All,

I have a Passport 8500 radar detector that I've have for a couple of years and three cars (03 Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe, 04 TL, 05 TL and now the 05 RL). It's been rock solid until the RL.

Now, not that I'm condoning or advocating driving beyond the spped limit, but if any of you notice this problem, let me me know your thoughts; I want to be informed before asking the dealer about it.

Here's the situation. You must be travelling steady at 80 mph or above and the car must be in 5th gear. Switch to manual mode and using either the shifter or paddle shifters, manually downshift to third gear - the Passport 8500 goes off with the same tone & volume as if you were directly hit with a radar gun.

This issue is repeatable over and over again. I live in Philly tested this scenario for three days now on different roads. Repeatable every single time.

Keep in mind, if you're in 4th gear and manually downshift to 3rd, it won't happen.

Anyone else seeing this? Any comments or suggestions? Is there any EMI emmitting from the tranny (can't believe that)??

All comments are appreciated. I'd like to be fully armed with information prior to asking the dealer about it because I'm expecting some BS answer.

Thanks!

 

I'm just subscribing to this thread - I want to know what happens with this. I havn't heard of it before.

 

VP911,

It's the strangest thing - there is a definate corolation between downshifting from 5th to 3rd manually while travelling at 80 or above and the detector going on.

Hopefully there will be some good feedback.

Do you use the Passport 8500?

 

Not quite the same but, I have a 2004 Auto TL and the same detector. I get false laser hits from time to time when jumping on the gas. I can not always make it do it but, maybe I will mess around with the auto shifter and see if I can get it to do it on command.

Also if I brush up against the cord where it plugs into the accessory port (power) on the dash it might go off. More often then not it will NOT go off even if I jiggle the cord.

I ordered a new cord from Escort thinking it was a defective or damaged cable same thing with either cable.

 

No, I have the V1. This is very strange.

 

This was a big topic at NASIOC when I got my STI. The V1s and Passports do this because of a spike in voltage. The fix is to hard wire the detector for power. Using the plug in a power outlet or lighter will cause this problem.

 

Thanks for the reply. I actually thought about buying the straight cord and doing just that. Now I wish I had.

 

Spacklebucket - my brother said the same thing, power surges cause the issue. But why under these very specific circumstances? And how would I hard wire it, what's involved with that?

J - My 04 TL Auto never exhibited this behavior, neither did my G35 Coupe.

Thanks for the replies though.

 

I have not done this so I do not know for sure if it will fix your issue (or mine)....


You would need to order the cord from Escort. They have three options. The smart cord with red or blue LED. Or just buy the cheaper direct cord. Smart cord is $30 plus shipping. Direct cord is $10 plus shipping. Ground is about $5. Maybe I will buzz out the cord and make my own direct cord.

http://www.escortradar.com/accessories.htm

The smart cords have the button on them so you can mute the alarm. Where as the direct cord does not.

Maybe I will buzz out the cord and make my own direct cord. If it works then order one of their cables.

Basically there are two wires one for ground and one for +12VDC. You would have to route them to your fuse box. I haven't messed around in my TL's fuse box yet but, most cars now seem to have terminals that you can use for both +12vdc switched or always on and ground. With any luck this is the case in your RL and my TL. You would just plug the cable in. If not you might have to goto the autoparts store and get crimp or solder on ends that fit the terminals in your car.

They also sell these things where you can put a wire in one part and put the other end of an existing wire and crimp down on it to connect to the two wires without stripping or soldering or anything but, I would rather just plug into the fuse box terminals if thats an option and not cut into the factory wiring if I didn't have to.

 

J,

Thanks for the input. I have to say that I'm a little nervous doing something like that; how do you feel about it?

P

 

jcondon is absolutely correct. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, you should be able to find a reputable car audio/security installer in your area to do it for you for about $75 or thereabouts.

 

spacklebucket - I had mine done in the TSX, TL and FX35 for $35 at circuit city. Should be closer to this - $75 would be high, but either way, as you said - if you are not comfortable doing it - have somebody else do it for you.

 

Found the bag my second smartcord came in (not the direct wire one). The instructions are for both the wired and plug in smart cord.

The direct wire smart cord has a 3 foot cord from the fusebox to the smart cord button (the mute button and led). And 8 feet from that to the part that plugs into your radar detector. From the picture it looks like the 'head' of the smart cord led box is about the same size as the one that plugs into the accessory port.

And it DOES come with one of those crimp on connectors from 3m. It is pretty slick actually still allows you to disconnect the radar detector wire from the crimp on connector.

I might order one of the cords this week. Friday night I couldn't get it to stop going off like crazy. Saturday it went off only once or twice falsely.


I am pretty comfortable with installing simple stuff like this. I used to do my own car stereos and stuff like that. However if you aren't comfortable I would find someone else to do it. There is a local stereo shop I use for alarms and stuff I just don't feel like dealing with. They do a better / cleaner job then the local Best Buy.

 

Thanks for all the information. I'll probably just live with it. One thing I haven't noticed is if the Passport continues to alarm as I accelerate. I'll experiment tomorrow morning on the way to work.

 

This thread ought to belong in Audio/Bluetooth/Navigation.

 

Paul, last few days my 8500 has been driving me nuts. I think I will order the cable. If I do I will PM you and let you know how it goes.

 

Why? Has nothing to do with Audio, Bluetooth or Navigation. Infact my car doesn't even have Navi.

 

Audio, Bluetooth, Electronics & Navigation is the section it was moved to. Radar belongs in this section. This is also the RL forum, not the TL forum - all the 2G RL's have navi - therefore, it was moved to the appropriate sub-forum.

Might I also suggest (for jcondon) to search the 3G TL forums for the same issue as it is possible others have experienced this issue with their TL.

 

This issues has been reported in many places. It's the Escort, not the Acura.

The 8500/X50 and 9500 lines used cheap capacitors that degrade over time, especially when the unit is always mounted and getting hot each day in the sun. As it degrades, it becomes suseptible to interference from the DC power source.

The 'fix' is to put a ferrite core on the power cord to the detector, preferably with a loop, so the cord runs through twice. A ferrite core is the metal ring or square you see built-in to most PC monitor cables, or laptop power cords. It is essential a tuned magnet that blocks a range of frequent (that is causing the interference). You simply stick thge cable through the hole in the ring, loop it through a 2nd time, and your done - a 3 second fix.

You can buy one of these at radio shack for a couple of bucks, or cut one out of an old monitor cable, if you have a dead montor or spare cable, etc. Since I put one on (from an old monitor cable), my false laser alerts stopped, no matter how hard I accelerate, etc.

The only other options I am aware of are 1.) send $80 and the unit to Escort to refurbish (replace the resistor), or 2.) turn of the laser detection and hope your city doesn't use it.

Enjoy.