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The Epa Thread/Roadworthy Thread


Do-Luck

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Harry,

De-cat is just a pipe while the cataylic converter is a oval-ish shape. If you're not that bad with spanner, you could remove the 'cat' and see what is inside, shouldn't take more than a hour or 2.

Should the 'cat' actually a cataylic converter, take some photo and write the letter stating you have one and if you feel strongly about the officer's perscptive (spelling?) see the station manager and have it overturned along with proof.

Cheers

Grant

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Again, thanks for you advice so far, im really pulling my hair out at the moment so i appreciate it!

R31Nismoid you are always a gun, so your advice/input would be appreciated here...

I am currently thinking there are two possible avenues to dispute this.

1. Since the car was purchased without a Cat & Roadworthy was supplied by his dad's workshop, I can try to contact the previous owner and tell him the situation and request that he pays the $1500 fine, or I will summons him to court. Hopefully he will do the honerable thing and pay the fine otherwise it will be difficult to prove this in court.

2. I can contest the fine through EPA and write a very well written letter explaining that I purchased the car in the current state and that I should not be held liable. Also, how do they know its not a high flow cat? The police officer took a photo of it underneath the car at night for proof but never actually opened the pipe to check inside. For all we know it could just be a high flow cat? The outside of a de-cat and high flow look very similar dont they? Wouldn't it then be up to them to prove that its not a high flow?

I should not be held liable for this and its just so unfair!! I might go and consult lawyer, does anyone know any lawyers in melb that would specialise in traffic law?

In relation to point 2.

2. I can contest the fine through EPA and write a very well written letter explaining that I purchased the car in the current state and that I should not be held liable. Also, how do they know its not a high flow cat? The police officer took a photo of it underneath the car at night for proof but never actually opened the pipe to check inside. For all we know it could just be a high flow cat? The outside of a de-cat and high flow look very similar dont they? Wouldn't it then be up to them to prove that its not a high flow?

How can they prove that it wasn't a high flow from a picture? Couldn't I contest this? Then it would be up to them to prove it?

sorry for the delay - i did see it, just needed enough time to read it all.

I think if you send a letter to the EPA (do you still have a copy of the RWC?) and then also fill out a Stat Dec, then you should be right.

This then puts it back to the RWC issuer, clearly (if what you say is true) then he has attained a dodgy RWC.

If the EPA let you off, i'd leave it there. If not - then go the whole hog on the business that issued the RWC if you ask me.

Giving a cert for something that you then get pinned for really isn't decent for the unsuspecting motorist

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Most "decat" pipes I've seen still have the oval shape etc, just nothing in it. So as far as a cop knows there's a cat there and they must assume it's a cat (bit hard to assume it's a cat cover with straight through pipe?).

I am assuming you don't even have the oval shaped housing?

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Nope - your not transferring it technically, as you could be sending interstate or otherwise.

As far as VicRoads is concerned there is nothing to transfer in that regard :P

When the new owner goes to re-rego then it will pop up with that VIN/Chassis # and will be un-rego.

So long as the buyer rocks in with a RWC, i think thats all you'll need (and maybe they might need to see proof of purchase, best to call VicRoads on that to check)

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Nope - your not transferring it technically, as you could be sending interstate or otherwise.

As far as VicRoads is concerned there is nothing to transfer in that regard :P

When the new owner goes to re-rego then it will pop up with that VIN/Chassis # and will be un-rego.

So long as the buyer rocks in with a RWC, i think thats all you'll need (and maybe they might need to see proof of purchase, best to call VicRoads on that to check)

Ta for quick answer, will give VR a quick ring tomorrow and see what they say.

Cheers

Grant

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sorry for the delay - i did see it, just needed enough time to read it all.

I think if you send a letter to the EPA (do you still have a copy of the RWC?) and then also fill out a Stat Dec, then you should be right.

This then puts it back to the RWC issuer, clearly (if what you say is true) then he has attained a dodgy RWC.

If the EPA let you off, i'd leave it there. If not - then go the whole hog on the business that issued the RWC if you ask me.

Giving a cert for something that you then get pinned for really isn't decent for the unsuspecting motorist

This could help and im sure it wouldnt do any harm but from the EPA's point of view, you a responsible for your car not the previous owner so really they're probably not gonna care. Also you've got to remember the RWC only lasts for 30 days so depending how long u've had ur car for, its goona be pretty hard to prove that you haven't modified anything in that period of time. Also remember that when it comes to environmental law its guilty unless proven innocent.

What i suggest is you approach the workshop, explain your situation and ask them to at least help you out fixing/paying the fine. Then if that doesnt work you can bring in the lawyers.

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sorry for the delay - i did see it, just needed enough time to read it all.

I think if you send a letter to the EPA (do you still have a copy of the RWC?) and then also fill out a Stat Dec, then you should be right.

This then puts it back to the RWC issuer, clearly (if what you say is true) then he has attained a dodgy RWC.

If the EPA let you off, i'd leave it there. If not - then go the whole hog on the business that issued the RWC if you ask me.

Giving a cert for something that you then get pinned for really isn't decent for the unsuspecting motorist

FYI: Anyone wanting to hear the conclusion of this story please read the specific thread relating to this issue here:

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Pi...15#entry4376815

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  • 2 weeks later...
Nope - your not transferring it technically, as you could be sending interstate or otherwise.

As far as VicRoads is concerned there is nothing to transfer in that regard :yes:

When the new owner goes to re-rego then it will pop up with that VIN/Chassis # and will be un-rego.

So long as the buyer rocks in with a RWC, i think thats all you'll need (and maybe they might need to see proof of purchase, best to call VicRoads on that to check)

The seller needs to write a quick letter and sign it saying that they are selling such and such a car (ie. VIN and engine number) unregistered to such and such a person. Otherwise Vicroads will query it when it's time to be re-registered. Same goes for an engine, you'll need proof of ownership (ie. workshop/importer receipt or a letter from the previous owner) to change engine numbers over with Vicroads.

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GTR-PWR - RWC period is 30 days. After this has expired - the RWC tester has no liability what so ever. If you got pulled over within the 30 days of the RWC - then you could claim that the car was not RWCed. Keep in mind that if it was a stealth type cat (looks like a cat, but no ceramic monolith inside) - the owner may have not known that it was a de-cat pipe. In addition, 99% of the RWC places do not remove a cat to see if it is real/working.

Ensure that all emissions hoses, systems, tools etc are working and correctly fitted and you will pass. If you have aftemarket management such as a PowerFC, injectors, non-standard turbo etc - this will all be required to be returned to standard. Hiflow turbos can get away with testing because they lookthe same from the outside.

The emissions test is done at idle and at a specific RPM / rev-range using an exhaust gas analyser. It takes about 30 mins. The guys will try to con you into saying that you had mods previous etc to get you in a trap to say that the car was modified. Stick to your guns and says that this is how I bought the vehicle and so forth.

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Well I just nabbed yet another EPA notice :)

Gotta love it.

What I did find out, is that if you log a freedom of information thing, you can get the cops name and so on.

So that they can be taken to court if you are wrongly reported.

Something to think about :banana:

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Hey guys, just wondering whether it's actually illegal to have an aftermarket bonnet?

Reading through VSI, it sounds like I can legally have Z-Tune bonnet (being of a type offered by the manufacturer for the vehicle as an option for that model or series).

With a body kit, as long as the ground clearance is respected, I guess it is completely legal? I am aiming to get the Z-tune body kit.

I heard something about fibreglass parts being illegal but CF being ok, but might be just a rumour.

VSI8.pdf

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CF is the illegal stuff i thought with fibreglass being the ok to use

Either that or its both illegal.

And usually you'll find most stuff isnt true carbon fibre. Its a blend with fibreglass underneath and the CF layers on top :happy:

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CF is the illegal stuff i thought with fibreglass being the ok to use

Either that or its both illegal.

And usually you'll find most stuff isnt true carbon fibre. Its a blend with fibreglass underneath and the CF layers on top :happy:

Hmmm... ok I have to look into it.

Lol... I didn't know that most advertised CF actually had FB in it. Keeps the costs down I suppose. It's friggin expensive as it is.

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Well I just read through VS18 and the exact wording that they'll get you on for an aftermarket bonnet is:

"An approval certificate is required for modifications to the occupant compartment and panels forward of the firewall of any passenger car manufactured after 1972"

So I read that as all aftermarket bonnets, guards and front bars seem to be illegal no matter what material they are made from.

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Well I just read through VS18 and the exact wording that they'll get you on for an aftermarket bonnet is:

"An approval certificate is required for modifications to the occupant compartment and panels forward of the firewall of any passenger car manufactured after 1972"

So I read that as all aftermarket bonnets, guards and front bars seem to be illegal no matter what material they are made from.

WTF????? That's a shock... must have missed that one somewhere. Has anyone been defected for their bodykit apart from ground clearance?

And why 1972?

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