I just finished the hardwire installation of my Escort Passport 8500. It's awesome!

I read the previous posts for installation into the wiring around the homelink/mirror but wanted to be a little more definite with my wiring choices and ensure power on/off with ignition. I ended up removing the lower driver dash panel and the mid-panel that houses the driver side lighter/power source. It couldn't have been easier. The wiring harness to the lighter is easy to access when the panel removed. The supplied connector worked beautifully. There is also an easily accesible grounding location on the steering column supports. I routed the wires under the dash and then tucked them behind the driver front pillar and along the upper edge of the windshield to the detector. The detector now resides just to the passenger side of the rearview mirror at the edge of the windshield tint. I placed the remote button at a seam in the dash panels just below and to the left of the steering wheel.

It works great - on and off with the ignition. Difficult to see from outside at the edge of the windshield tint. It's a great way to go!

 

Cool, I'm glad you're happy with your radar dectotor. The best thing in the world is to buy something, install it yourself, and like it! Post some pictures.

Thanks - Joey Avino

 

Does Passport come with a visor clip mount?

I hate suction cups on my windshield!

But I definitely need a new detector soon.

Now that I think about it, do ANY detectors have visor clips any more? Passport? Valentine?

 

Did you get some type of hard wiring kit to use? I was wondering what you did for the plug that goes into the detector itself (ie. cut the original off and spliced it) or if a kit was available.

I was wondering about the typical cigarette male plug and whether it had a fuse in it and whether your system has lost a fuse by hard wiring directly to a powered source.

I'd love to see some pics of how you did this though. I don't have my car yet but I will definitely be getting another radar detector and I want to hard wire it. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

 

Basically installed mine the same, except I ran a splice wire over the passenger side tucked in the headliner, behind the A-piller cover, underneath the glovebox, through the console coming out just below the cigarette lighter and then re-connected the splice to the cigarette plug adapter on the right side.

With the extra lighter socket not being used, seemed like a good way to go for me. Easy job, less than an hour.

 

There is a hardwiring kit that you can purchase separately for the 8500. It includes a ground wire as well as a "hot" wire that you splice into your power source. This wire includes an in-line fuse. The hot/ground wires run to a remote display that is approx 1"x1" with red and green lights for power and for alert (I think) as well as a mute button. From there a telephone-type wire runs to the unit wherever you choose to install it. I tied into the power at the driver-side lighter/power source, ran the remote display to a seam in the dash panels left of the steering wheel, then ran the cord to the detector along the front pillar and top of the windshield. Everything is hidden - looks great and works great. The detector is mounted with the factory suction cups to the right of the rearview mirror, at the lower edge of the tint strip to prevent loss of sensitivity as suggested in the manual. I don't believe there is a visor mount available. I'll try to get some pics posted as soon as possible.

 

guys I'm just having all kinds of problems. I'm trying to go to the cigarette lighter as well, have all the panels off and spliced into the red wires on both the plugs that go into the cig lighter and still doesn't work. What is the power source out of the driver side cigarette lighter? Any help would be appreciated, or pics that anyone has that has done this mod through the cig lighter.

Steiner
2004 G35x Sedan | Brilliant Silver |
19' Moda R6's | Nav | Euro Package |
Clear Corners | Headrest TV's |
XBOX | DVD | Tint

 

I don't remember the exact wire colors but there are 2 sets of wires to the cigarette lighter. One set is to the lighted plastic ring around the lighter, the other is to the lighter itself. Determine which set is to the base of the lighter and tap into the hot wire in that set. The problem might be that the wire tap you're using isn't piercing the source hot wire. Make sure you squeeze it completely down to penetrate the plastic coating on the source wire. Are you also getting a good ground wire contact? Is your cigarette lighter working? Check the fuse to the lighter.

Good luck!

fszatko

2004 G35x Twilight Blue with Graphite
Premium Package
Spoiler
Hardwired Passport 8500
PIAA 4150K High Beam/Fog bulbs
Aluminum Pedal Kit

 

thanks very much for your post. Figured it out after I tried wiring it a few times, fuse was blown!

Steiner
2004 G35x Sedan | Brilliant Silver |
19' Moda R6's | Nav | Euro Package |
Clear Corners | Headrest TV's |
XBOX | DVD | Tint

 

Please post pics!!! I'd like to see how your remote mute button is mounted.