For those of you who use the license plate bracket. If you have the ugly white winshield transponder, you might want to order the plate transponder and give this a try. It's really nothing but I thought I would share anyway.

I have mounted my license plate bracket on the inside portion behind my front grille (if you're looking at the car it's on the right, next to the "A") using heavy duty plastic ties. (the ones the cops someones use as handcuffs) I'll post a few pictures tonight or tomorrow morning so you'll be able to have a visual of what i'm talking about. Since I no longer have a front plate and hate the transponder in my winshield, this was the best I could think of. It may have to be moved to the behind the bottom grille to ensure it works everytime... I'm thinking the hood covers this too much and it might interfere with the sensors. It's barely noticeable unlessyour bending down looking into the grille, even then, you have to actually know what you're looking for.

Anyway, just wanted to get thoughts and suggestions...

Yes I know... Worthless without pics, I'll have them up soon

 

One popular place to put it is in your glove compartment, or the center console. My roommate uses his transponder in my car when we go up to norcal (bridge tolls ). So if you are not going to remove the transponder, then it might be an optional place to mount it.

 

This was the first thing I did when I got my TL a few years ago. I called up the thruway folks (NY) and asked if I could swap my old windshield transponder for the license plate one and they said no problem. I say it looks way better.

-Brian

 

I just put mine right by the top of the mirror, where it is very dark black. There is no way it is visible when looking from the outside, into the cabin.

 

The transponder will actually work while in your glove compartment? I go over a toll bridge on the pa/nj line and it has gates. in the past I had my transponder on the seat and it did not detect my pass... Just wondering how the system can read your transponder if it's tucked away in the glove box.

 

Man, the last place I want my transponder is outside where someone can easily steal it.

 

I agree. I didn't really like the idea of having it mounted to my license plate which is why I mounted it on the inside of my grille. The only way to gain access to it, is to open the hood, or rip the front grille out. Someone does that, the last thing i'll be worried about is calling ez-pass.

 

Mine is in the same spot. I have an 03' TL and its on the dot matrix right next to the mirror you wouldn't know it was there if looking from the outside.

 

yup. But you can't really stop a determined thief anyways. I just dont want it to be one of those "casual" targets.

 

I had that same problem going thru the delaware gap toll on route 80. I had a loaner car and the transponder was on the seat. the gate did not go up-the driver behind was annoyed and used his transponder to open the gate. the tolls on the garden state parkway work with the transponder on the seat.

 

Hmms I am not sure, I'll have to ask my roommate since I don't have a transponder to test out for you. But if you say it doesn't work in the glove, then I will take your word.

 

Interesting.. It must really depend on the specific toll location and where the sensors are etc. This topic is sorta getting off the point, I was just really wondering if anyone had comments on putting the transponder behind the grille or if anyone has ever tried this etc. I'll get some pics to show you exactly what i'm talking about

 

ideally, if I could get some sortof black covering material and have it mounted unobtrusively on the front dash somewhere, that might do the trick.

 

I keep mine in the center console, when I go to pay toll, I hold it in my hand when I drive thru it.

 

^^ yep- me too.

 

since I drive different cars I like to be able to transfer the transponder easily.

 

i took a black sharpie to mine. made it more invisible when mounted up high on the windshield

 

Here are the pictures.


http://images.kodakgallery.com/photo...2111_0_ALB.jpg

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photo...2111_0_ALB.jpg


and yes, I know she needs to be cleaned. She usually gets a bath on tuesdays and saturdays!

 

I painted mine black then put it behind the mirror. You can hardly tell its there. My dad did his with a Sharpie, it didn't look that great but they did not give him any trouble when he had to switch it out. I wonder what they would do if you painted it orange. All the government cars have orange ones. May get you out of a ticket? OR an extra one.

 

hmmm.. Not sure why the links are not working. Hopefully this will do the trick


http://images.kodakgallery.com/servl...1_0_BG.jpg?a=0

http://images.kodakgallery.com/servl...1_0_BG.jpg?a=0

 

 

Very nice. Looks like a radar detector lol

 

Thanks. You don't really notice it until you get right in front. I might move it down to the right corner grille. I'm just not sure it will work from there or not. I'll be the idiot everyone is honking at cause the ez-pass gate won't open, lol.

 

Smart idea....

I just keep the white thing in my compartment beneath the navi. and then hold it up to the windshield whenever i come close to one

Let us know how it works out

 

Got a write up for this?/?? Does it work in that spot???

 

UPDATE::

It works great where it's at now. I'll move it down to the bottom if I get a chance and post update. I'm also going to paint my engine cover, time permitting.

Ok time for me to vent now...sorry for the topic change!

I have fucking cement all over every panel of my '04 black envoy..I work in hoboken, nj and they are doing a lot of construction.. well at first look i thought it was all bird poop (cause I had to park under a tree) well it's been a few days and I went to 2 car washes tonight and it won't come off, after further evaluation I realized it's fucking cement.. only good thing is it's not my TL-S, ok I would go on a killing spree. Thank you for letting me vent, I'm so pissed right now, only thing that's keeping my straight is knowing I didn't drive my baby to work that day.

Anyway, Suggestions on body/paint shops in the central nj area? I have had work done at a few places in the past but i'm curious if anyone has suggestions. I'll go for the estimate later this week but i'm pretty certain the entire truck will need to be repainted.. Woohoo she could use a new paint job :o ) Will they let me choose a different color?

 

different color equals bad.... WHen reselling it, they will notice the engine bay black and the rest the other color and it will kill the deal. I would try claying the Envoy first to see if that helps. Go to the wash and wax section and research clay.

 

I won't get much for it if I go to trade it in anyway because it has almost 75,000 miles, Runs Great but mileage will hurt alot. I didn't really using the clay bar. I'll give it a shot, but the cement is actually dried onto the paint and i have used my finger nail to remove a few pieces and it leaves a deep scratch in the paint. Oh well, thank god for comprehensive insurance! There is probably a few thousand specs of cement on the entire truck..what a real PITA... oh well!

 

Do you remember where you parked? If they were doing road work or construction find out who was responsible for the site. Each construction zone, whether it's private or it's government, has an office that deals with problems like this as they have to insured. Usually they have a deductible or something and would cover stuff like this. You can just file a claim for the incident with them or against them. Try that.

 

I have come across some stupid gates in the tri-state area where even if the ezpass is put where it is supposed to be, the gate wont open....

just las week, the attendant had to come over, I had to take the ezpass of my windsheld and she had to walk over to the gate and wave it in fron of it to open.....

Lets just hope, somthing like that doesnt happen to you...You will have a hard time explaining you set-up to them

 

hahaha... yes excuse me while I open my hood and take my ez-pass out of my engine compartment, lol... now if this happens tonight on my way home i'm blaming you! atleast the turnpike (the parts i drive 7A-14) don't have gates!

 

damm thats pretty dope.
I might have to do that.

 

this happened to me a few times. That shit is embarrasing.

 

Thing is if you go through one of the gates with a bar or a green light you know it's read your tag. If you are in one of those open lane speed plazas like out in NJ, there's no confirmation you've been detected. Wouldn't it suck if you find out at the end of the month you get like 10 violations? Who's to know which types of plazas read the tags more accurately? I would like to think those fast lanes shouldn't be a problem since their equipment is more sophisticated and sensitive since it is designed to react to vehicles at high speed?

 

Isn't that why you register your car? If the ez-pass doesn't go off then they don't just look at the plate, if it matches, then they just deduct it out of your account?

I used to do that all the time, one of my cars was registered under my dad's ez-pass, so when ever I came home I just drove straight through those pass lanes, it took my picture, and deducted the amount with no fines.

 

Exactly!! As long as the car info matches ez-pass info you're good. On the other hand, traffic was backed up a few times when I had a rental so I used my ez-pass.. I got a violation later on and just had to tell them I used my pass on a rental and they waive the fees and just charge you for the tolls. In the future they said just to add the rental license plate to your account and you won't have any troubles.

 

Really? OK I thought I was smart, feel like an ass now. That's the 1st time I heard of that. I know the cars are registered and all that but I didn't make the connection. Now I know why. Now I don't feel paranoid in those lanes without the bar and light not sure if I should drive on.

 

You can check your account online and even add cars. Before you go running ez-pass's without your stuff just make sure its correct for your state. I looked it up in MD and in NY the rules are a little different. But on both if they see the tag in the wrong place then they will give you a fine.

Maryland (FAQ)
"What if I forget my transponder?

If you are in a staffed toll lane, pay the full-fare toll in cash. If you are in an E-ZPass Members Only lane DO NOT STOP OR ATTEMPT TO BACK UP. Equipment in toll lanes will capture an image of your vehicle’s license plate. If your license plate is listed on your E-ZPass account, E-ZPass will attempt to post the toll to your account, but you will be charged full fare for these transactions. If the license plate of the vehicle in which you are traveling is not listed on your E-ZPass account, the registered owner of that vehicle will receive in the mail a written violation notice for the full-fare toll (along with any applicable administrative fee or fines due.)"

New Jersey (Terms and Conditions)
"On the New Jersey Turnpike, orphan transactions can occur when, due to equipment failure or
user misuse, a tag is not read at either the vehicle entry or exit point or both. In these events, the
actual toll cannot be determined and the toll amount charged will be based upon the vehicle's class
and the following rules: (a) the tag is not read on entry for whatever reason but is read at exit will
result in a maximum fare being charged; (b) the tag is not read for whatever reason at both the entry
and exit but the license plate is on your account at the time of the incident will result in a median fare
for the applicable exit interchange being charged. If we determine that the orphan transaction is a
result of user misuse or improper installation of the tag in the vehicle, we reserve the right to charge
an administrative fee of up to $25 (per occurrence). Other E-ZPass facilities outside the State of New
Jersey may have similar policies. You agree to abide by the policies of that E-ZPass facility consistent
with section 2 of these Terms and Conditions."

 

As others have said, if you mount the white transponder directly to the right or left of the rear-view mirror mount, all they way to the top touching the headliner, behind the black mesh-like stuff on the windshield, you can't even see it from the outside. The only person who can really see it is the passenger.

I hate the way the white square looks from the outside, but I still see it on other TL's all day. Don't know why people don't put it behind the black part.

 

Mine's too big to fit behind the black mesh- it can still be seen from the outside.