Radar Detector Installation

For 2^nd generation (2007 – up) Sport Tracs

with the Moonroof option

by Pat Freeman

April 8, 2006

The 2007 Sport Trac with the moonroof option has easy access to wiring above the headliner. Tapping into these wires will provide power for a radar detector when the key is in the accessory position. This will take about 30 minutes. Your radar detector must be able to accept 12v at the connector. NOTE: If your radar detector has an adaptor which changes the voltage, then these instructions may not be for you.

Be sure to have two 22-18 Gauge Tap splicers (the red ones available at most auto parts stores), as well as the wire and the appropriate connector for your radar detector. If your detector takes 12v directly, you can use the adapter that came with your radar detector if you’re willing to cut the cigar lighter adapter off, or just get some wire and a connector at an electrical parts store. I soldered the appropriate connector to some high gauge wire. But, if you cut the supplied adapter off, be sure you use an ohm meter to distinguish which wire is positive (connected to the tip of the adapter) and which is negative.

To remove the panel to get access to the ST wiring, pull down on the panel. Four clips hold it to the roof.

Identify the two connectors which power the lighting and moonroof rocker switch. The black connector can be easily pulled. The gray connector may require a screwdriver to be gently inserted in order to remove it from its receptacle.

The black connector has four wires. The black wire (third from left) will be your negative connection for the radar detector.

Looking upward, you can identify a harness that is running to the sunroof motor. The connector at the end of this harness was not easy for me to remove, so I simply used a knife to carefully remove some of the tape around the wires to expose the yellow wire. There is another yellow wire but it has a red stripe, but that is not what we want. The yellow wire from the harness provides the positive 12V we need. You may need to remove some of the tape on the black wire as well in order to expose enough of the wire.

Next, route the wire for your radar detector from the windshield to the factory wires above the headliner. I was able to easily run my wires through the plastic channel which was installed by the factory. I used heat shrink tubing near the radar detector for a factory appearance.

Be sure to know which wire is positive and which is negative. Use the Tap splicers to connect to the appropriate factory wiring, as identified in the picture, below.

You may want use a volt meter, first, to make sure you have everything connected properly before connecting your radar detector. Put your key into the ignition, turn to accessory (one click) and you should see the correct voltage and polarity at the radar detector connector. Turn the ignition off and you should get zero volts if your door is open. If your door is shut, you will have to open it for the voltage to go to zero. This is because the ST allows accessory power with the key out to run accessories like the radio and windows. If this is not working, troubleshoot your connections. When satisfied (or if you are sure you got the wiring correct), connect the radar detector and run the same test.

When done, route your wiring away from the heat of the lights in the panel and away from the four clips that hold the panel to the roof and gently push the panel into place until all connectors snap. You should now have a very clean looking radar detector installation.