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  1. #1
    Newcomer
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    Jan 2010
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    Panhandle of Oklahoma
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    21

    Default 8500, issue with "city" button

    Alright, well about a week ago, I won a bid on fleabay for $66 shipped on a (private sale) used Passport 8500 w/red led's. The unit was supposedly 2 years old (purchased in 2008) and was working fine during its last use. I was pumped at what I thought was a decent deal on a good detector.

    Today the package arrived and I took it out of the box. The detector looked decent for 2 years of wear, although the power cord was missing the grommet to hold the wires steady in the cigarette lighter adapter. I made a trip to radioshack to get a new one, and tried the detector out to see if it worked.

    The unit powered on, and then flashed 13.9 to 14.7 volts at me. I held both buttons down to program the unit, and it began cycling through the options... without me touching any of the buttons! I was able to get things situated with the programming (I think, most things were left at factory default) and set the mode for highway. And then the real issue started...

    The detector began going from highway, to auto, to city, all on its own. I had it in the windshield mount, and I was not touching anything. It continued to do this the entire 30 miles to Radioshack.

    I got the smart powercord fixed and hooked things up once again in my car. It continued to have issues, till I got back onto the highway. Then it remained in Highway mode almost till I got back home. It cycled on its own a couple of times, but not nearly as often as it had been before.

    Once I got home, I took a closer look at the detector itself. It appears that the city button does not have a spring in it anymore. The "Dim" button will click when pushed, and won't change anything on its own without that "click". The "City" button, however, will change modes with me just barely brushing it. And there is no click at all to the "City" button.

    The detector does work though, as I picked up a Ka band signal in town (might have been false) from over a 1/2 mile in a congested city street area. Might have been a false signal though.

    I don't think this is something I can fix (unless others have done it themselves), so what are my options? Describe the problem to Escort and see what they say? Will they even consider refurbishing it for me, since its a used detector? How much should I be ready to pay if I do send it in? And is there any chance someone who knew what the were doing could replace the button??

    Thanks in advance guys! I'm not really upset, as I did'nt expect it to be perfect, seeing as it *is* used.
    Last edited by M6speed; 02-03-2010 at 08:19 PM.

  2. #2
    snoopyc4
    Guest

    Default Re: 8500, issue with "city" button

    Quote Originally Posted by M6speed View Post
    so what are my options?
    Send it to Escort to get fixed or get a new RD. You never know what you'll get when you buy used. Thats why the general consensus on this forum is to buy new (exception: refurb 8500).

  3. #3
    Lead Foot
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    497

    Default Re: 8500, issue with "city" button

    Fwiw. For $83 dollars more you could've bought a refurbed 8500 directly from Escort with warranty.

    Call Escort and get some idea before you send it in. It could be close to $100.00. This is just a guess though.

    Good luck.

  4. #4
    Newcomer
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
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    20

    Default Re: 8500, issue with "city" button

    Take it apart and put a rubber stopper in between the button and board so they make a connection if you think that's the issue. Maybe you could even find a similar spring with the same tension at home depot or ace. Worth a shot.

  5. #5
    Speed Demon
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Huntsville/Houston
    Posts
    511

    Default Re: 8500, issue with "city" button

    Quote Originally Posted by polo View Post
    Take it apart and put a rubber stopper in between the button and board so they make a connection if you think that's the issue. Maybe you could even find a similar spring with the same tension at home depot or ace. Worth a shot.
    this sound reasonable to me .. but then again you might mess things up in there.. but by just simply opening it wouldnt hurt to see what you could put in there to make a fix.. go for it with gentle hands

  6. #6
    Newcomer
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    Jan 2010
    Location
    Panhandle of Oklahoma
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    Default Re: 8500, issue with "city" button

    Well I just got off the phone with Escort, and they were very very helpful! They said it did'nt matter that I had bought it used, and I would just need to send it to them, and they would fix the button and any other issues, as well update the software (same as a refurbished 8500) for 79.95. I'll be packaging it up and sending it out shortly. I examined the button again, and it is soldered to the board, there is no way I can get to the spring or remove it to replace it.

    So basically, I just bought a refurb, I agree. But living is learning, right?

  7. #7
    Lead Foot
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    497

    Default Re: 8500, issue with "city" button

    Sounds good. Yep, you live and you learn. No big deal though. It all worked out.

    After Escort fixes your problem did they say if it comes back with any type of warranty?

  8. #8
    Professional
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    824

    Default Re: 8500, issue with "city" button

    Wow for $79.95? Beltronics only charges $59.95. I wonder why such the "same company" charges different prices for what is "almost-the-same" product.

  9. #9
    Newcomer
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Panhandle of Oklahoma
    Posts
    21

    Default Re: 8500, issue with "city" button

    Quote Originally Posted by nosbusa View Post
    Sounds good. Yep, you live and you learn. No big deal though. It all worked out.

    After Escort fixes your problem did they say if it comes back with any type of warranty?
    Did'nt ask, but I will be sure to try to remember whenever they call me for my credit card number. Thanks for mentioning it!

    Quote Originally Posted by chriskohtc View Post
    Wow for $79.95? Beltronics only charges $59.95. I wonder why such the "same company" charges different prices for what is "almost-the-same" product.
    lol, Strange indeed! But their price only applies to their radars... correct? Like if I had a 995??

    I'm new to the whole "Belscort" thing... are they the same company??

  10. #10
    Lead Foot
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    497

    Default Re: 8500, issue with "city" button

    Yes, same company. From what I've read separate teams manufacture Bel and Escort products.

 

 

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