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Problem for Escort Passport 8500 Radar Detector
Laser warning going off all the time
my 8500 has developed a nasty habit of ringing the laser warning - even in my garage at night - and in parking lots - as well as every couple of minutes down the road
As a deterent to spirited driving this is working perfectly - As an annoyance to driving, take a guess - Getting pulled over with a passport on the dash would make any cops day - and ruin mine cause I have unplugged it due to its pissing me off factor -
Is it possible I need to reset via the options?
Has it bounced one too many times across the dash as the suction cups let go?
Help me Obi Wan, your my only hope
John
SLLand JCL@aol.com
As a deterent to spirited driving this is working perfectly - As an annoyance to driving, take a guess - Getting pulled over with a passport on the dash would make any cops day - and ruin mine cause I have unplugged it due to its pissing me off factor -
Is it possible I need to reset via the options?
Has it bounced one too many times across the dash as the suction cups let go?
Help me Obi Wan, your my only hope
John
SLLand JCL@aol.com
Same Problem
May 19, 2009
- Lazer goes off for no reason. Started off doing this once and while; now its so often I don't even use it. Please help! Tks. Bill- GuestApr 26, 2009
- same problem...the laser goes off continuously...never happened in the first few months - GuestApr 11, 2009
- Laser alarm goes off so much now, even in my garage, i can't use it anymore. I called and they want $90 to fix it. I am looking for another detector now. Does anyone know how to turn of the laser part of the detector?- GuestApr 08, 2009
- I have the laser detector going off ALL THE TIME!!! It especially does it when I accelerate and honk the horn. I have a BMW 330ci. I manually unplug mine to turn it off. I have not tried the q-tip fix but I will try that tonight. It's a cheap way to fix before I have to upgrade to the 9500 model which I really want anyway! - sokhyApr 05, 2009
- My escort 8500 goes off each time I accelerate and also now just comes on periodically for no reason. This is truly ashamed and I have only had it about a year. Several of my friends have the same type and model and their detectors are starting to do the same thing.Can anyone help? You would think Cincinati Microwave or Escort would step up and help out a lot of irritated customers. - Guest
Solution #2
posted on Jul 09, 2008
Wow.... everyone seems to have the same problem. My laser goes off for no reason driving down the road. It does it like every 5 minutes... Is this something we have to send in to Escort?
Yes
No
Solution #3
posted on Oct 18, 2008
I had the same problem. I called the company and the warranty was up, the wanted $80.00 to fix it and said that it must be the filters????? "rare problem but that is what it is"
I read another post on this site and someone said they took the unit apart. I tryed it and the unit works perfect now. All I did was take the unit apart, cleaned anything that I could (which wasnt anything really) with a q-tip. There are two parts to the unit that come apart, both look like they have reset buttons on the inside (3 total). I dont have a clue what the hell i did but the unit hasnt put a laser signal out for 3 days. It was goingoff about 15 times in a 2 mile radius.
Try it, its easy and you have nothing to lose at all.
I'm very happy now!!
I read another post on this site and someone said they took the unit apart. I tryed it and the unit works perfect now. All I did was take the unit apart, cleaned anything that I could (which wasnt anything really) with a q-tip. There are two parts to the unit that come apart, both look like they have reset buttons on the inside (3 total). I dont have a clue what the hell i did but the unit hasnt put a laser signal out for 3 days. It was goingoff about 15 times in a 2 mile radius.
Try it, its easy and you have nothing to lose at all.
I'm very happy now!!
Yes
No
Solution #4
posted on Sep 30, 2008
Hi All,
I fixed my Radar, No Manufacturer help, no cost to me at all. I got advice from a forum member on a satellite forum I belong to. So what I did was I took apart the radar. Watch carefully how it comes apart so you can reassemble again after. Get a Dry Q-tip (ear swab) leave it dry so you do not end up leaving and residue on the diodes etc. Start by cleaning the horn, wipe the electronic board all over gently with the Qtip , blow ou the diffusion screen (leave the spit in your mouth). After all that I did not see a spec of dirt on the Q tip I used..there was no sign of dirt, residue but whatever I did do fixed the problem. I have been using it for three months and not one false alarm from the laser mode.
Good luck all......
I am curious as to why you would have replaced actual components if my solution and two others who followed what I did after me ended up at the same positive results? Simply cleaning it with a dry Qtip and steady hand?
Why would one attempt to replace capacitors and risk the possibility that now the specs and tolerances and fine tuning that these radars are calibrated at will now possibly out of whack?
How do you know that your radar is picking up signals from the distances and accuracy as they were developed to? And how do you know what the percentage of leakage is now compared to factory? Do you have the equipment to bench test this unit as they did at the factory?
I personally would be worried about messing around changing actual electronic components , and especially installing ones that are not the same as the factory originals at that? Especially for a unit that is calibrated to do a perfect job at detecting signals with greatest distance and with the least amount of leakage for detection.
Why mess with the guts of the units operation when a simple cleaning has been doing the job? Kind of like gutting a building because the windows are dirty????
Just my opinions...that's all.....
I fixed my Radar, No Manufacturer help, no cost to me at all. I got advice from a forum member on a satellite forum I belong to. So what I did was I took apart the radar. Watch carefully how it comes apart so you can reassemble again after. Get a Dry Q-tip (ear swab) leave it dry so you do not end up leaving and residue on the diodes etc. Start by cleaning the horn, wipe the electronic board all over gently with the Qtip , blow ou the diffusion screen (leave the spit in your mouth). After all that I did not see a spec of dirt on the Q tip I used..there was no sign of dirt, residue but whatever I did do fixed the problem. I have been using it for three months and not one false alarm from the laser mode.
Good luck all......
Comments:
Oct 19, 2008
- Dear Guest...... there are at least two entries above telling you how you can fix this problem.... Read above.Mar 11, 2009
- Hi Mcmatt1,I am curious as to why you would have replaced actual components if my solution and two others who followed what I did after me ended up at the same positive results? Simply cleaning it with a dry Qtip and steady hand?
Why would one attempt to replace capacitors and risk the possibility that now the specs and tolerances and fine tuning that these radars are calibrated at will now possibly out of whack?
How do you know that your radar is picking up signals from the distances and accuracy as they were developed to? And how do you know what the percentage of leakage is now compared to factory? Do you have the equipment to bench test this unit as they did at the factory?
I personally would be worried about messing around changing actual electronic components , and especially installing ones that are not the same as the factory originals at that? Especially for a unit that is calibrated to do a perfect job at detecting signals with greatest distance and with the least amount of leakage for detection.
Why mess with the guts of the units operation when a simple cleaning has been doing the job? Kind of like gutting a building because the windows are dirty????
Just my opinions...that's all.....
Yes
No
Solution #5
posted on Sep 29, 2008
Just got my 8500 back from Escort. I had a couple of pieces of velcro on the bottom since I use it on my motorcycle, too. That bottom piece is the same, but the top, front and rear windows are brand new. I opened it up and not a speck of dust; inside looks brand new, too. The Repair Information Report says, "repaired lazer circuit and test." I think they put my old bottom on a brand new unit and sent it back. Works for me! $59.00. I will let you know how it works after a couple of weeks. I remember sending it in for something a couple of years ago and suspected they sent back a brand new one then, too. Can't complain about that.
I sent it in to Escort for repair; $59.00. It works like brand new. I suspect it is brand new. I had some vecro on the bottom for use on my motorcycle. That peice came back, but the top, front, and back are obviously new, not a scratch or blemish on them. I opened it up and the circut board looks new, too. Perhaps it is refurbished, I don't know. The case pieces are no doubt new.
In any case it works perfectly, even in my truck., A new unit is $300.00. I think $59.00 is pretty cheap for a good as new (probably new) unit. They also send you a new power cord and a new windshield mount with 2 sets of suction cups. Those items total $33.95.
So for $25.05 you can have a brand new 8500 X50. Put away your Q-tips and send your unit in for repair.
Comments:
Oct 18, 2008
- OK, guys. My 8500 had become pretty much useless for the same reason everyone here has been talking about; laser warning going of all the time. I could not use it in my truck at all because it went of over and over and over. In my jeep and on my motorcycle it was not as bad but getting worse.I sent it in to Escort for repair; $59.00. It works like brand new. I suspect it is brand new. I had some vecro on the bottom for use on my motorcycle. That peice came back, but the top, front, and back are obviously new, not a scratch or blemish on them. I opened it up and the circut board looks new, too. Perhaps it is refurbished, I don't know. The case pieces are no doubt new.
In any case it works perfectly, even in my truck., A new unit is $300.00. I think $59.00 is pretty cheap for a good as new (probably new) unit. They also send you a new power cord and a new windshield mount with 2 sets of suction cups. Those items total $33.95.
So for $25.05 you can have a brand new 8500 X50. Put away your Q-tips and send your unit in for repair.
Yes
No
Solution #6
posted on Mar 11, 2009
I fixed my by changing two capacitors on the inside to bigger values. Mine seemed to give a false alarm when the voltage changed like during acceleration or when washers were on etc.
After you open it up, pry up the metal cover where the laser circuitry is. There is a small surface mount cap there, replace it with the same size but a large capacitance. I used 330uf. There is also an electrolytic cap. It is black and is the size about 3 large watch batteries stacked on each other. I replaced it with a 220uf 25V cap that was only slightly larger but it fit. PAY ATTENTION to polarity when removing any pieces and when installing new ones. Hope this works for someone else. I haven't have a false alarm in two months.
After you open it up, pry up the metal cover where the laser circuitry is. There is a small surface mount cap there, replace it with the same size but a large capacitance. I used 330uf. There is also an electrolytic cap. It is black and is the size about 3 large watch batteries stacked on each other. I replaced it with a 220uf 25V cap that was only slightly larger but it fit. PAY ATTENTION to polarity when removing any pieces and when installing new ones. Hope this works for someone else. I haven't have a false alarm in two months.
Yes
No
Solution #7
posted on Aug 31, 2009
I have the same problem when I put the unit in my new car (Mazda 3) but I don't have the problem in my older car (2006 Volvo XC90). I'm thinking that it has something to do with the bluetooth connection in my new car. The Laser alarms seems to go off when I have the bluetooth activated. My older car doesn't have bluetooth so I don't have the issue there. Does anyone else see a similar pattern?
Yes
No
Solution #8
posted on May 13, 2009
I had the same problem. I finally turned off the laser when driving my '71 Vette, but it worked ok in my GMC Serria. Then, it started getting hung up on self calibration and finally just went to 'Service Required'. I read this thread last night about the Q-tip solution so.... while I was waiting on hold for an Escort rep to answer today, I took my X 50 out of the case and wiped everthing off with a Q-tip. I put it back together while talking to the rep and walked out to my truck and plugged it in.....and it worked PERFECTLY...lol Saved myself $59.95. That wasn't a bad deal though. He said for $59.95 everything was checked out including newest version and a new Smart Cord and windshield mount and cups if you include yours. I would certainly recommend trying the Q-TIP before sending it in!
Yes
No
Solution #9
posted on Apr 08, 2009
One thing I have noticed, if battery voltage is lower than usual, the escort behaves oddly...ex. laser alarms, service required message..etc. In this case, making sure your battery is charged is one step to check, clean out the unit, and if you want to go extreme, change the capacitors with higher uF values. (capacitors changes shouldn't affect calibration, they are merely power storage reserves).
Yes
No
Solution #10
posted on Jan 21, 2009
Well after reading the posts on cleaning the 8500, I did this and experienced no problems after one day of operation.... Very strange but it worked so far!
Comments:
Mar 12, 2009
- I took mine apart about 2 months ago used canned air reassembled it and it has been fine ever since.Yes
No
Solution #11
posted on Oct 19, 2008
OK.....this is strange. I have the same problem with constant false alarms switching between POP and KA for five to ten minutes constantly. I tried the Q tip recommendations from this site and no luck. Here's the weird part, when pluged into my 2006 Lexus GS the problem continued. When I plug it into my new used car a 2006 Mercedes CLK it works perfect! So, my conclusion is it must be a combination between the dector and the Lexus that causes the problem. I'm confused because it took over a year and a half for the problem to start in the Lexus. I plan on calling Escort tech dept. to see what the heck would cause this.I'll post the results from the call afterwards
Comments:
Oct 19, 2008
- OK.....this is strange. I have the same problem with constant false alarms switching between POP and KA for five to ten minutes constantly. I tried the Q tip recommendations from this site and no luck. Here's the weird part, when pluged into my 2006 Lexus GS the problem continued. When I plug it into my new used car a 2006 Mercedes CLK it works perfect! So, my conclusion is it must be a combination between the dector and the Lexus that causes the problem. I'm confused because it took over a year and a half for the problem to start in the Lexus. I plan on calling Escort tech dept. to see what the heck would cause this.I'll post the results from the call afterwardsYes
No
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20 Other Users Have The Same Problem - Continued
Comment by Guest, posted on Jan 29, 2009
I have the same problem. I have a Ford F150 and every time I accelerate the laser warning goes off. I've gone through two of these pieces of junk since I bought the Ford. I think that the problem may be in the fact that the power is always on to the detector, as many of you have said in your complaints. My wife has one in her Toyota that works fine. Mine used to work fine in my old Toyota too. Many Japanese cars don't have any power to the lighter when the ignition is off. I think that it may just be a flaw in the detector circuitry. They stay on too long and fry certain circuits or other parts.
The best solution may be to buy a Valentine detector. I understand that they really stand behind their produce and it is just as good if not better than the Escort 8500 X50!
The best solution may be to buy a Valentine detector. I understand that they really stand behind their produce and it is just as good if not better than the Escort 8500 X50!
Comment by dwmmlm, posted on Jan 21, 2009
I have the same issues and it comes and goes without warning or regularity.
And, it's not rare as all you have to do is Google it to see that this is more common than the manufacturer wants anyone to believe. I think it's really sad that a company would charge customers to fix a problem that they are clearly aware of which was a design or manufacturing error in the first place. In other words, they're telling us "we made a crappy product and you bought it. If you want it to work correctly you'll need to send us more money". Terrible.
And, it's not rare as all you have to do is Google it to see that this is more common than the manufacturer wants anyone to believe. I think it's really sad that a company would charge customers to fix a problem that they are clearly aware of which was a design or manufacturing error in the first place. In other words, they're telling us "we made a crappy product and you bought it. If you want it to work correctly you'll need to send us more money". Terrible.
Comment by bdk437, posted on Jan 19, 2009
I have the same issues but mine stays in laser scream mode until I shut the power off. I read somewhere that one wrote that he had to replace the capacitor inside and solved the problems. He said it was a very easy fix if you can solder..
here is the response I got from Escort...
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 give a false alert 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.
Regards,
Customer Service Department
1-800-543-1608
here is the response I got from Escort...
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 give a false alert 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.
Regards,
Customer Service Department
1-800-543-1608
Comment by wramos, posted on Jan 07, 2009
My 8500 ring the laser warning - even in my garage at night - and in parking lots - as well as every couple of minutes down the road
Comment by mmotown, posted on Dec 03, 2008
I have the same problem. going to save the $59 and try the q-tip method. If not I'll spend the $59. glad to see this problem is universal and not just isolated to me.
Comment by Guest, posted on Nov 05, 2008
Laser goes off randomly. Very annoying.
Comment by Guest, posted on Oct 15, 2008
Laser keeps going off every couple minutes...annoying!
Comment by tyryfter, posted on Sep 18, 2008
My unit has also developed the same "false" lazer warning signal every couple of minutes, after a year of perfect performance. Possible solution?
Dan
tyryfter@hotmail.com
Dan
tyryfter@hotmail.com
Comment by jeffpoe1, posted on Sep 13, 2008
Same prob.
My laser warning goes off when I punch the accelerator and also when I adjust the side mirrors. Just started this a few months ago. Worked fine the 1st year.
Comment by f6pilot, posted on Sep 04, 2008
Same problem here. Also mine goes of when I hit the power door locks. I called Escort - 800-543-1608, they acknowledged the problem and said it has to go in for service but can be repaired. $79.00. Much cheaper than a ticket so mine is going in. They also have a trade-in promotion so you can get the latest model. They indicated cell phone towers are oftten the source of the problem, but claim they can fix it.
Comment by wende, posted on Aug 30, 2008
Same problem here - I get a laser warning about every two minutes. Help.
Comment by wlacobie, posted on Jul 07, 2008
My 8500 worked fine for ~2 years and then the last 3 months the Laser band would go off on high alert for absolutely no apparent reason. This would happen very infrequently (once every month) and now it is happening every 30-45 mins. I tried shutting it off/on, repositioning it, using it in different cars, covering it, (so no light would hit it) and the trouble still is existent.
Has anyone tried resetting the unit or disabling the Laser Band?
Thanks WPL
Has anyone tried resetting the unit or disabling the Laser Band?
Thanks WPL
Comment by Guest, posted on Jun 13, 2008
Yep, same problem here, I gotta find a way to fix this !!
Comment by dwmmlm, posted on Jun 02, 2008
Same issue. After 2 months of use the laser goes off full power and load for no reason. It happens 2 or 3 times each time I get in the car. It drives me crazy! Now I don't know what to do....
Comment by deadcandance, posted on Jun 02, 2008
My 8500 worked fine for 15 months and than the last 5 weeks the Laser band would go off on high alert for absolutely no reason. This would happen one in two weeks now it is happening 3-5 times a day and is getting progressively worse. I try shutting it off and unplugging it and the trouble still is existent.
If anyone here can suggest a cause or solution, please do so........ I see the last gentleman asked the same question but got no reply..... is anyone home????? :)
If anyone here can suggest a cause or solution, please do so........ I see the last gentleman asked the same question but got no reply..... is anyone home????? :)
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