Permanent Navi Wiring Install?

[cycoxtr]

I was wondering if anyone has attempted to permanently install a portable navigation system. I have a garmin unit that I would like to wire into the car's fuse box instead of keeping it plugged into the cigarette lighter. I see collegehillshonda.com has a wiring harness but I'm not sure if that's compatible.

[smatts]

I have a nuvi too and it looks just like the one in the kit from college hills honda, I'd love to get the kit minus the actual navigation.

[Spreee]

if its powered by the cigarette lighter plug, you can cut it off and splice the wire apart. inside should be 2 wires. one a 12v and one a ground. (could be red=12v, black=ground)

just wire it up! same way with radar detectors.

[runbikerun]

Do you guys connect directly to the wires under the cigarrete lighter or go to the fuse box?

[Injundon]

depends.. is the cigarette lighter adapter also a transformer that brings it down to 5 volts?.

I do that install constantly for Satellite radio installs. Just get some about 3ft of speaker wire. Split about 10" of it. And strip the side you'll use as negative about 6". Wrap it around the outside metal of the lighter plug and tape it down with electrical tape. Unscrew the tip from the lighter plug. Remove the metal pin at the tip. Strip like 1/4" of wire of your +12V wire. Insert the bare copper that you just stripped into the empty platic piece that you just reoved the metal pin from. ..Re-insert said metal pin. (you'll need a screwdriver to push it in) This makes a nice tight conenction. Tape it all up and you now have 2 wires coming off the adapter. No damaged or destroyed parts and you can wire it behind the head unit or any other suitable cicuit.

[sonicsc1]

Originally Posted by Injundon

depends.. is the cigarette lighter adapter also a transformer that brings it down to 5 volts?.

I do that install constantly for Satellite radio installs. Just get some about 3ft of speaker wire. Split about 10" of it. And strip the side you'll use as negative about 6". Wrap it around the outside metal of the lighter plug and tape it down with electrical tape. Unscrew the tip from the lighter plug. Remove the metal pin at the tip. Strip like 1/4" of wire of your +12V wire. Insert the bare copper that you just stripped into the empty platic piece that you just reoved the metal pin from. ..Re-insert said metal pin. (you'll need a screwdriver to push it in) This makes a nice tight conenction. Tape it all up and you now have 2 wires coming off the adapter. No damaged or destroyed parts and you can wire it behind the head unit or any other suitable cicuit.

yep well done dont be scared guys you can do it .

[nor_cal_fit]

BTW, you can't just buy the bracket and wiring that comes with the Honda Nuvi kit. Garmin/Honda doesn't allow them to be sold this way so they can get a little more money for this custom mount. They do the same things for other cars as well. I previously had a similar kit for my Mini Cooper. FWIW, the kits are very nice and having the NAV hardwired is much nicer than wires running all over the joint....

[tbird911]

This can be bought (mounting/wiring kit) local dealer has it for @$70.00

[nor_cal_fit]

Originally Posted by tbird911

This can be bought (mounting/wiring kit) local dealer has it for @$70.00

The kit for $70 only includes a mounting pad for the dash, not the actual arm that the unit would attach to. This is different than a standard arm sold by Garmin.

My original intent was to just buy this kit. I went down to honda and looked at this along with the contents of the garmin piece they sell seperately and found the kit to be worthless without the honda specific mountin kit. The NAV kit also includes the power splice you use to attach the device into your ignition switch....

[Mattocaster71]

very cool hardwire idea.

I would do it, but i travel alot and sometimes need to take my garmin with me for rental cars, etc.

but cool idea none the less.

[DrKelso]

As nor_cal_fit said, the dashmount kit from honda will only work with the Garmin unit made for Honda. I believe the model of the unit is the Nuvi 350. I will be installing the dashmount soon and will try my best to do my first write-up on it. Look for it soon!