EPA Action...

[Rossco_Grey33]

G'day guys.

Yesterday I got a letter from the EPA stating I have to take my car to them for testing. The car itself is an R33 GTST (Series 1), the exhaust is an Apexi N1 unit (It is pretty loud i guess...).

Anyway, I'm a bit concerned about taking it to the EPA, actually in all honesty it scares the sh!t out of me. I've had the car all of 6 months, and in that time I've had two of those lovely yellow stickers placed on my windscreen (All of which for things that have since been fixed so there's no doubt of there legalness next time), but yeah, this seems like a whole different kettle of fish to me.

I'm in search of a Stock R33 GTST exhaust now, as I'm guessing whacking the original exhaust is going to quiten it down a bit, which again I'm guessing is one thing they're going to test, but what else are they going to be looking for? Are they just going to molest my car until they find things they can screw me for, or are the EPA testing guys atleast half decent? Can anyone share their experience's to try and give an insight into what's going to happen when I go for testing?

Cheers guys

-Ross

[skyline33]

I think just put a standard exhaust on and you should be ok, or even try to get a silencer for the n1

[Guest INASNT]

hehe gotta go to mcloud hey?

well i had to do that crap after i got a canary about 3 months ago.

The cop that got u for the canary would have reported u to the epa, just like the pig that got me.

Well the test aint nuttin to stress about man.

All u gotta worry about it

* make sure your exhaust is below 90db as they rev it to around 5500rpm for the test, and make sure u got a proper cat on there. I borrowed ronin09's stock exhaust for the test

* u are only allowed 1 intake mod, so if u got a fmic and a pod then u are gonna have to put the stock air box back on for the test. I borrowed ronin's 1 for the test also

* remove any boost controller u have, and if u got a s-afc hide it in the glove box and lock it before the test. Also hide any switches inside the cabin etc.

* just make the engine bay looks standard and u will be alright.

All in all the test took about 10 mins and i was on my way!

GOOD LUCK

[scorp]

How do you get these letters... I mean does the cop pull you over and then you get the letter, or can they just pick you out at random.

I'm asking b/c I was followed by a cop last night for 20min... should I be expecting a suprise in the mail??

You can probably pick up a cheap stock exhaust from the wrekers, but you probably want to just borrow one - will keep an eye out for you.

Anyway good luck Rossco... hopefully it will work out will little dramas.

[Rossco_Grey33]

Thanks for the quick replies Guys.

I'm guessing the Stock exhaust should be OK to pass under the 90Db, hence why I'm on the search for one. The guy who had the car before said even with the silencer for the N1 (Which I have, just not on the car) that it still didn't pass his EPA test. I don't have a front mount, or Pod, only a replace panel filter which I'm guessing should be OK. The Blow Off valve is also a Greddy item, but it's plumbed back so I imagine that shouldn't be too much of a problem?

as far as the SAFC goes, I've got some sort of Diver Air/Fuel controller thingy on there, but with the Stock exhaust and BOV plumbed back, It should only need to sit there turned off. Is it a good idea to stash it anyway? Even if it's sitting there not doing anything? (I'm guesing it is, in a better to be safe than sorry kind of way).

And yeah, I'm guessing you're right INASNT, The canary I got about a month ago would've been the lead up to this.

Edit: Scorp - I just got mine sent in the mail. On the back of the EPA form it says you don't need to be pulled over to be reported by the police (Or something to that effect), but in your case I wouldn't worry about it. As INASNT said, mine is prolly an extra bonus from the Canary I got not too long ago...

[predator]

They don't even have to pull you over, just report you. And they can just keep reporting you and everytime you have to go back. Its a terrible system, and cops can and will harrass you via this method.

Prob is what will eventually happen is that they will record each canary action. If you keep getting busted (then return to stock, then stick everything back on again, etc) they will basically cancel your rego. I think they have that system in QLD and NSW - just a matter of time before its here.

Depends what exhaust you have. There are plenty of systems that are way below the 90db limit, and give plenty of flow and power. The noise boxes are great from japan, but with the ways things are here you want something a lit less obvious. I reckon most of the time if you have a loud exhaust is the reason the cops even notice a skyline on the road.

Silencers (for whatever stupid reason) are illegal, so not a good idea to reduce noise.

[Guest INASNT]

rossco

with 3 inch dump and front pipe and stock cat back i recorded 83db ay 5500rpm.

I suggest u hide any air/fuel thing and try disconnect the bov and return to the stock 1 as they recon the bov will effect the a/f ratios which causes pollution.

Make sure u complain to the epa tester as to y its crap that u had to come for the test coz your car is perfectly legal. I did and he said the cops will need to provide photographic evidence as to if anything has been changed to my car before i will have to come for another bs test!

[chopobo]

silencers are legal if they are welded on

[sniffy]

yup, most bov are ilegal if they are atmosphere or half/ half, but some have filters on wich are legal for some cars....(not all)

but in your case, id do the safe thing and find a stocky to put on.

[KamikazeR33]

just a q

y would u want 2 hide the safc? im sure the emissions wouldnt be over the limit so there shouldnt be a worry to hide that

or is there more 2 the story?

[sniffy]

i think its just to hide that ther are any mods...if it looks stock they wont hassel you as much

[KamikazeR33]

ahh ok

another q on the safc, if u unplug the wiring from the actual unit to move it to somewhere else, will this affect the setting of it at all?

[KamikazeR33]

ahh ok

another q on the safc, if u unplug the wiring from the actual unit to move it to somewhere else, will this affect the setting of it at all?

[sniffy]

probably if you unplug the power line....i dont know for sure but generally things reset when you unplug the main power...is it possible to write down the settings? and re-enter them later?

[JET-RB]

Originally posted by KamikazeR33

ahh ok

another q on the safc, if u unplug the wiring from the actual unit to move it to somewhere else, will this affect the setting of it at all?

hey man u should be alright in doing that I've unpluged couple times and settings were still there I wrote down the important shit just in case...

[sniffy]

well there you go!

[Ender]

You know I just had an idea....

All Skylines Australia members couls put in like 10 bucks each and we could get a heap of standard crap so when we get hauled in for a test or road worthy we can go get the standard wheels exhaust etc etc and bolt it on, then when you done take it off, and the next poor sap can use it.....

Russ

[Guest INASNT]

Originally posted by KamikazeR33

ahh ok

another q on the safc, if u unplug the wiring from the actual unit to move it to somewhere else, will this affect the setting of it at all?

u have to hide it as it classified as an intake mod which effects emmisions so its illegal! U cant drive the car if the s-afc loom is unplugged as the ecu wont be getting an reading from the afm. The wire is long enough to go around behind the dash and into the glove box while still being plugged in.

[predator]

russcb007: thats a pretty good idea.. i had a standard set of springs but unfortunately had to sell them for some $. Have a standard set of wheels around if anybody needs them for any purpose..

yeah, but isn't the whole idea they are testing the emissions.. not just which doovas they have which might change the emissions?? In other words, they don't really care what your car has takked onto it, as long as the emission reading (and noise) is legal. Isn't that the whole idea of the test?

[chopobo]

thats such a good idea russcb007

donate money or parts

that would be sweet

jus hope people dun get epa'ed the same day haha