you power the SRX off the radio's fuse, turning off the radio would not turn off the SRX. For me, when I turn off the car and open the door, my radio and my RD turn off at the same time.

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Originally Posted by big_man1000

would i be able to look at the fuse diagram to see which one would be used for the ignition? and also does it matter what strength fuse is in that slot and would i need to replace it with a stronger fuse

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No, do not replace the radio fuse with a higher amperage fuse. Like category4 said, use a 3-5 amp fuse for the SRX and the original radio fuse for the radio. When you get the add-a-fuse in your hands, it will make sense. If not, come back here and ask about it then.

ok i think i understand it. do you know if they sell this add a fuse circuits at hardware stores like home depot or lowes?

I think some auto parts places carry them. Or you can order them online. You just need to make sure you get the right size for the fuses you have. The one pictured id for the larger size, they also have it for the mini size.

Parts Express:Littelfuse Add-A-Circuit Fuseholder for ATO/ATC Fuses

alright cool... i guess the easiest way to check would be to bring in the fuse from fusebox for the radio in with me when i go to buy it to avoid having to go back twice...

Now after reading over the installation manual and trying to picture everything and the only thing i am slightly unsure about is how i would connect the fuse to the wire and is that the power supply it means when it says connect to a "switched 12-volt supply"?

if anybody has any pictures of how they installed their power supply, pictures speak a thousand words...

thanks for everybody's help!

If you do it right and pick the right fuse, I don't think you need to add another fuse. No?

See the pic.

If for some reason there is a power surge BEFORE the fuse, the fuse will break and power/surge will NEVER see the detector. Else as long as it is below the amps stamped in one blade, power will pass through the (elongated) loop just fine.

When the car is off, the switch on the red wire is open, which means the fuse/detector/radio is not getting power. This is the kind you want.

There are some fuses like dome lights that ALWAYS have power to them, they are always being fed power from the battery. You want to stay away from these.

If you do need a fuse, put one of these inline before the detector, but after the fuse. Put a very low amp fuse in the holder.

30-Amp Inline Mini Blade-Type Fuse Holder - RadioShack.com