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passport 8500 x50 problem

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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 08:59 AM
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Default passport 8500 x50 problem

i have had my x50 for about three years now and i love it and have trouble driving with out it. but recently i have started having some issues with it. the past two nights when i left my place and this morning the laser alarm continually goes off. i will mute it, laser will go away, 5 seconds later it goes off again. anyone know what could be wrong and how to fix it?
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 09:23 AM
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yea... its a common problem, its reacting to something in/on your car, or in that area.

mine did the same thing, and it just started outta no where... if you call the cust number for your passport, they will tell you something on the car must have changed and the change is setting that off, they only thing i think they can do is to turn down the sensitivity of the laser detection.

IMHO... if u can do this, i would just ask them if you can delete the laser detection off of it, i know u can delete things like x band, etc... its not like it will save u if u get caught.


and this is not just a problem with passports, seen it iwth cobra's, whistlers, etc.
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 09:32 AM
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hmmm i know i havent changed anything in my vehicle so that cant be the problem and i noticed it happening when i left my place (i just turned it off soon after) and then i noticed it when i left my gf's place and she lives around 10 miles away
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by skywalkrNCSU
hmmm i know i havent changed anything in my vehicle so that cant be the problem and i noticed it happening when i left my place (i just turned it off soon after) and then i noticed it when i left my gf's place and she lives around 10 miles away

yea u don't have to actually change any parts in your car, they say that something within the car changed, i think its just a bunch of BS they tell u but thats how i heard it. i googled it b4 and found a lot of people hving this problem.

my radar detector was stolen, so problem solved.
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 10:24 AM
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yeah im thinking about just putting the thing on ebay and being done with it but i just got done hardwiring it and i dont feel like letting it go right away
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 11:58 AM
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Couple things I've heard/read:

- Voltage drops can cause false lasers (or other things)....so if your alternator isn't at it's best....

- Some windshields, windshield coatings, (and probably) residue from certain cleaning products all effect the reflective properties of your windshield....which may cause the detector to act strange.

- Escort can adjust the sensitivity of the laser, but I don't know how that effects normal operation (less effective, etc.). Probably not worth the cost.

- Some cell phones interfere and cause false laser.
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 01:29 PM
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mine did it on my car nearly everytime i turned it on. something with my screen. (G35), I just turned off the laser detection. easy,

hold the two top buttons until it goes to program mode, i forget which button changes options but i think it is the right one, press it until you get to bands or something like that then use the other button to get down to laser and press mute to turn it off. let it set for like 30 sec and it will save the settings.

i may be wrong on the buttons to press, i know it is those 3 but it worked great for me. and like said before if you get caught with a laser it is already pretty much too late unless you are still getting up to speed
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 02:26 PM
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Also, the third brake light on 03-06 TrailBlazers and Envoys will cause a laser alert unless they were replaced as part of the recent recall by GM. The recall replaces the neon style third brake light with a smaller light. (I'm sure the recall was for some reason other than setting off detectors but it was a side effect.)
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 06:57 PM
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Originally Posted by skywalkrNCSU
yeah im thinking about just putting the thing on ebay and being done with it but i just got done hardwiring it and i dont feel like letting it go right away
sell it to me i'll deal with it and just mute or delete the laser on it. i miss mine but i dont wann apay 200 bux for it when i alreayd paid 300 when it was new.

i'd give ya 125 for it as is ... lol
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 10:02 PM
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hmmmm ill think about it
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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 07:34 AM
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Originally Posted by 98_Formula

my radar detector was stolen, so problem solved.
You are funny!
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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 08:15 AM
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The problem is definitely with the RD.

-If low voltage sets off a laser alert, it's a design problem with the RD.
-If high voltage sets off a laser alert, it's a design problem with the RD.
-If noise on the power line sets off a laser alert, it's a design problem with the RD.
-RD's don't send out lasers so the windshield will not set off an alert. There is nothing being sent out that could be reflected back and detected. It could interfere with detecting actual laser sources, though.

That said, it doesn't help those of us that were suckers and bought into this thing instead of a good RD (read: V1). You can try to make sure your voltage is right, move the RD around, etc.
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