I have a weird problem with my Escort 8500. When I accelerate the escort will sound the laser detected warning. I thought it was the cord on the escort because it had a torn spot but I got a new cord and it is still doing it. I tried it out in my wife's Sequoia last night and it worked fine. So it appears something is happening in the TL like maybe a power surge. Does anyone have any suggestions on things for me to try. I was thinking of maybe changing out the fuse though I don't think that really will help. I hate to take it in for warranty work but if that is my only option then that is what I will do.

By the way, I have a 2006 TL auto with nav if that makes a difference.

 

was your XM radio on? I have the 9500, and everytime for some reason starting up the car, and turning on to my XM channels i tend to get a laser signal myself.

 

No, I don't have XM activated. I was listening to the radio.

 

I just got the car back out of service. I had them check out the ignition and power and everything for surges, because my radar detector does the same thing at times. It does for a while then stops forever, then it comes back. They had "never heard of such a thing" Code words for don't want to deal with this stuff. Anyway, they never found a problem and told me that it had to be with the radar detector. I think that they are just not completely compatible with each other as strange as that sounds. By the way, I am in an 04.

Peaceout.

 

Were you guys using the power outlet plug below the radio? I have mine hardwired to the fuse box and it works well.

 

It is a problem with the 8500's. I have 2 and over time they both started false laser alarming when excelerating in my Charger or when the horn blowed or windows moved in the TL. I have a fix for it, but you need to open them up.

**do this at your own risk**I take no liablilty if it breaks***

When you open the 8500, you'll see the metal box around the laser Sensors, it has a screen over the port on the end. Carefully remove the horn for the normal radar, (2 small screws) and pull it straight up. Then carefully pry the clamps that are holding the metal cover down, gently bend it up. You can't remove it because it is soldered to the ckt board. Gently push the corners of the metal box next to each other so that the 4 sides are sealed up good, also make sure the screen on the metal box isn't coming off. Then carefully push the tabs on the box back through the ckt board onto the metal plate on the back side of the board and push the tabs down tight, so you have a good seal on the box and the bottom metal plate.

The metal box around laser sensors (LEDS) is an RF shield, if it becomes loose on the edges/top or bottom, and will leak causing the false alarms. I've done this on both of my 8500 X50's (red and blue) and it fixed both of them. You can send it in to passport and they will charge you 85 bucks, or you can do it yourself. It really is easy to do. I may be able to take some pictures in the future. You want to make sure that the metal box is sealed up tight. Over time in the harsh enviroment of car, the metal expands and contracts and causing the Metal cover edges to open up a little causing this problem.

By the way, I've had them hard wired and also using the plug, in multiple cars (Charger, TL, Grand Prix) and they all did different things in different cars, it makes no difference. It is electrical interference, but it is the failing of the shield in the Radar detector that causes the alerts.

Good luck.

 

Best post that I have seen in a while. So elaborate and the intellect and experience behind the words screams- "Expert!"

I cannot begin to fathom how involved this may be. I am going to pop it open and go for it. If I am successful, I will post the results. If not, there goes $85 plus shipping.

Either way, I really appreciate the posting; it's nice to know that problem lies on the side of the $300 radar detector and not the $30K car.

Thanks and wish me luck!

 

How did it go?

 

Thanks blokhead. I opened mine up but didn't remove the metal box. I just pushed on the ends where the sides meet and tried to get them as close as possible. I did this Sunday night and it hasn't gone off on either morning commute this week. Hopefully it is fixed for good. Of course this ruins my excuse to the wife on why I need a new detector.

I still don't understand why it only went off when I accelerated and it didn't go off when used in our Sequoia.

 

Good, hopefully that's all it needs. On my first one I checked the Metal Box was a little loose where it connected to the ckt board so I just do it as a precaution. I'm telling you when I fixed mine, for about 2 weeks I was just waiting for it to go off, but it never did (except for when I got clocked by laser by a motorcycle cop!!).

As far the sequoia goes, my 8500 went of when I accelerated in my Charger (which I still use and drive) as well. It was very annoying, even under light throttle. But I could not duplicate it consistantly. Some days it would do it first thing in the morning while cold, others after 100 miles down the Interstate. Very Frustrating trying to figure it out. I think though it is caused by electrical interference, but not from the car, but the cheap capacitors that they put in the radar detector power ckt. And if the metal box has any RF leakage, bam, it detects laser. It was funny, in the TL, my other x50 (blue) didn't go off when accelerating, but when you rolled up and down the windows or honked on the horn, but not everytime, and my x50 (red) didn't make a peep. I never tried the blue x50 in the Charger.

I planned on getting a V1 since both my x50's where acting up in the same basic way, but after this simple fix, I'll stick with them for now. By the way, I did this to both of mine about 7 months ago, and neither one has acted up since. I suspect maybe after a year a two, I may have to adjust the box again, but I don't know. And if I do have to do it again, I've got some foil tape that I'll put on the seems of the RF enclosure, and seal it up nice and tight, but that would only be needed if it happens again.

Later,
Sean

 

Can you get any pics posted Sean?

I'm more of a visual learner

thanks!

 

I decided to try this out, so I opened the RD up. Here are some pics along the way! This is for the Escort 8500 x50 Blue or Red.

Top


Bottom - 3 Black Screws


Shows bottom cover off - 6 silver screws, After the 6 silver screws are out you will notice the big silver plate will move, just a note.


The Inside Circuit Board


What you are trying to fix - 1st view


What you are trying to fix - 2nd view


What you are trying to fix - 3rd View



This is all informational, if you break I take no responsibility. Just trying to show users what you are expecting to see when you open the RD up.

Good Luck!!
Lusid

 

Awesome,

I've got pics, but haven't labled them yet. One thing I would note as well, is make sure it tight along the bottom of the metal box on both sides, if not tighten it up by opening up the tabs and tightening it down... If that doesn't make sense, I'll post up my pics when I get them labeled.

Lusid, How did it work out?

 

Blok,

I just did the fix.. haven't been able to try it out on the road.. and probably wont know until I go see my GF in Dec. But I did notice some gaps along the box openings and I think they are now closed. So we'll see

 

were u on ur fone when laser went off or getting a fone call...my radar sometimes yells laser when my fones gets close to it

 

I can't speak for the others but no I wasn't on the phone. All I had to do was accelerate and it would go off.

 

I think my issue was very intermittent but heavy to hard acceleration did the trick. LAZORS BEEP MEEP LAZORS. Scares the shit outta me every time it did that.

Lusid.

 

Probably too late on this post - I had the same issue. I called Escort and they said a filter can get worn down and they can refurb it for me. I sent it in, they refurbed it and it has not kicked off since.

 

This has been driving me crazy!!! Thank you for this!!!