Passport 8500 Hard Wire Question
12-28-2002, 11:09 AM
#1
Passport 8500 Hard Wire Question
Looking at the cable on my 8500, it seems to me to just be an RJ11 phone jack on a regular cable. Anybody just hard wired one of these two wire phone style? It looked like the two outside wires go for the smart cord functionality, and the inside two are the power and ground. Is that right?
I see Escort offers just a straight wire cord for like $10, but I'd rather go ahead and do it myself. Just see if anybody has done this, and knows if I need the other two wires or not.
I see Escort offers just a straight wire cord for like $10, but I'd rather go ahead and do it myself. Just see if anybody has done this, and knows if I need the other two wires or not.
12-28-2002, 05:36 PM
#2
Middle two wires. . . I wish I could tell you which is which but because the cord I used had two white wires only, I cant. I hooked it up backwards the first time and the detector did not turn on (in other words: one is ground one is power just test to see which wayworks).
12-28-2002, 06:43 PM
#3
Thanks, did you just use 2 wire phone line? I've got some CAT5 laying around that I guess would work, but it either blue or gray. Think I want black.
Where did you tie in? I'm going to mount mine up near the roof instead of on the dash like I've seen several people do here. Lower has less range. I figured I could either tie it in to the mirror, or run it down the A pillar. I guess I'll figure it out when I actually get the car tomorrow.
My current car I run it right above the rear view mirror. It has a accessory jack on the roof console thing, though, so I've never hard wired it in.
Where did you tie in? I'm going to mount mine up near the roof instead of on the dash like I've seen several people do here. Lower has less range. I figured I could either tie it in to the mirror, or run it down the A pillar. I guess I'll figure it out when I actually get the car tomorrow.
My current car I run it right above the rear view mirror. It has a accessory jack on the roof console thing, though, so I've never hard wired it in.
12-28-2002, 08:08 PM
#6
I wanted to use the console lights power but I just got those working friday!! Yes thats right for 4 months now I have not had interior lights. If you use these you will have to turn the unit on/off with the car unless you use a relay.
I ran my black two wire phone cord up the mirror loom across the headliner, down the A pillar, to the fuse box. I tapped into the cig fuse. The radar is sitting just left of the rear view mirror at the top of the windshield. Works great, saved me a few times already.
I ran my black two wire phone cord up the mirror loom across the headliner, down the A pillar, to the fuse box. I tapped into the cig fuse. The radar is sitting just left of the rear view mirror at the top of the windshield. Works great, saved me a few times already.
12-28-2002, 08:44 PM
#7
Turn it off? Bah, I don't think I've turned it off yet 
They don't draw much power (although getting in the car at a grocery store with it going nuts is annoying).
I'll look at it once I get the car. I may put it on a switched connection, too. Just have to see what is involved either way.
Thanks for the info, both of you.
They don't draw much power (although getting in the car at a grocery store with it going nuts is annoying).I'll look at it once I get the car. I may put it on a switched connection, too. Just have to see what is involved either way.
Thanks for the info, both of you.
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12-31-2002, 04:07 PM
#10
I wired the detector last night, and I have a question. Where the a pillar plastic goes to the piece with the vent in it, I had difficulty getting the wire pushed in. It is still sticking out for a few inches between where the plastic on the a pillar meets the winshield, and where the lighter gray piece with the vent meets the door sill.
It doesn't look horrible, but I would like to get it buried. I couldn't find how that vent piece came off.
Tips?
BTW, there is no ideal place to mount the detector in this car
I ended up putting it right below the mirror toward the passenger side. I had hoped to get it closer to the roof, for better range. The problem with that is you can't put it too close to the mirror because of the dots and/or the visors.
It doesn't look horrible, but I would like to get it buried. I couldn't find how that vent piece came off.
Tips?
BTW, there is no ideal place to mount the detector in this car
I ended up putting it right below the mirror toward the passenger side. I had hoped to get it closer to the roof, for better range. The problem with that is you can't put it too close to the mirror because of the dots and/or the visors.
01-01-2003, 05:54 AM
#11
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Try running your wires from the detector along the headliner to the a pillar, then down the side of the pillar under the rubber door seal lip that runs down the a pillar. Not on the side of the pillar that meets the windshield. Then feed the wires between the side of the dash and where the dash meets the pillar.
In the end you should be able to completely hide the wires.
Make sure to use a fuse in the power wire.
In the end you should be able to completely hide the wires.
Make sure to use a fuse in the power wire.
01-01-2003, 06:49 AM
#13
That worked. Now, I have about a foot of extra wire rolled up down in the fuse area 
I'd hate to have to try to get the ground wire on that nut up there again if I cut the thing off. I'll probably do it anyway.
BTW, I ran the wire from the detector into the little wire cover used by the mirror, so you don't have an additional lose wire between the mirror and the headliner. I didn't know if it would fit in there, but it does. The little plastic cover is two pieces, just pull them together to release it from the mirror and the roof. Most of you probably have figured that out already, but I didn't see it in any of the threads when I was looking for tips.
I'd hate to have to try to get the ground wire on that nut up there again if I cut the thing off. I'll probably do it anyway.BTW, I ran the wire from the detector into the little wire cover used by the mirror, so you don't have an additional lose wire between the mirror and the headliner. I didn't know if it would fit in there, but it does. The little plastic cover is two pieces, just pull them together to release it from the mirror and the roof. Most of you probably have figured that out already, but I didn't see it in any of the threads when I was looking for tips.
04-25-2003, 05:34 PM
#14
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Originally posted by MannishBoy
That worked. Now, I have about a foot of extra wire rolled up down in the fuse area I'd hate to have to try to get the ground wire on that nut up there again if I cut the thing off. I'll probably do it anyway.
BTW, I ran the wire from the detector into the little wire cover used by the mirror, so you don't have an additional lose wire between the mirror and the headliner. I didn't know if it would fit in there, but it does. The little plastic cover is two pieces, just pull them together to release it from the mirror and the roof. Most of you probably have figured that out already, but I didn't see it in any of the threads when I was looking for tips.
That worked. Now, I have about a foot of extra wire rolled up down in the fuse area
I'd hate to have to try to get the ground wire on that nut up there again if I cut the thing off. I'll probably do it anyway.BTW, I ran the wire from the detector into the little wire cover used by the mirror, so you don't have an additional lose wire between the mirror and the headliner. I didn't know if it would fit in there, but it does. The little plastic cover is two pieces, just pull them together to release it from the mirror and the roof. Most of you probably have figured that out already, but I didn't see it in any of the threads when I was looking for tips.
Do you have any pics of your install? Did you use the suction cups, clips or a mirror mount?
My 8500 should be here anyday and I am trying to figure out a clean install that I can do myself.
04-25-2003, 08:43 PM
#15
I used the suction cup mounts. I'll try to get some pictures if you need them, but it is really pretty simple.
If I don't post back in a day or two, I've forgotten. PM me if you I somebody else hasn't posted something for you.
You might look around, somebody else had a thread on this, too.
If I don't post back in a day or two, I've forgotten. PM me if you I somebody else hasn't posted something for you.
You might look around, somebody else had a thread on this, too.
04-27-2003, 03:36 PM
#16
OK, here are the install pics you asked for in a PM. Basically, pretty simple. Just run the wire around the headliner, down the outside of the A pillar (door side), then under the dash to the kick panel fuse box. Wire it into the accessory fuse.
The wire is just a typical black telephone cable with a standard RJ11 jack. You just need to find out what is the hot wire, and what is the ground. Look in your Escort plug for reference, then match it to your phone cable.
Outside pic (bugs are a bonus):
The wire is just a typical black telephone cable with a standard RJ11 jack. You just need to find out what is the hot wire, and what is the ground. Look in your Escort plug for reference, then match it to your phone cable.
Outside pic (bugs are a bonus):
04-27-2003, 03:43 PM
#20
I mounted the detector to the glass below the mirror because I could put it directly above the mirror due to the dots, and I didn't want to give up a sun visor on either side to mount it higher (which is slightly better functionally).
Where it is from the driver seat it barely sticks out below the mirror in line of sight, so it doesn't block much view, either.
Where it is from the driver seat it barely sticks out below the mirror in line of sight, so it doesn't block much view, either.