żGotJazz?

I've ordered an Escort 8500 and SmartCord. Has anyone mounted these themselves?

(1) If yes, how did you mount them?

(2) How difficult?

(3) Anything you would do different?

(4) Pictures?

Gracias!

jzinckgra

I've cut and pasted my reponse to a similar question asked recently:

"I just harddwired my passport 8500. Very easy. Pick yourself up one of those Add A Fuse thingies from AutoZone. They cost around 7 bucks. Splice your radar detector power cord into that. Plug the add a fuse device into your fusebox (#29 or 31 I believe) and then conceal your wire coming from the detector by running down the pillar. Maybe nickpoore's old post is around here somewhere. He has some good pics of this. (note: I didn't remove the a-pillar interior piece). I also picked up one of those circuit testers that allows you to test whether there is power running through the wires. Got it at wal-mart for 4 bucks. I grounded my harddwire by drilling a small hole into one of the metal brackets under the dash and securing the ground wire with a screw." The bracket I used was located just under where the VSA button is. There is what looks to be a diagnotics plug located in that same spot. Take a look and you'll see. I mounted the "mute" button from the smartcord right next to the VSA button. Just reach in behind there and pop out the little filler plastic thingie. The radar was suction-cupped on the upper left hand part of the windsheild near the hedliner. Sorry I don't have pics. I'll try and take some this wknd, but it's really pretty simple.

polosport

I would be interested in pics or a write up as well. I have a Valentine One that I would like to reinstall to make it look cleaner.

Ron A

Here’s a couple of threads on the 8500 http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75631
and http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74767


Here are some pictures of the 8500 installation http://www.nhgainesville.com/tl/

Here is the Valentine installation http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showt...threadid=68622

rynpamn21

can somebody explain the pics? especially the one up top?

Ron A

can somebody explain the pics? especially the one up top?[/QUOTE]
If you are talking about the little thingy just below the MID, it is the "smart cord" for the 8500, which acts as a remote control, so you can mute the volume, and some other things I can't think of now.

Was that what you meant?

edited-removed picture from quote

tgbroom

These pics are my ride...as well as the site..
$25 to the tint guy to run the wire kit, it took him 10 minutes... i just suck at stuff like that and would prefer to pay and hold someone else accountable for the workmanship... I made the decision to mount the remote unit where it is because there is a notch out just behind that point in the dash where the two pieces come together... it was meant to be temp until i thought of a better place... now that it is there i could not think of a better place... it is expremely easy while driving to mute the detector and you are still able to view the warning indicator also... it has been perfect so far....

jzinckgra

Well I thought you were referring to GotJazz's avatar. She's hawt!

bollywood21

If you enjoy this type of work, go for it. If it is beyond your level of interest or expertise go to bestbuy and for $30 they will do the installation. They did excellent job. No cuts or scratches anywhere. I got the hardwire without the mute button. In addition, Best Buy offers a lifetime warranty on the service. I bought hardware from the internet site for $10. Part & Labor total damage $40 with lifetime warranty. The install took just under an hour for a professional to install. Well worth the money.
Regards,
Bollywood21

vtec187

I just tried this and it seems that all the fuses in the panel are constant, none switched,wtf.

Ron A

29 and 31 in the panel next to your left leg are definitely switched. I tested this myself to answer another thread.

vtec187

These are the 7.5 amp ones right. On my car they are called ig/ opt 1 and 2 I believe and they're empty..It doesn't matter anyway because I just used the one for the power seat and it was switched, thanks tho.

jzinckgra

Well if you already got it to work, then nevermind. But you are correct about 29 and 31 being 7.5 amps.

żGotJazz?

I got mine installed at Best Buy for a touch less than $25. The Escort remote control that tgbroom mounted to the right of the steering column - I had mounted on the left side, where the tan and black plastic intersect, and horizontally mounted. I have a good view of the display and access to the "Mute" button on the remote.

It sure would have been ideal to mount the remote in the "blank" to the right of the mirror controls, but then the display would have been blocked by the steering wheel when I'm driving with the steering wheel "straight".

It looks pretty good, and the blue display on the Escort 8500 X50 "Blue" goes perfect with the interior. In fact, the Best Buy installer asked, "How did you get the display to match? It looks awesome!"

So, I have a new question for anybody with a "hardwired" Escort: Do you almost always leave yours connected, or do you remove it almost every time you leave the car?

vtec187

I leave mine connected, you almost can't see it from outside the car because it's behind the factory windshield tint.

EluSiOn

will best buy ppl install v1 for ya?

Ron A

On the Escort website, they sell a visor mounting clip for the 8500. This note is quoted: “Laser detection range is significantly decreased by the darker tinting across the top of most vehicle windshields, so visor mounting is normally not recommended.”

This probably also applies to mounting your detector behind the darker tinting by any other method.

tonyg24

i wound up picking up the escort wireless one solo s2..how do u and everyone else feel about that one...and i am also looking for pics for the best spot to mount it

vara411

Pics... worth 1000 words. I count no words on this thread. (Old pics and links deleted! Could we refresh some of these?)

JROCKACURA

Evader

This thread was originally started in 2004.. Talk about resurrecting the dead lol

JROCKACURA

there aren't many threads with this particular install. pics are always helpful. just because the thread is old doesn't mean we aren't reading them

Evader

Good point. I'll try and remember to post the pics of my install

BrokenLinx

+1