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Problem with passport 8500! Anyone else experience this?

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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 09:37 PM
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Default Problem with passport 8500! Anyone else experience this?

I have this problem with my passport 8500. It keeps saying laser anytime i give it gas. It used to only do it at WOT and scare the crap out of me. I just got heads and cam and a tune and afterwards it does it every 5 seconds whenever i accelerate at any pace.

Does any one else have this problem or am i just lucky?
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 11:23 PM
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Originally Posted by GO BABY GO
I have this problem with my passport 8500. It keeps saying laser anytime i give it gas. It used to only do it at WOT and scare the crap out of me. I just got heads and cam and a tune and afterwards it does it every 5 seconds whenever i accelerate at any pace.

Does any one else have this problem or am i just lucky?
it does it randomly to me too.... usually at the most inoppurtune times when i am half asleep
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Old Aug 14, 2006 | 10:27 AM
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Mine just recently started doing this also - after performing fine for about 2 years - it is VERY annoying...
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Old Aug 14, 2006 | 10:28 AM
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Mines does the same thing. Also my friends does it to.
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Old Aug 14, 2006 | 05:38 PM
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I guess as long as im not the only one i feel a litte comforted. I was just hoping there was some way to fix it. Shes old but nothing really happened to her recently to make it kick the bucket.
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Old Aug 14, 2006 | 06:02 PM
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i have one in each vehicle and i'm not having this problem. one of them does something very similar with POP alerts though. its more random than you'r problem. that same unit will alert with laser when you lock/ unlock the vehicle using the keyless entry.
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Old Aug 14, 2006 | 09:29 PM
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mine just started doing it on hard acceration.is there a fix for this?
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Old Aug 15, 2006 | 12:19 AM
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Do you guys all have them mounted really close to the dash? I moved mine further away and it stopped.
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Old Aug 15, 2006 | 03:20 AM
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Mine is mounted to the windshield above the dash - same place it has been for 2 years - but it just started doing this upon hard acceleration .

Can't see how that would set off a Laser signal - it's not like there is an accelerometer in there or anything...
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Old Aug 15, 2006 | 03:59 AM
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Maybe try to sell them all and go with some v 1s
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Old Aug 15, 2006 | 08:16 AM
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dont have a problem with mine.

btw, if it is down on the bottom of the dash, it is installed incorrectly. It is supposed to have a clear site infront and behind the radar. The best spot is right below your rear view mirror
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Old Aug 15, 2006 | 08:20 AM
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Mine is installed lower on the windshield - but above the wipers. It is pretty much irrelevant in my case - even if it was installed higher it would not have a clear line of sight out the rear. The combo of the rear wing and my rollbar with padding makes it almost impossible to even see out the back window...
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Old Aug 15, 2006 | 09:06 AM
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I've been having the same exact thing happen lately. Much more so recently than just maybe a week ago. I sent an email to Escort to ask them to address the problem and see what they say.
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Old Aug 15, 2006 | 09:20 AM
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I just got off the phone with Escort Customer Service and described the problem. The guy I spoke with stated that it is some sort of electronic signal from the car's circuitry that is falsely setting off the Laser Alert. He stated that it doesn't happen on every car, nor even on two of the same car, nor every time. It depends solely on whatever is happening with the car's electronics during the hard acceleration.

Only fix is to return the unit to Escort to have them add additional shielding to solve the problem - which also will reduce the sensitivity of the unit for real signals

The new X50 version is subject to the same thing and the fix would be the same. He had no answer as to why my unit did not do this for 2 years and just started recently, other than something might have changed with the way my car electronics perform...

-Jay-
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Old Aug 16, 2006 | 10:14 AM
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I took mine in a 3 hour car trip yesterday afternoon in a co-workers car and it didn't go off falsely once. So it must be something to do with the car itself or its components. I have a lot of electrical stuff including a 2000 watt stereo so I'm sure that might have something to do with it. I've thought about sending it on, but not sure if I want the sensitivity to go down.

I got a response from Escort in less than 24 hours with an email basically explaining what was already discssed in this thread.
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Old Aug 24, 2006 | 12:46 AM
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Mine sets it off when I start the car (if I turn the radar on before I start it) . . . good thing I found this thread, thought I was the only one.
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Old Aug 24, 2006 | 05:03 AM
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In addition to my call, I also emailed Escort with the problem as did others. FYI, here is the reply from Escort:

It is good to hear from you! As you know, it is unusual to get false laser warnings. Some cars and other electronics put out more RF interference than others and this may cause the laser to false when certain devices are used. Although rare, I have heard using the horn, or windshield wipers causing this affect. If this started recently, have you added anything to the vehicle you are using your detector in? Does it do the same thing in other cars/trucks? New cell phones and some major airports can also cause false laser alerts.
Please call our Customer Service Department and they will give you a repair authorization number and instructions on how to return to us. We will be able to make modifications to your detector that will help.
Thanks for your interest in Escort!


Radar Laser Experts
5440 West Chester Road
West Chester Ohio 45069

Customer Service Department
1-800-543-1608
8 AM - 6 PM M-F EST

Sales 1-800-433-3487
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Old Aug 24, 2006 | 08:04 AM
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Originally Posted by 1sick'98WS6
Maybe try to sell them all and go with some v 1s
thatz what i did.. lot better than X50 IMO. no false alarm and plus the arrows.. i had mine for almost a year and i was getting tired of false laser alarm.
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Old Aug 28, 2006 | 02:02 AM
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Thats whats mine was doing so I just went ahead and turned the laser off
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 05:59 PM
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i experience it also. it used to happen only when hitting 4k rpm's-now it does it whenever i press the gas pretty good. i've also noticed it will do it when i adjust my driver's side mirror, up only. mines plugged into my accessory outlet--someone told me hardwiring their's fixed the problem. i'm gonna try it and if not, prolly get a valentine.

i never got a speeding ticket in this car til i got this radar detector
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