Radar detector integration

I've never liked things stuck on the windshield so I integrated a radar detector into the radio head unit

Soldered extension cables to where the display and buttons were connected

Added three microswitch pushbottons behind the faceplate on the head unit

Removable connector (because I wanted to be able to remove the head unit in the future)

Yeah, not my best work but I didn’t want any metal in front of it — Yeah, not my best work but I didn't want any metal in front of it

Head unit connections plus you can see the display mounted in the old ‘seat belt’ warning cutout — Head unit connections plus you can see the display mounted in the old 'seat belt' warning cutout

Some DB25s (Radioshack used to be a real store!)

A hand-me-down 1994 Saab 900S and a Passport Escort radar detector.

I don’t like things stuck on my windshield - at least not within my typical field of view. My Passport Escort radar detector also had buttons on it that I had to reach for like some short-armed T. rex. So I decided to integrate the radar detector into the car.

First up, I disassembled the detector to see how the display and buttons were wired in. There were only about two dozen connections so how hard could this be? I desoldered the display and buttons from the main circuit board, replaced the connections with some 8 conductor extension cables, wrapped the whole thing in plastic and wire tied it to the horn just behind the bumper. The detector can’t have anything metal in front of it and the bumper is a nice big chunk of plastic.

Then I popped out a “Fasten Seat Belt” warning light from the dash (I always wear my seat belt!) and glued the display in there (after soldering a few conductors to its pins).

Then I pulled apart the head unit faceplate and put three microswitch pushbuttons behind three buttons that I never used anyway. Saab radios have always had too many buttons!

Connect everything together with some DB9 and DB25 connectors (I miss Radio Shack) and now I have a seamlessly integrated radar detector and only slightly less money!

For those who were wondering, the alert speaker was part of the display and continued to work. What good would a radar detector be if it didn’t make noise?