I was trying to hard wire a radar detector to an "ignition on" wire in my overhead console. I identified a good ground and a hot wire & spliced a power cord into them. When I tried it, the radar detector would not come on. I had had problems with the female outlet on the detector before, so I tried to check to make sure that the ground wire was making contact. I had the ignition on & touched a test lead to the ignition switch and a ground area on the detector. Immediately the fan (I had it blowing) and the door open chime stopped. I turned the ignition key off (the car was not running). I started the car & it ran normally for 3 or 4 seconds then died. I tried it several more times with the same results. The overhead console is black, only the check oil light comes on when the ignition is turned on, and the climate control head unit appears to be functioning, but the blower does not come on. All other electronics (fuel pump, door locks, windows ...) are working. Please don't nominate me for the idiot of the year award - I have already volunteered for the job. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

I went back & checked my wiring. I got the ground & hot wires crossed on the radar detector plug. So what it amounts to is that I connected a hot wire from the overhead console to the exposed metal portion of the ignition switch. Does anyone have a clue what I may have screwed up?

 

check al fuses first of all