The Automotive Thread

[jeb6294]

Anyone here into radar detectors and/or laser jammers? 

Never had much use for them. I always heard that by the time they go off it's too late. I usually go by the brakes lights of the people ahead of me. Someone could be going down the highway with the cruise control set at the speed limit and they're still going to hit the brakes when they see a cop.

Trying to remember if it was Mythbusters, but someone tested the different laser "blockers" and none of them worked.

 

[MA_PE]

25-30 years ago radar detectors actually worked at warning of speed traps.  Advances in the laser technology pretty much negate any advance warning these days so it's pretty much dead.  Using Waze you get "smokey reports" from other drivers ahead of you.  It's likely much more effective than any detection device.

I think the cop might notice if you're using a jammer, as you'll be going right by him at a high rate of speed, and that might be more problems than just getting the ticket.

 

[Flyer_PE]

Rather than worry about radar, I just try to be the second or third fastest vehicle in sight and don't drive like a jackass.  Seems to work pretty well given the last time I got a ticket was over 15 years ago.  The only other solid rule around here is not to exceed 5mph over the limit through Racine Wisconsin if your car has Illinois plates.

 

[knight1fox3]

 Using Waze you get "smokey reports" from other drivers ahead of you.  It's likely much more effective than any detection device.

I think the cop might notice if you're using a jammer, as you'll be going right by him at a high rate of speed, and that might be more problems than just getting the ticket.

Yes, so in addition to the speeding ticket you'll also be ticketed for texting & driving. :thumbs:

 

[ptatohed]

Never had much use for them. I always heard that by the time they go off it's too late. I usually go by the brakes lights of the people ahead of me. Someone could be going down the highway with the cruise control set at the speed limit and they're still going to hit the brakes when they see a cop.

Trying to remember if it was Mythbusters, but someone tested the different laser "blockers" and none of them worked.

If the officer is using radar, you should have an adequate warning.  There are some exceptions like "instant-on" radar (rare) but, for the most part, you're good if the officer is using radar.  If the officer is using laser on the other hand, if your laser detector goes off, it's basically a "ticket notify-er".  There are some exceptions like if you catch a littler laser scatter from the car in front of you or if he takes a few seconds to lock on and you can decrease your speed in those few seconds.  I think the stats are that officers use radar 75-80% of the time and laser 20-25% of the time.   

I assure you laser jammers (laser diffusers, laser shifters) work.  You have to have the right jammers and/or you have to hope the officer isn't using one of the newest guns.  You might be thinking of radar jammers/blockers.  There is no known commercial device that blocks radar.  And if there were, it's illegal in all 50 states.  Bogus companies like Rocky Mountain Radar claim to sell radar "scramblers" but they have repeatedly been tested not to work.   

25-30 years ago radar detectors actually worked at warning of speed traps.  Advances in the laser technology pretty much negate any advance warning these days so it's pretty much dead.  Using Waze you get "smokey reports" from other drivers ahead of you.  It's likely much more effective than any detection device.

I think the cop might notice if you're using a jammer, as you'll be going right by him at a high rate of speed, and that might be more problems than just getting the ticket.

Waze is good but doesn't help you if you are the first one to come across a speed enforcement officer or if no one has reported him yet.  It's another tool but not a guarantee. 

The proper way to use laser jammers is to "jam to kill", not "jam to gun".  So, if your laser detector/jammer alerts, you quickly drop to at/near posted speed limit and flick it off.  If you "jam to gun", he'll likely know.  Laser jammers are illegal in 12 states.  Radar detectors are illegal in 2 states.   

Rather than worry about radar, I just try to be the second or third fastest vehicle in sight and don't drive like a jackass.  Seems to work pretty well given the last time I got a ticket was over 15 years ago.  The only other solid rule around here is not to exceed 5mph over the limit through Racine Wisconsin if your car has Illinois plates.

Wise advice.   

 

[jeb6294]

I think the stats are that officers use radar 75-80% of the time and laser 20-25% of the time.   

I assure you laser jammers (laser diffusers, laser shifters) work.

Around here, I think that ratio might be the other way around. Almost every time I see a state trooper sitting in the median, they are propped up on their door using the scope to aim their gun at specific cars...I'm assuming those are the lasers.

The blockers I saw them testing were mostly the covers you put on your license plate that are supposed to block/scatter/absorb the laser. None of them worked.

 

[Road Guy]

I've just gotten old, I don't speed "that much" to worry about it anymore in all reality. of course I drive a square box that doesn't go very fast. 

 

[Road Guy]

So gearing up for this years winter, I am trying to find some better lights for my family snow driver, the Tahoe. There were a couple times driving through the mountains I literally couldn't see 20 feet ahead of me in a white out driving at 5 mph last year..

I was trying to see from those of you who have used both, if I should go with the expensive upgraded  standard driving lights, or get some fancy accessory lighting that I would have to install and mount?  I prefer to just spend the money if I can make the regular headlights work better but I feel leery of what  the burnout kid at advanced auto parts will tell me..

 

[Supe]

LED light bar FTW.

 

[Road Guy]

What was that last part?

 

[Supe]

"Fix to windshield"

 

[snickerd3]

or you can just go the @csb route and get a kick ass bike.  https://paddle8.com/auction/robin-williams/   

 

[ptatohed]

Around here, I think that ratio might be the other way around. Almost every time I see a state trooper sitting in the median, they are propped up on their door using the scope to aim their gun at specific cars...I'm assuming those are the lasers.

The blockers I saw them testing were mostly the covers you put on your license plate that are supposed to block/scatter/absorb the laser. None of them worked.

You are probably right.  I think the 80/20 radar/LIDAR is country-wide average.  I see probably 50/50 in my area.  Yup, if you see them looking through the scope, it is LIDAR.

Yep, the license plate "shields" don't work. 

 

[blybrook PE]

So gearing up for this years winter, I am trying to find some better lights for my family snow driver, the Tahoe. There were a couple times driving through the mountains I literally couldn't see 20 feet ahead of me in a white out driving at 5 mph last year..I was trying to see from those of you who have used both, if I should go with the expensive upgraded  standard driving lights, or get some fancy accessory lighting that I would have to install and mount?  I prefer to just spend the money if I can make the regular headlights work better but I feel leery of what  the burnout kid at advanced auto parts will tell me..

Go with the integral units. The light bars are great, but are easily taken out by rocks or thieves. I've yet to mount the replacement light bar mounted units that are on the shelf.

I used integral HID replacements from retrosolutions.com. So far, minor issues after 4 years of service, but they're worth it.

 

[Dleg]

I put some running boards on my 4runner last week, and while I was putting them on, I sheared off one of the bolts with my brute strength. Either that, or the bolts supplied with Westin running boards are crap.  

I promised myself that I would not take it to a mechanic to have the bolt extracted, which sheared off about 1/4 inch inside the threads.  So I went out and bought some drill bits that were capable of drilling into hardened steel, a center punch, and then borrowed a bolt extractor set from work.  

I go home, take off the running board so I can get the drill into the end of the sheared bolt, get all my tools laid out, crawl under the truck, and  find that the bolt has backed itself out halfway already from road vibration (I had applied anti-seize as per the instructions with the running boards).  All I had to do was turn it by hand to get it the rest of the way out.  All that planning and tool buying for nothing.

 

[Supe]

Sure beats drilling into the bolt extractor you just broke off in your stuck bolt.

 

[Ship Wreck PE]

Did you buy a left hand drill bit?

 

[Dleg]

No, I couldn't find one, even at the industrial hardware place I went to.

 

[Road Guy]

its usually next to the fallopian tube

 

[jeb6294]

No, I couldn't find one, even at the industrial hardware place I went to.

Try here....