OK folks...

Called passport. It is a common problem that your detectors will "learn" to pick up RF frequencies and set the Laser detector off. It gets progressively worse as your detector "learns" you car. I can't adjust my side mirrors without setting it off. They will reset the unit for (drumroll please.....) $85!!!

I am wondering if there is anyway to do this ourlselves. I mean, I've already sent it once to be "tuned" and I don't have any interest in doing this every two years.

advice?

 

They told me it was $60 for a Tune and add sheilding

if I adjust my mirrors... it goes off

 

If you are running an aftermarket HU, could he IR radio control adapter be setting it off (when accelerating, if the auto-volume is turned on it could emmit a signal to up the volume, thus setting off the laser sensor). I have not had this problem....only speculation, I am not sure the IR is the same wave length as the detectible laser.

John

 

I fairly certain it has to with the Modifry DCI and the speed sensitive volume. Adjusting the mirrors is fairly common and has the same effect. I'm just bummed it will cost so much money to fix. I will call escort and try to negotiate a better price.

 

ok, I'm not an electrical engineer, but the explanation that the 8500
"learns" the RF interference in the car and that's why it starts falsing
over time sounds highly suspicious to me ("no, it's not our fault, it's
your car's fault!").
Here's an alternate theory - the laser detector is highly sensitive to
voltage changes, and the detector's components (capacitors?) which
stabilize the voltage are degrading.
Hopefully someone who knows what they are talking about will jump
in, but in the meantime, here's an easy test:
plug the 8500 into an alternate (disconnected from the car) power
source, and do whatever it is that causes the detector to false. If
it no longer does, it ain't RF. If it still falses, my theory is goes in
the trash (where it probably belongs)

 

to reset the 8500, power it off, then hold down the 2 top buttons and the front mute button, and power the unit on. keep the buttons held until it finishes it's reset sequence.

i don't know if that will fix your problem, but it's a start.

if that doesn't work, i'm PM'ing you the name, extension, and number for their customer service manager.


the learning explanation seems BS to me. i'd bet it's EMI w/in the car. or oth's explanation
which seems reasonable as well.

are you getting any service required messages?

 

no service messages.

I'm going to remove a shift beper that isn't working properly and go from there. I think that may be a contributing factor. From there I will call your contact and make arrangements.

Thanks Phil!

 

no problem man...

a while back (and how i have that info and the contact) i was having a ton of service required messages, and it went back to them at least 3 times. turns out, i had a small nick in my hardwire (it was already a thin homemade one.), and i was getting small voltage fluctuations at the detector (so small, the 8500 volt meter wouldn't respond fast enough, but my multi-meter would show them) which would trigger the service required routine... (thought it's power control circuitry was going bad i guess...)

they were very patient w/ me, and extended my warranty out to 3 years for free... and it turned out to be my problem.