Hi all,This question is for Melbourne people only, but other states can put there 2 cents in.Last night, on my way to the missus house, driving down COOPER ST EPPING, it used to be 2 lanes but they fixed it up to make it 4 lanes. Anyways last night they had a booze bus, when I pulled in, the police sargent (Founded out later he was the baddest cop in the EPPING area) he came to my window and said for me to drive to the side street for vehicle inspection, when I looked over to the side street, I thought oh crap, they have the EPA guys there as well! When I got there, all I can see was turbo cars, mostly Skylines. To keep the story short I got a Defective Vehicle Sticker and a EPA Prohibited Vehicle Sticker & a $165 fine.DEFECT VEHICLE; Emission Controls - To comply with EPA Regs. Front End - To be aligned. Suspension Height - To be 2/3 original travel. Gearshift Pattern - To be displayed. Roll Cage - To be padded above head. Steering Wheel - To have padded hub.All of the above I can do, but the Roll Cage is the most stupid one, my roll cage is all padded, except for the part where the top bar bends to a 90 degrees down, there is a little section where is not padded and your head doesn't even make contact with it.EPA PHOBIBITED VEHICLE; Pod Filter & Intercooler - 1 Item to be returned to standard. Variable Boost - To be removed. Blow-Off Valve - To be removed. Turbo - To be returned to standardAll of the above I can do, for the first one I'll keep the intercooler on and I'll put my stock air filter box back on. Varialbe Boost controller and the blow-off valve I can remove. But the Turbo got my puzzled, the EPA inspector asked what size my turbo was and I acted dumb and said I don't know, I think it's a 25 or something, he corrected me and said a T25, and I replied, yeah something like that, he also said that the turbo looks bigger than normal (What is normal?). The weird thing is that, he thinks my car is standard TURBO, and said that if the T25 turbo is standard then I don't have to worry about it, but he is going to check on that. So when he goes to check, he will find out that my car doesn't come in TURBO, what will happen? Will they ask for a engineering certificate? if so, only one problem I bought my car in NSW and the place that built my car, they have all the papers, only one problem, I can't get in contact with them, numbers disconnected, checked the Whitepages, they no longer exist, I've asked around, and no one seems to know what happened to them, the place is called TOYSPORTS.What should I do?Any advice will be most appreciated!Peace Tay
Last known address... The bottom address is from a business card I got. Toysports Unit 7, 77-79 Batt St Penrith NSW 2750 PH: (02) 4722 8433 FX: (02) 4722 8533The bottom address is a printout they handed out. Toysport is relocated Unit 1/31 Jack Williams Drive Penrith Business Park (Just Past Coreen Ave Off Castlereagh Rd)Peace Tay
Sorry to hear that man I live right near where that happened, cant say I am surprised that they are targetting imports in this area, but that sucks!Good luck getting through that, another case of the wanker drivers out there spoiling it for everyone else ;-(RegardsMark
As pointed out earlier >>> In an earlier thread someone listed a series of EPA regulations - the most critical one related to Zeds is that you can modify the the air filter to a non-oiled type pod filter, OR fit an aftermarket intercooler, but NOT both. This is why Tay has been told to return one to standard.So those that are running pod filter/s, changed intercoolers, variable boost control and BOV's, just be warned <font color=red>THEY ARE AFTER YOU </font color=red> and if you get pulled over for a joint Police/EPA inspection, they WILL get you. I have also been pulled over by such a joint effort and copped a defect notice and told to remove my BOV's.Tay, my commiserations and understanding - but I can't really help with what to do. Try your current tack of finding Toysports. Did Suzuki put out a Swift turbo in the Japanese market that you can use as a base?
Yeah thought so> I remember seeing Toysports or something along those lines once when i was driving to penrith.Looks like Detective Chilli's on the case though=)
TOYSPORTS:N( Tay, I checked this morning at the Jack Williams Drive address, and I can tell you that the Unit in question is vacant. This is a brand new Complex, and most of the units are vacant. A couple of weeks before Xmas, I was returning home from a Zed Wed. night dinner, and found myself in the middle of a Grand Prix near Mt Druitt (Gt.Western Hway), one of the cars was a black Hyundai Tiburon with large yellow signwriting all over the back, advertising Toysports. This car has been parked regularly outside an Industrial Estate at: 6A Christie Street St MarysThe signs on the building say "SHEDMAN". I will keep looking at this area on a normal business day. Sorry I can't give you more info at this time. Cheers Lloyd :-Z
Thanks Chili Thanks heaps for checking that out for me, a few people on other forums (GTi Forum) are chasing this up for me as well, no word as of yet.Keep me posted.Peace Tay
On the top of my head... I think Suzuki did brought out a Swift Turbo model, very limited though, can't remember the name of it but I think it was for the Singapore market, I have to double check on that.Thanks for your advise.Peace Tay
Just a question? did the EPA have test gear to measure the decibel limits & also the fuel emission before slapping you with the defect ticket.:N( If not, then how can they determine that your vehicle does not comply, just because it has a few changes.:| It could be argued that the changes , have in fact reduced the gas emissions & the pod & intercooler have increased the efficiency of the motor, so as to reduce the manufacturers emission figures. As I said, this is just a question as to the legality of the ticket.:YD Cheers Kerry }D 1
While we are on the topic of the EPA >>> Firstly sorry to here you got in the shit. Although I have never been on the recieving end I hate this sort of EPA Policing... even if you are OK it still costs you money. My question: Is there any way you can maintain all of you mods and still pass EPA?I mean surely the car is more of the sum of its parts??? What if an intercooler with a pod filter actually improved emissions? I mean could you take your car down to the local EPA have emission tests done to ensure its within standards for your vehicle. Maybe these test cost many thousands $$$?I mean you should be able to mod and get it certified somehow? Yes? Becuase if there is I'll be down there next weekend to put the stamped piece of paper permanently in my glove box. Is this more uniformed useless government red tape?If you had your car complied with all of its modifications should your car now be EPA friendly?Cheers,Danny.
They only tested the decibel limits... Of my exhaust, the first time I got the defect sticker, not EPA, the exhaust I had to change and I put the quietest one I could find and it just pasted with 89.9/90, this was around 10 months ago, and when they tested this time around they got 90/90 at 4050rpm, so I just passed, this is all they tested, and from a visual inspection, they got me for all the things I've listed. And as to your questions, I do not have enough knowledge about EPA and there regulations, but your question does raise some issues.Peace Tay
mod plate? not sure about this.. but im 'hoping' that in QLD if i get a mod plate, will this let me get away with bov's and pod n exhaust?:|
In other words I cant even fart without filling in the correct forms in triplicate, paying 7 different taxes, and stamp duty.Someone once told me this was one of the most over represented over legislated countries in the world. I tend to agree.Thnaks for the info. Cheers,Danny
Hey dan, i dont think its worth the $$ for engineer certificate. From what i've notice of your car you'd pass with flying colours. The zed's 'secret' nose panel should allow you to hide all the goodies in, if you think they might want to open it up then use an odd screw pattern rather then a normal bolt or screw. Fmic? well if it is black then you should get away with it, considering the visible plumbing in the engine bay will remain stock."What modifications are on this vehicle?" "Sports Mufflers, Mags, thats all":+)
