[Nameless]

Step 1: Remove the 2 screws from the plug of your Passport 8500 x50. When you open it up be careful not to damage the front face cause you’ll need that later. (it’s just a sticker)



Step 2: Remove the circuit board and the HOT (red wire) and GROUND (green wire) connections from the plug itself. For further clarification, the HOT is the one that goes to the pointy end of the plug and the GROUND is one of the sides that creates tension to keep the plug in the socket. Cut the metal ends off of the wires because you won’t need them anymore.

Step 3: Get extra lengths of wire to extend your HOT and GROUND. I soldered a red wire from my HOT and a black wire from my GROUND and then wrapped the connections with electrical tape. You don’t need that much just 6-8 inches each should work.

Step 4: To remove LIGHT HOUSING simply grab one side and pull straight down, it’s just a friction clip and you’re not gonna break it. Repeat on opposite side. Note the plug that connects your light assembly to the rest of the car? It’s easier if you disconnect it at this point. Now look at the middle part of the housing how it forms a small box? On both side of the box are “V” slots, this is where we’re going to attach the circuit board from the plug!





Step 5: Take a small screw and put it through the original hole of the circuit board, using a small rubber washer between the circuit board and the plastic, and a metal washer and nut on the other side of the plastic. That rubber washer will help protect your electronics. HINT: take your wire and circuit board into your local hardware store and build it right there so you get it right. I spent a grand total of 45 cents on parts.



Step 6: Once you’ve got your hardware assembly done, place it into your housing and mark off where you’ll be drilling your holes. I attached my circuit board to the passenger side “V” slot. You should also notice how the cord itself can seat neatly into the opposing “V” slot to reduce some of the tension on the wires.

Step 7: Drill your holes! I’d recommend starting with a small bit and then work your way up if you’re not accustomed to the finer points of drilling. Once your holes are in put your circuitry back in and size it up. Don’t worry if it looks a tad sloppy at this point cause that sticker from the plug we saved will cover it all up, just make sure they’re STRAIGHT and not TOO big.

Step 8: Once your holes are the right size, put your electronics in and tighten down the screw. Not TOO tight cause you don’t want to break the damn board, but ya know, SNUG. Flip over the housing and place your sticker on over the MUTE button and align the rest of it. Press it on firmly and marvel at just how freakin awesome it looks!





Step 9: Now the plug that you disconnected from the car, take a good look at it and locate the black wire with the BLUE STRIPE. It is your main power and it is further identified because it “Y”s off immediately to both lights.



Step 10: Take the extension from your HOT and twist the stripped end (about 1/8th of an inch is enough to strip off) into the plug deep enough so that it makes contact with the rest of the plug. Take a small self tapping screw and screw it into the metal right beside one of the holes already there. Then take the extension from your GROUND and wrap it around the screw and tighten it down.



Step 11: At this point you should feed the telephone looking jack through the headliner and out the windshield side. You may want to pull down a bit on the headliner to help get the coil through. Pull through however much you need and leave the rest to be hidden in the light housing. Plug the LIGHT HOUSING plug back into it’s location and reattach the housing itself.



Step 12: Plug your wire into your radar detector and VOILA! You have just hardwired your Passport 8500 x50 into your Mustang!

Step 13: DRIVE FAST AND KEEP THE RUBBER SIDE DOWN!!!

Here's some unedited pics just in case...

[06RedfireGT]

how do ya like that detector? i got a nicer cobra one thats a couple years old. i think its time for an upgrade though.

[Nameless]

Well I've had this one for about 2 years but it's still a pretty popular model on the market. There is a better Passport out there with GPS and whatnot, but CHA-CHING $$$ I'm fine with mine till it dies like my Cobra and Uniden did...then I'll upgrade

[06RedfireGT]

do you think it worth the $$$?

[Nameless]

Honestly haven't had a chance to truly research it. I know I've heard good things about the Valentine...it may be a better radar detector, but HOW MUCH better verses how much MORE MONEY I'm not sure...

[06RedfireGT]

there is this one cop in my city. this ugly as a horses ass dyke that pulls you over for doin 6 over. the bitch has burned me 3 times. i think now most cops are using laser instead of radar. i would like a detector that gives me good range and is accurate. ive been thinking about the valentine 1 too and ive been wondering how it compares to the valentine. im kinda a lead foot so i need as much help as i can get

[superkeege]

I have the Passport 9500 ( the new one with GPS) and I love it. I had the Passport 8500 for about a year and it was good but the GPS features along with a couple others swayed me to the new one.

[TheDuke]

I have had the passport save my butt quite a few times. It has excelent range. I have picked up radar at least a mile out. The few times it was so far I almost ignored it thinking it was a false call. I do mostly use it for open highway (plenty of them in Wyo) and I haven't used the valentine so I don't know how it compares, but I would highly recommend the passport.

[06RedfireGT]

how much does the 9500 go for?

[hamish]

I think it's usually advertised at $450 along with it's competitors the beltronic and the valentine. From my internet surfing it seems they are all pretty close in terms of detection.I believe the valentine is probably the best,but it doesn't have all the features of the other 2. If you want a cheaper alternative the whislter might be a good choice.
I desperately need to buy one in a few weeks.
The install in the map lights is sweet by the way good job!

[bigpappy33]

almost a 3 year old thread my man

[1200bruce]

I have 2 8500's and love them!

[Taxman]

This is the thread I used to hardwire my beltronics in. Works great. Nice old thread.

[CarpDaddy]

Nice write up. Cool look. No more moving the cord out of the way to see the clock.

[fullboogie]

Kudos to Nameless for his efforts. But I really don't understand the need for taking apart the interior, soldering wires, and having a coiled cord hanging by the windshield. You can simply buy a straight cord from Escort for $5, run it across the headliner and down to the passenger fuse box, clip the end, and wire the black to a switched source and green to ground. That's it.

I've wired 3 8500's this way so far, and it works great.

[Taxman]

Originally Posted by fullboogie Kudos to Nameless for his efforts. But I really don't understand the need for taking apart the interior, soldering wires, and having a coiled cord hanging by the windshield. You can simply buy a straight cord from Escort for $5, run it across the headliner and down to the passenger fuse box, clip the end, and wire the black to a switched source and green to ground. That's it. I've wired 3 8500's this way so far, and it works great.

Yeah but where's the fun in that? Lol


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

[DiMora]

Originally Posted by fullboogie Kudos to Nameless for his efforts. But I really don't understand the need for taking apart the interior, soldering wires, and having a coiled cord hanging by the windshield. You can simply buy a straight cord from Escort for $5, run it across the headliner and down to the passenger fuse box, clip the end, and wire the black to a switched source and green to ground. That's it. I've wired 3 8500's this way so far, and it works great.

Or you can use a phone cord.

[fullboogie]

^^^ Exactly. I learned that after setting up an 8500 in my old Lightning, but didn't want to throw that in the mix here. Just wanted to explain there's a much easier way to hardwire a detector into our cars.

[J Diesel]

To those of you who have the 8500....

does anybody else experience A LOT of false laser detection alerts?

I bought mine from a coworker about 7 months ago for $10 haha.

Its hardwired to the fuse box, and yes its wired correctly. I have an on/off switch near the E-brake for it. The damn thing gives off false laser alerts often, on my 30 min drive to work in the morning i will sometimes have to turn it off about 8 times to get it to shut up. When it acts up like that i will generally leave it off for a few days and then switch it back on, after a few days of being back on it starts acting up again with false laser alerts. Is there a way to completely disable the laser detection on these things?

EDIT* i actually have the 8500 x50 if that makes a difference

[fullboogie]

I never, ever have false alerts with mine, which is why I love it. If the detector goes off, I always see a cop somewhere. Yours was likely dropped or damaged, which is why you got it for $10. Throw it out and buy a new one.