EPA notice - Updated 28/11/07

Blue94t · Postby **Blue94t** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:36 pm

So today I arrived home to the great news that the Vic branch of the EPA would like to have a sniff of my tailpipe for CO emissions and noise.
This after I got a bit of a lecture from one of Melbourne's finest about my externally venting blow off valve and a nice little fine for no front number plate ($120, 3points).
As such my car now has a front number plate fitted again and is going in for the plumb back blow off valve to be fitted next Saturday. It has only been sitting on the bookshelf for 6 months now as I have waited for my fabricator to have time to do my new intercooler piping.
Tomorrow it goes on the dyno to check the mixtures and make sure i have the best possible chance of passing first time. I will also be getting a noise test just in case I need to modify that too.
I am confident the car will get through the test, it has in the past when it was in NSW. The exhaust is quiet and there is a cat fitted that is operational.
For those that don't know, my car is a 94 1.8 with a GT25, running a EMS dual sport.
Biggest pain in the arse is it is mid week so I have to get a day off, and it is the Thursday before Winton.

Jake

Fuzzlet · Postby **Fuzzlet** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:08 am

Blue94t wrote:I am confident the car will get through the test, it has in the past when it was in NSW.

Mate if u can pass NSW's emissions test u can pass any

Seriously the test relates to ADR 34 (i think thats the one dont quote me) and the test doesn't change in each state, as they're all testing the same thing

fastfreddygassit · Postby **fastfreddygassit** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:53 am

Jeez Jake

Someone doesn't like you up your way. really doesn't like you.
A noise test AND CO emissions!!
Usually if Victoria's Finest just don't like you, they lump you with an on-da-spotty

and a noise \"voucher\" in the mail.
But you got the emissions as well!! :shock:

Best of luck, and I hope it all goes well....

The more I think about it...that man in blue really didn't like you at all

Blue94t · Postby **Blue94t** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:18 pm

FFG,
I was out in Bayswater when I got done.
The main thing that pissed the cop off was I wouldn't admit to how fast I was going. He thought I had at least doubled the speed limit but every time he asked me how fast I was going I told him I was watching the road not the speedo and I was sure I had not exceeded the limit.
Since he was not in the cop car at the time he had no way of judging my speed.
At all times though I remained polite and courteous so he eventually calmed down and gave me the one fine instead of the canary, and three fines he originally threatened me with. He actually gave me the choice of no front no. plate or illegal modifications. No front plate was the cheaper so I took that.

Fuzzlet,
Fortuneatley i have a copy of the original test done at Botany so I will be taking that with me.

Jake

green_comet · Postby **green_comet** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:30 pm

bummer, thats no good Jake..

If you like you can swap engines with me for the time being, and when you have everything sorted ill give it back.. kinda :mrgreen:

Anyway I hope everything works out for you..

Ryan

Fuzzlet · Postby **Fuzzlet** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:17 pm

Blue94t wrote:Fortuneatley i have a copy of the original test done at Botany so I will be taking that with me.

Jake

What mods have u performed since then? If u can return it to the state it was in then, along with the tune, then you'll be fine

Blue94t · Postby **Blue94t** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:01 pm

Fuzzlet,
I haven't performed any mods, but it has had a few retune's since then.
Fortuneately the workshop I use has a dyno and are more than happy to help sort it out. I will be replacing the cat as well.

Ryan,
I already have a std engine, computer, loom and all accessories waiting to go in if I need to. So sorry but I wont be swapping my drivetrain with you ;)
You don't want to spend the money on gearboxes and diffs anyway

Jake

Rob E · Postby **Rob E** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:46 pm

Jake, i dont recall that car passing EPA in NSW. I had it voluntarily tested once, it was way out.

EDIT: I note you say you have a test cert, good stuff

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:41 pm

I probably would have gone for the illegal modifications ticket.
At least that dosen't incur any points loss (or am I wrong here?), and if your car passed the tests, then your car wouldn't be illegally modified, so you could have gotten off it.

A little trick I've tried a couple of times is saying that I would have bought some tickets to the Policemans' Ball.
The cop would have said, we don't have balls in the Victorian Police Force, then when the laughter died down, they'd usually let me off.

Postby **Okibi** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:36 pm

Sif; that wouldn't really work in Victoria Benny.

It's a well known fact that Victorian cops shoot first and ask later. :mrgreen:

Blue94t · Postby **Blue94t** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:22 pm

Apsilon,
As far as I know the exhaust is the same. It does have a great note. Probably going to replace the cat just to make sure it is all in good order.

Rob,
When did you have the EPA test done? The test I have is from 2003 and the readings at idle for CO are under the required limits.
I tested it on a gas analyser and it is a bit high at the moment. Hopefully with the new cat and a bit of tuning we will be able to get it under the limit. Guess I will know on the 9/8.

Benny,
Not worried about the points, haven't had a fine for 8 years up until this one. The car is illegally modified, thats why it is going in for new intercooler plumbing to mount the plumb back bov to make it legal. It is also a little on the low side though that can easily be changed with the adjustable platform struts. At the end of the day the car is my toy and is rarely dríven on the street, but I like the fact I can drive it on the street when I want to.

Jake

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:28 pm

Tough luck mate. :frown:

All the best on your EPA tests.

Rob E · Postby **Rob E** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:52 pm

Blue94t wrote:Rob,
When did you have the EPA test done? The test I have is from 2003 and the readings at idle for CO are under the required limits.
I tested it on a gas analyser and it is a bit high at the moment. Hopefully with the new cat and a bit of tuning we will be able to get it under the limit. Guess I will know on the 9/8.

as per phone discussion for readers benefit :
The car did in fact pass idle requirements for NSW, however this is only one part of NSW testing. Jake just needs to get the car to pass VIC requirement which is idle emissions so all is looking good

Blue94t · Postby **Blue94t** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:37 pm

So I went in for the EPA test with my standard MX5 exhaust fitted and a hole in the map that made the car undriveable between 800 - 2000rpm.
As soon as I rocked up they tested the car and it passed no probs, 88db and <1% CO emissions. They even waited for the thermo's to kick in to see if it changed.
Then they got me to pop the bonnet. Straight up he picks no afm and asks about the ecu.
So now I need to prove ADR compliance. As Fuzzlet knows this is damn hard. The killer is the testing is $1500 - $3K each test, pass or fail.
So rather than spend the money on testing I am looking in to an engine conversion.
There are a few contenders motor wise, none of them Mazda. NA and turbo are being considered, the only priority is the capability to make a reliable 200+ rwkw and not overtly affect the weight/balance of the MX5.
On the positive side I already have spoken to the engineer and will be working closely with him to ensure the car can stay legally registered. I have also contacted the epa officer who tested the car and he will happily pass a conversion with standard ecu/emissions stuff in place.
I also looked in to SE front cuts but they are prohibitively expensive ($7k).
Whatever happens I will keep you all informed.
Really looking forward to doing another engine conversion to be honest.

Jake