So I received a letter from the EPA...

Cub · 18-03-2011, 07:49 PM

A copper dobbed me in. Noticed me on City Link in Brunswick. I'll take the beast in next week for the emissions test. Somehow I don't think a twin 3" exhaust system will pass. Fingers crossed! Has anyone else had this issue? If so, what did you do to overcome it? How did you modify your exhaust and what sort of costs were involved?

Brazen · 18-03-2011, 07:52 PM

What the hell?? You can just get dobbed in without being pulled over and have to take your car to be tested? What a joke!

Thats the kind of letter that I would throw straight in the bin.

atec77 · 18-03-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cub

A copper dobbed me in. Noticed me on City Link in Brunswick. I'll take the beast in next week for the emissions test. Somehow I don't think a twin 3" exhaust system will pass. Fingers crossed! Has anyone else had this issue? If so, what did you do to overcome it? How did you modify your exhaust and what sort of costs were involved?

Size doesn't matter in this instance , loud does
so does it do loud ?

Jason[98.EL] · 18-03-2011, 08:11 PM

yup been there done that

i also questioned weather or not i had to show for the test and was politly told that if i didnt do the test that i would have the rego cancelled on my car so went and done the test and come in i db bellow the legal allowance

Jason

Cub · 18-03-2011, 08:24 PM

That's lucky, Jason! Brazen, apparently you can dob anyone in to the EPA no matter who you are. I've had the car since June '10 and had the work done to it at at the start of January. And yes, Atec77, it does do loud. It's got Herrod 1 7/8" headers into 100CPSI hi-flow cats and then the twin 3" exhaust coming from them. I had it all custom made. It cost me a fortune so I don't want to have to put the old one back on.

gcg2503 · 18-03-2011, 08:27 PM

Been there done that. Back in 2000!

Spotted on beaconsfield parade St Kilda

ThaFlash · 18-03-2011, 08:32 PM

i got one once, wrote a letter and got off.

was noise related too.

XRGhia · 18-03-2011, 08:33 PM

just remove it, install stock system, get it passed, return back to old system as soon as you get home?

RAPID_BA · 18-03-2011, 08:37 PM

If you have a sct tuner, can you limit the rev limit to keep it quiet? Just say thats how you always drive

sleek7 · 18-03-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xrghiawagon

just remove it, install stock system, get it passed, return back to old system as soon as you get home?

Time + effort. + labor cost if needed tools/work area not at hand.

Do you get a fine if you don't pass?

Cub · 18-03-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaFlash

i got one once, wrote a letter and got off.

was noise related too.

Care to share?

Cub · 18-03-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleek7

Time + effort. + labor cost if needed tools/work area not at hand.

Do you get a fine if you don't pass?

If it doesn't pass I have a certain amount of time to have it back to meet EPA regulations.

Cub · 18-03-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xrghiawagon

just remove it, install stock system, get it passed, return back to old system as soon as you get home?

I was thinking that too. It's been on for three months and only been pulled up once so I can't see it being too big an issue. I'll take it in next week and see what the go is.

TURBOTAXI · 18-03-2011, 09:41 PM

Put another muffler into the system?

OLDFORDNUT · 18-03-2011, 10:00 PM

Man you can cop a huge fine ,just get someone at local exhaust shop to jam a bit of stainless steel wool in pipes for the day and get test done,the EPA have godlike power and will cost you dearly if you take it in too loud.
I highly doubt they will just send you on your way to fix,more likely they will fine you, defect car and make you get it towed home.

svo347 · 18-03-2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLDFORDNUT

Man you can cop a huge fine ,just get someone at local exhaust shop to jam a bit of stainless steel wool in pipes for the day and get test done,the EPA have godlike power and will cost you dearly if you take it in too loud.
I highly doubt they will just send you on your way to fix,more likely they will fine you, defect car and make you get it towed home.

Or a restrictor plate at the flanged joints, dont go too small

RAPID_BA · 18-03-2011, 10:07 PM

Get a piece of your exhaust cut and flanged. Then get a bit made up for that section with small pipes and big muffler.

Look for a stock ba i6 muffler and plumb it into your system with small pipes. Should shut it up.

When you pass test, unbolt it and replace with the section of yohr system flanged back in. Keep the small setup for next time

If you pass do they pay you for nuisance time?

cjf · 18-03-2011, 10:17 PM

Do not leave the 100 cel cats in the system for the test or you will be fined, I have been told its $11,000 fine for high flow cats.

coupecouple04 · 18-03-2011, 10:27 PM

So who pays for you time and effort if you pass the test .Anyone then can dob you in and waste your time not fair at all .I think if someone dobs you in and your car is legal they should be made to pay for the inconvenience.

MexicanBatman · 18-03-2011, 10:34 PM

Yeah Victoria is great

Guilty until proven innocent at your cost

I got a letter once, same deal my car was spotted by a cop who didn't like it

It passed, but it cost me to prove my innocence and my time which was much harder to come by at the time...

There should be a roadside pre test, even a stock car can appear lous when giving it a little, but when tested it's almost silent..

pauljh74 · 18-03-2011, 10:55 PM

I had a hotdog resonator put into mine when it tested at 98db, that car had to be under 96db (it was an XE). The result was 93db after the remedial work. There was a resonator on my old system, and they left it out of the new one.

I was a bit cheesed off as Midas fitted the sports system and they should have an idea if a configuration will pass on a popular model as they are exhaust specialists. But it was 3 years before I got pinged, little chance for recourse against them, so I'll just choose not to go back there.

It does suck that a member of the police can notice your car from the side of the road, with no measuring equipment and deem it too loud. 98 to 96db you'd think it would be near impossible to determine without measuring equipment.

The engine testing speed is 3/4 of the revs where maximum power occurs. So for example, max power is 5000RPM, testing speed is 3750RPM. They'll just look it up via the official list. 90db is the target for an 1983(?) onwards car

Cub · 18-03-2011, 11:10 PM

Thanks for the information, guys. I'll take it to an exhaust joint and get it tested. If it's over, I'll get it sorted, take it back and use that report to fax to the EPA.

XESP351 · 18-03-2011, 11:57 PM

I had the same letter back in 2003, cop must've been standing outside the Magistrate court as my car was reported in William Street. Admittedly my ESP was (still is) pretty loud but only at full noise. If my memory serves me correctly i think i had to take the car to one of the recommended exhaust places and have it tested (it didn't pass), then through a friend i stumbled across another 'recommended' exhaust place of which the owner and all his mates have Harleys and get reported all the time. The owner fitted another muffler in from memory but the car was still very loud (his exact words were: you won't be able to shut this thing up no matter what you do), anyway after completing the work (and putting a nice scratch in the car by accident) he passed the car and i got off the EPA notice.

As i mentioned this was a long time ago and there may be some incorrect details there but this is what happened as far as i remember. That exhaust shop closed down long time ago (wonder why).

Cub · 19-03-2011, 12:08 AM

Thanks for the information, XESP351. At the end of the day it may just need another muffler. No big deal.

last fairlane · 19-03-2011, 12:15 AM

Try it in a truck
Got letter a few years back and it said
Your truck was seen to be driving in an un roadworthy manner
It didnt say by whom or the time or date or if he/she was a mechanic with a RWC accreditation
who saw me but the letter went on to say
bring it to the Woodridge testing station on such and such a date
and bring $35 for the testing fee
well I talked to an old mate with trucks and was told he has
had it happen to him and he said just tear up the letter
well I did that and never heard a thing about it
that was the end of it
but here in QLD you can dob in a motorist for blowing smoke or hooning
they have a phone number for you to do it
they must get a lot of calls from divorced wives and hubbies
it just seems you can hurt someone with no evidence just your word
thanks John

rancidpunx · 19-03-2011, 09:42 AM

Pretty sure they will be checking emissions as well noise. No cat will get you a 10k fine here in QLD but a 100cell race cat would just fail emissions and get you defected and taken off the road. Pretty sure they will have you over the pits to check things like ride height and what not whilst your there. You drive a car so you are public enemy number one.

GTpilot · 19-03-2011, 10:06 AM

I got pulled over in december by a vicroads dude after he heard me take off from the lights. He tested my noise roadside with a little meter and sent me on my way.. Think it was teh induction and airbox he heard, not exhaust noise. He had me hold the car on 3000 RPM for a few seconds whilst he measured exhaust noise at the back.

Not too sure if these guys can do it (pull you up and trest), He was driving one of those vicroads cars with the pink lights, but at the end of the day I was not going to argue with him...Took all of 5 min out of my day and cost me nothing.

GTP 044 · 19-03-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjf

Do not leave the 100 cel cats in the system for the test or you will be fined, I have been told its $11,000 fine for high flow cats.

Can anybody confirm this????

**ebxr8240** · 19-03-2011, 10:28 AM

Get some 3" V clamps and add a muffler or reduce your tail pipe size ??
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DODGE-3-Inch-...item56416261a2
Far better than exhaust flanges...
Or
If tail pipe is straight enough ?? A 21/4 pipe 150mm or so long with stainless washing pads between the two with flared pipe at the back so it sits snug against inside 3" exhaust..
Some holes can be drilled in the end of inner pipe so it doesn't restrict too much...

I would make sure your cats are atleast working....

AUIIPURSUIT · 19-03-2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTpilot

I got pulled over in december by a vicroads dude after he heard me take off from the lights. He tested my noise roadside with a little meter and sent me on my way.. Think it was teh induction and airbox he heard, not exhaust noise. He had me hold the car on 3000 RPM for a few seconds whilst he measured exhaust noise at the back.

Not too sure if these guys can do it (pull you up and trest), He was driving one of those vicroads cars with the pink lights, but at the end of the day I was not going to argue with him...Took all of 5 min out of my day and cost me nothing.

he sure can pull you over.. very wise to do as he requested..
HWP also have testing abilities, but (in vic) you dont have to be pulled over for an EPA notice.

Its also an EPA test, you have one chance to fail it, then you rectify the problems, then test again for the pass. you will not be fined on the first test . The 10k fine for no cat/hollowed cat doesnt apply for hi flow cat, but the CPSI rating must be in line with the year of your vehicle to the law at the time of manufacture.

As stated, borrow a stock exhaust if you want to keep your sports exhaust unmolested. its not that hard to change an exhaust, leave the headers/extractors on there, just change from the cat back.

you are not compensated anything for lost time/money.