Info if you do a 2003 Intrepid Police Package

[cpt113]

Our dept. just got 6 new intrepids. They didn't come with any info on the police package stuff.

Under the floor mat in the middle of the car, there is a six wire plug with 3 wires constant 12v and 3 wires that run off the accessory switch. They are small gauge wire, but are usefull.

When you remove the back seat, there is no barrier between the trunk and the passenger compartment. Sure makes it easy to run coax.

There is a 12 volt tap in the trunk to jump start the car. That is a nice place to connect hi power devices like radios or lightbar.

It works out that the only wires that need to go through the firewall are the wig-wag and siren wires.

I hope this helps anyone that is getting ready to start a new Intrepid install. I haven't seen any other info on the Intrepid install yet, I sure wished it was out there before I started

Brian

[cpt113]

I haven't found a good way for the siren horn yet. The dynamax speaker under the battery box is the only thing I could come up with so far

[code3media]

Here is a neat siren speaker that is custom for the Intrepid:
http://www.whelen.com/pdfs/install/13714.pdf

Also there was a little discussion here: http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... highlight=

But the pictures have been removed from the server. I will repost on this thread if needed.

Ryan

[BDB]

Did Chrysler get the low volatge - vehicle shutoff problem fixed on the Intrepid line ? Apparently on some of the early ones the Body Module would shut the car off if voltage dropped below 12 volts.

Brett

[Glen W Christen]

I don't know about the 2003 but the '02 has a factory harness that provides access for wigwags inside the car next to the drivers left foot. It is up tight against the firewall, and the cheapskates left only about 3 inches of slack. There is a plug with a loop that can be cut and the two flash leads connected to the new leads.
There is also a harness that comes to the same point with six wires that go to the front behind the grill where you can tap for siren or whatever. again, it is a pain because the engineers left only a very short cable at each end. It is possible to make connections there but I will guarantee that you will be discussing the qualifications and ancestry of the engineers who designed it before you are done.

[jim]

The power tap in the truck is placed there for police equipment and not jump starting, so yep....that's where to get power.

The easiest place for the firewall hole is the driver's side.

The wig-wag easily mounts under the right headlight in the airstream. Speakers easily mount under the driver's side or inner fender- just cut an opening to let the sound pressure out. This is where you need to talk them into a pushbumper.

The <12VDC cutout was actually a <10VDC cutout problem. The reason it cut out was that there was not enough available voltage/amperage to pull the fuel injector's pintle valve open.

Chryslers are very picky when it comes to EMI (they have a much more sesitive and faster operating PCM system than GM/Ford), so make sure you ground all strobe cables at the power supply end only. Many shops around here won't even do strobes on the new Chryslers, but I have never had a problem since I know how to eliminate EMI as most of you probably do too. Maybe some day they can run with the big dogs!

And yes- these cars are the biggest PITA to do anything on, but so were the Impalas when they came out in '00. After driving these cars, they accelerate quicker and have a higher top speed than GM/Ford and the CLEARLY handle a corner much better. They also have more interior room. I think we better get used to them 'cause once these cops start driving them they won't want anything else.

[Glen W Christen]

Local SO reported that the computer is tuned to 140 mph "and that is what they'll do." Don't know where they tested it, but we have a lot of miles of rural paved roads so I suppose they just blocked one off for a short period of time to find out.

[mastr]

Local SO reported that the computer is tuned to 140 mph "and that is what they'll do." Don't know where they tested it, but we have a lot of miles of rural paved roads so I suppose they just blocked one off for a short period of time to find out.

The common method around here is to turn the lights and siren on and then firmly depress the throttle...

[jim]

We had already verified the 140 MPH cutout on the Triboro Highway (aka Triboro Motor Speedway) and these cars WILL do it.
Of course, the officer was the one driving the car. I would NEVER exceed the speed limit on a public road

[Ray D O]

The battery connection in the trunk on our cars drops voltage (1-2V) with a load on it (lightbar). It has a fusible link in it up front and a large in line connector in area of passenger side lower dash/firewall-a notorious place for getting wet. We discovered this late in our installs and moved the last taps under the hood near the battery. The engine compartment gets hot as heck after just running a short time -painful to look into area for repairs.

[jim]

In the right kick panel, you'll find the rear power feed disconnect. This is the same old connector from fifteen years ago. Yes- water will affect it, so make sure your firewall hole is sealed. If you aren't using rear power, you can disconnect this cable and extend it into the console. For jump starting, use the underhood junction or alternator stud for charging that battery. (After all, you should NEVER boost-start an engine. Always charge it, whether using a charger or jumper cables)

The voltage drop is there, but not nearly as bad as that found in an Impala. Some fuse link is undersized and is the root of the voltage drop. By replacing the link with a real fuse or breaker, one can get a more reliable power source at the rear. I've never tested the link in the Dodge, so I can't tell you if that whrere the drop is from.

Note on rear power:
GM rates the Impala's feed at 1200 watts. but don't believe this.
At 14.2v, you have 85 amps available at the rear, but after some time at this load, there is a tremendous voltage drop (I've seen near 3v) from overheating of the pair of undersized power wires and multiple connectors that are in this line. It is, however, a great place to get power for that pair of 110W Spectras!

[007]

Since our Impala's were not ordered with any wiring packages, here's a question for you guys:

What is the wire size of the factory harness to the trunk in the Impala? 8 ga? 6 ga?

What power point under the hood are the fusible links hooked to?

I ran silver stranded 8ga wire from the alternator to one of the underhood distribution box studs, then to a waterproof 100A TSM breaker, then back to the trunk in my POV Impala to power 2 spectras and a siren/VRS combo. I split out the power in the back into smaller individual breakers for each radio, with the thinking that the 8ga wire is protected at both ends of the car.

I'm just wondering how this compares to the factory setup....better or worse?

[firemedic]

One question on the non police package intrepids, they don't happen to supply a battery tap in the trunk like the police package do they? Just a wondering. If not where is a good place to route the power cable from the trunk? There's nothing easy that I can see so far. Getting ready to do a couple radio installs and just wanted to figure it all out. Units are actually 99' intrepid civilian models. Thanks for any info.

Keith

[jim]

The 9C1 should have the power in the trunk. It's a pair of #12 (or #10's- I can't remember) that run in parallel to the rear. GM rates it a 1200W.


The Mopar doesn't have it unless it's a police package. Dodge rates it at 100A and it's a #6.

[apco25]

a pair of 12 or 10 gauge?

good grief!

I've got 4ga main power running to the tap in my suburban

HOw do they get away with pissy wire sizing like that?