Is there a way to get the cigarette lighter to turn off when the car turns off, or do I have to unplug my detector each time I turn the car off? Also, has anybody hard wired their detector into the rearview mirror as a power source? Thanks.

 

The 12v plug inside the console is switched... Just need a longer cord than supplied with most detectors.

 

Yes, the lighter plug is already a switched power source. Actually to me this is a drawback, because I can't plug my battery tender into it (whatever you plug the tender into has to be "on" in order to receive a charge).

 

Battery powered radar detectors are pretty good now and solve these issues. They use very little power unless actually receiving and amplifying a warning.

 

Safe-n-sound1 makes a nice Stealth Mirror Cord. I've installed one in my S-Type and done a write-up in the S-Type section. I'm sure they are similar and you simply need to find a switched power source from the mirror. They are cheaper on ebay.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...install-57335/

Safe-N-Sound1.com - Your scource for radar detector power cords & accessories

 

In both my XF,s I used a hard wire cord for my V! radar's and got power from the fuse panel in the passenger kick panel labeled Power outlet, this is a switched power source. use a fuse tap to make your connection. This only took me whole 8 min. to do.

 

I hard/direct wired my Escort Redline directly into the overhead console - took 10 minutes, literally. It comes on when the car starts. Just waiting on Escort to release the Escort Live direct wire smart cord and I'll be all set.

 

I would love to see pictures of the install and how the cable mounts

 

me too

 

OK, I'll have to pull the console back open to get the detailed wiring photos and descriptions, but I'll post the pix I've already taken so far. I think I used the blue & orange wire for power and the black wire for the ground, but can't be positive until I pull it back open and have a look.

As soon as Escort releases their Escort Live direct wire cord (it has been postponed for months, for some unknown reason), I'm going to install that through the black plastic piece that sits between the windshield and rear view mirror. I didn't want to go to too much trouble with the basic power cord (since I knew I would be replacing it with the Escort Live direct wire cord any day) and just ran it in front of the black plastic piece for the time being.

 

I own Jaguar XF 2012 and got dash cam installed.
The problem comes when I lock the car and then I lose the power in cigarette lighter so my camera stops recording after some time when the cam battery drains.
How can I make the cigarette lighter work with the car turned off and locked?

 

Actually, Nvmyjag has the simplest and quickest solution with the tips he gave in post #5 above……I bought a stealth (12") wire with a built in fuse and slipped it into the wire harness in the black casing behind the rear view mirror and the other end had a RJ11 connection for my radar detector. End of story !

 

You can't. You'll need to find another power source, but I don't think anything stays on longer than a minute after locking the car. I'm not a tech guy, but you might have to run it straight to the battery.

 

I'd rather play with the wiring in the overhead console, as it's easier to access and has more slack for splicing/tapping into. The wiring behind the black mirror casing is harder to access and packed in very tightly, and therefore harder to splice/tap into, etc. Just my opinion, though.

 

How does that housing behind the mirror come apart? I've tried but I am afraid to break it.

 

Very good.
Also, where can I download XF wiring diagram so I know what I'm doing?
I need to make micro USB connector coming out to connect dash cam.
Is there anyone around skilled who can give us the exact solution?

 

Actually,as I said in post #12 the stealth wire acts like a needle that just slips into the harness behind the mirror inside of the black casing….too easy. Every other solution for power is a lot of work. Of course you must know which wire to tap in the harness (it is like a plug with wires inserted) I have a manual (including wiring diagrams) and have to look them up again.

 

Chuck, if you could provide the harness and wire color/location info it would be a great help. Also how to safely get that housing apart?

 

Hey Roswell, we had this discussion last year around October….remember? I looked it up in my private messages and this is what I found. "Hi....yes the short (12") wire harness found on E-Bay from Safe-N-Sound that has two thin wires on one end and a RJ11 phone end on the other. Remove the plastic shell around the mirror stalk and disconnect the plastic wire connection and simply slide the two wires down into the top component….these are plugs with wire inserts and can be gently pulled outward for access (black into the black and the red into the Brown/Yellow ) .....a little pressure and they slide right in. Follow the rest of the instructions and the phone connection is right there where you want it. I am thinking of purchasing Escort 8500x50 (new) but am struggling with the mounting at the mirror." Remember too that I have an 09 XF/SC. The plastic casing behind the mirror is just snapped together and when gently squeezed it will pop apart. Good idea to move the mirror to the left or right to gain as much access as possible.

 

Right you are. I didn't have that in my inbox anymore. Thanks a bunch!