Author Topic: UPDATE! EZ-Pass Mod! (Read 7133 times)

jonymac · « **on:** May 19, 2009, 12:59:13 AM »

So, I was thinking - which usually causes problems - I received a letter in the mail from EZ-Pass a couple of days ago wanting me to update my CC info - which got me to thinking, it sure would be nice if there was a way to mount this big white brick so it can't be seen, but would still reliably allow me to pass tolls the EZ way. When I travel the toll road in Northern VA, if my top is up (rarely) I slip it into the front cross beam of the convertible top. If I am topless (mostly) there is no clever place to put it, so I take it from the glove box, hold it in the air and put it back - repeatedly. How uncivilized...

Now I am sure there are all sorts of codes and laws for cracking one of these open involving giving up your firstborn, etc. But hey, that might not be so bad - college is expensive... So I figured, break out the dremel and let's see what's inside! So I carefully used a thin cutting blade to score around the seam and a small screwdriver to pry the back off:

Then I used the same cutting blade to CAREFULLY scrape off the four white corner welds. The battery has some black sticky goo holding it in place, I just scraped that off and it came loose - careful - it is welded to the circuit board. I then used a super thin screwdriver to pry the circuit board out.

Free at last (back)

Front

To protect the board and prevent shorting out the battery or any circuits, I wrapped the whole thing with electrical tape in opposing directions.

I then looked at the housing which has two arrows describing which way is front and down, oriented my board properly and slid it in under the top middle of the window surround. Just pull down a little bit from the front and slide it in. The pic shows it laying in there peacefully - I shot the pic through the slot for the convertible top latch. The latch does not interfere with the EZ-Pass at all.

All in all a 1/2 beer mod - 1 full beer if you drink fast. The next time I make a trip out to our data center, it will be test time! (Better bring a pocket full of quarters just in case...)

JonyMac

lil goat · « **Reply #1 on:** May 19, 2009, 06:04:03 AM »

I had mine inside my dash for a long time, behind the gauges and it worked fine, then for some reason it stopped working. I through it in the glove box and forgot I had moved it went through a toll booth it worked from inside the glove box wahoo. Then that quit working so I have a velcro piece on the windshield surround that I use now, let me know how you fancy fix works, got to be better that what I am doing, most of the time it's in the glove box.

Ben L · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2009, 07:03:04 AM »

Ingenious, JM!

Critterman · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2009, 09:00:47 AM »

A little secret, you should have your tags registered with EZ-Pass anyway, so if you go through the booth without it, it is no big deal as they check the records before issuing a ticket, and if the tag is in the records, they just charge you the toll. I use one in several different vehicles and don't always remember to take it with me.

jonymac · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2009, 10:02:10 AM »

Cool Critterman! So, I just checked the EZ-Pass website - all three of my cars and plates are registered. SO you are saying I could drive one of my cars without the EZ-Pass in it through the EZ-Pass lane and instead of getting a ticket, they will just debit my account the toll?

lil goat · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2009, 10:03:21 AM »

I knew that Critter as on the first of several occasions when mine failed I called them and they told me the same thing.

LiquidPT · « **Reply #6 on:** May 19, 2009, 11:05:11 AM »

I agree with Goat, i'd probably just tuck the whole thing under the dash. Before I did that, I'd think about hooking it up to constant power (though, the battery in there doesn't look like it's meant to be replaceable though.

jonymac · « **Reply #7 on:** May 19, 2009, 04:30:28 PM »

UPDATE - tried it out on the way home - works perfectly! So cool. So, let it be known that I spent $1.25 testing this mod for the good of the group...

WWI Flying Ace · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2009, 04:45:33 PM »

I got plastic spray paint from HOme Depot and painted mine black to match the interior. Then I put it on the windshield behind the rear view mirror where I can't see it.

Critterman · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2009, 06:53:21 PM »

Quote from: jonymac on May 19, 2009, 10:02:10 AM

Cool Critterman! So, I just checked the EZ-Pass website - all three of my cars and plates are registered. SO you are saying I could drive one of my cars without the EZ-Pass in it through the EZ-Pass lane and instead of getting a ticket, they will just debit my account the toll?

Exactly, they just debit the account, I have not done it out of state, but if I got a ticket I would just send them the number and say it must not have registered

Morfious · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2009, 07:28:29 PM »

Just beware that EZ pass will charge you for defacing the little square. I have had mine for a long while and have had to replace them due to no longer regestering toll information. This was lifted from the EZ Pass terms and conditions sheet for NJ

"Fee for defaced, damaged, lost or stolen tag: Interior: $21.00 Exterior: $33.00 "

So you can do what you want with it, but will have to Pay EZ-Pass $21 to get a replacement.

PAO · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2009, 08:25:11 PM »

Quote from: Morfious on May 19, 2009, 07:28:29 PM

Just beware that EZ pass will charge you for defacing the little square. I have had mine for a long while and have had to replace them due to no longer regestering toll information. This was lifted from the EZ Pass terms and conditions sheet for NJ

"Fee for defaced, damaged, lost or stolen tag: Interior: $21.00 Exterior: $33.00 "

So you can do what you want with it, but will have to Pay EZ-Pass $21 to get a replacement.

actually in the state of VA it is $25....just looked at the website today....so if it ever goes bad.....and you have to get a new one....$25 for defacing the module...just FYI

jonymac · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2009, 08:37:02 PM »

A risk I am happy to take...

Jewjenk · « **Reply #13 on:** August 21, 2009, 09:00:08 AM »

For those of you who live in New York and use the Triboro facilities, or those of you who plan on visting new York and using the Triboro facilities. They have gates at the toll booths which the Eazy Pass must activate. If you don't have your tag, not only will you get a ticket, but you will be directed to a regular lane and pay the full fare. Also they have rules about the tag not being properly mounted. Should your pass fail to activate the gate and it is not properly mounted or is not dead, they will also give you a ticket. Charge is "failure to activate ez-pass"

Thus..... word to the wise.......

smartin · « **Reply #14 on:** August 21, 2009, 09:39:33 AM »

Mine isn't permanently mounted.

And it still functions properly.

I don't like how it looks so I keep it hidden.

Treeman · « **Reply #15 on:** August 21, 2009, 10:33:31 AM »

Quote from: smartin on August 21, 2009, 09:39:33 AM

Mine isn't permanently mounted.
And it still functions properly.
I don't like how it looks so I keep it hidden.

Me too. I do the wave in the air thing. Cools my arm at the same time!

smartin · « **Reply #16 on:** August 21, 2009, 11:19:51 AM »

^

I do the "on the dash" thing.

smartin · « **Reply #17 on:** August 21, 2009, 11:20:41 AM »

Are we still talking about EZ Pass? < get it

lil goat · « **Reply #18 on:** August 21, 2009, 12:26:35 PM »

I have been using mine attached with Velcro and I put it away when I park topless, kind of a pain, I forgot to put it up the other day, was locked in the glove box and I was committed to EZ-Pass lane, bells whistles yelling, no big deal they just look if you have EZ-Pass and take the toll from your account (I asked). Just called EZ-Pass and they have one that goes on your license plate. I asked if it would work on the back plate, they didn't know (no front plate) soooo, I am going to go pick it up and we will see how well it works.

Treeman · « **Reply #19 on:** August 21, 2009, 12:40:29 PM »

An EZ Pass that goes on your license plate? That's a new one on me. Be interested in knowing what that looks like and how you keep people from stealing it.

Uranium-238 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 21, 2009, 12:52:48 PM »

That explains the funny looking front plate frames I've been starting to see...

elff · « **Reply #21 on:** August 21, 2009, 03:27:45 PM »

I've never had a problem with it being in the waterfall.
I also have my vehicles properly registered on their site.

lil goat · « **Reply #22 on:** August 21, 2009, 05:25:28 PM »

My waterfall is covered in Carbon Fiber (it doesn't work in VA I guess that's why), and VA uses the sensor over the top of the booth, NJ is down lower. Guy told me today, they don't promise the tag mount will work in VA, mine will be somewhere in our plastic front bumper, hidden.

smartin · « **Reply #23 on:** August 21, 2009, 05:28:29 PM »

Yea, I thought mine worked in the waterfall, but I've been taking it out and setting it on the dash just to be safe.

spicy3480 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 21, 2009, 05:29:46 PM »

I tried getting the one that goes on the license plate and they told me that was only for cars that had some special coating on the windshield that blocked the signal. How did u get one of those?

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Author Topic: UPDATE! EZ-Pass Mod! (Read 7133 times)

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