Trying to install my Varad Gothic Blue LED Scanner (this is the one that looks like the Batman logo) but could not get it to light up when the ignition key was turned off.

I tried using the clock (as per BigDogJonx's write up)and also tried to tap the factory alarm LED with no luck. Fourth gen clock wires are different than fifth gen so BigDogJonx's write up did not work for me.

Search was kind of vague. I checked Audio forum and Fourth gen froums but did not find anything specific on how to tap into a wire which will create another ground when the ignition is off.

If any of you have this installed, could you let me know what you tapped into with the yellow wire?

Also, I am aware that you can run it into the fuse box but was unsure at the best way to do it.

What is the best way to do this other than just trying to mash the wires in and shove in the fuse.


Any help would be appreciated!!

D

 

hi,

here i some help, my setup is like this.
1) yellow varad wire tape it to the car's security wire (where the led is on the left side of the steering wheel) that is green/orange.
2) the A-piller- pop that out.
3)tape the red varad wire to the wire that is red/black
4) tape the black varad wire to the solid black wire.

hope this helps
that is my setup

 

Thanks man. Are you using a stock alarm?
When does it light up? When the car is turned off and the alarm LED activates?

Thanks again!

Dave

 

ttt

 

Varad LED scanner install complete:

I discovered, along with Redmaxpa007 that the gauge wire I was using was too thick for the quick connect wire tap. As a result I was not getting a proper ground.

How to install a Varad LED Gothic scanner on a 1997 GLE:

Parts needed:

LED scanner was won on Ebay - Varad is the manufacturer. I paid $24.00 for mine.
Scanner ( obviously)
Blue Quick connect wire taps
Crimping tool
Wire - the thinner the better, I was using 18 guage and it was a little too thick
Coat hanger or the equivalent to run wires.
Small screwdriver

I mounted the scanner behind the rearview mirror. It is at just the right height so that at night you just see the light and cannot really tell where it is coming from.

I ran the wires through the headliner and down the driver's side A pillar. To run the wires, I removed the overhead light housing at the front of the headliner.

I then used a straightened coat hanger to feed the wires over to the A pillar. The A pillar pops right off. If you are running gauges, the space over there may be tight as the hole which is at the corner of the dash and the A pillar is not very big.

I ran the wires down and connected them as follows:

Black wiregoes to ground, there is a good ground beneath the driver's sode kick panel. I used a circular end piece and crimped it to the ground wire, removed the bolt, placed it through the loop and retightened the bolt. This bolt is attached to the floor and serves as a good ground.

Red wiregoes to a 12 volt line right off of the battery. I have a hot line running to a switch which controls my gauges. I tapped that line for constant power.

Yellow wire to a 12Volt ignition source. I, as many others have done, used the Securoty LED light. When the alarm is activated, the scanner senses that the car is off and the light will work. To determine which wire to tap, there are only two, we ran the red and ground. Then I stripped the end of the yellow wire and unplugged the security light.

To remove the security LED use a a small screwdriver. I used the one which came with my KYB adjustable struts, covered it with masking tape and pried the light out. You will also need to remove the small cruise control switch panel to run the wire up behind the LED.

I then took the yellow wire and touched the female ends on the plug lead. One of these will work. When the scanner lit up, I knew I had found the right one.

I tapped the wire and then reassembled everything. The scanner does come with two small pieces of two sided tape. I zip tied the three wires running into the headliner to the mirror support. This was the most fun mod to date because I could not figure out why it was not working at first.

I also recently did a write up on the Hella Horns in the Group Deal section.

Happy modding and I hope this helps someone as I could not find a write up for the foruth gen's that was comprehensive.

D

 

Good writeup. I was considering a scanner and couldn't figure out how to activate the scanner when the ignition was turned off (I never though about the LED).

My question to you is how long does the scanner run for before it turns off (which I'm assuming it does).
-hype

 

When the car is turned off and the door is closed the scanner will continue to run. When the LED comes on it completes the curcuit so it will run as long as the LED is blinking.

The scanner I bought has eight different patterns and is small enought that it does not attract too much attention.

If I could not get it to work with the LED, I was going to hook it up to a switch.

The scanner will not turn off the way I have it wired unless the battery dies......................
D

 

That's what I was afraid of. I wish there was some way to have a timer that leaves the scanner on for a certain amount of time. I often leave my car for long periods, and I'd rather not have a dead battery. Essentially what we need is a turbo timer, but I'm sure we'd be better off making something :P

I had this discussion with my roommate since we're both EEs.
-hype