What's new
By:

Problems with toll pass reader

J

jbrichgels

Active Member

Joined
Jan 7, 2025
Messages
152
Reaction score
112
We have the small toll Ezpass sticker placed in the center of the toll rectangle on the windshield. It goes unread through ezpass readers more often than it is read. It is probably read 1 out of every 4 or 5 times. Anyone have any tips to ensure consistent recognition?
 
have a picute of it on the windshield?
 
jbrichgels said:
We have the small toll Ezpass sticker placed in the center of the toll rectangle on the windshield. It goes unread through ezpass readers more often than it is read. It is probably read 1 out of every 4 or 5 times. Anyone have any tips to ensure consistent recognition?
Click to expand...
If the placement is in the right spot, then I would consider getting a replacement ez pass. I'm in NJ and I have not experienced this. The usual answer is that the ez pass is not in the right spot.
 
In addition to being in the right spot, also make sure the transponder is in the proper orientation. When I first installed my E-ZPass, I put it in the toll rectangle, but placed it sideways to make it look "cool". It was read correctly exactly one of the three times I passed an E-ZPass checkpoint.

Once I placed it in the proper orientation, it now gets read 100% of the time. The RF from the transponders are polarized, so mounting them sideways makes them virtually invisible to the tag readers.
 
Ohm 488 said:
In addition to being in the right spot, also make sure the transponder is in the proper orientation. When I first installed my E-ZPass, I put it in the toll rectangle, but placed it sideways to make it look "cool". It was read correctly exactly one of the three times I passed an E-ZPass checkpoint.

Once I placed it in the proper orientation, it now gets read 100% of the time. The RF from the transponders are polarized, so mounting them sideways makes them virtually invisible to the tag readers.
Click to expand...

In my Air, I have the "transferrable" SunPass Pro transponder with suction cups mounted sideways. I've verified that it's charging me the appropriate discounted toll rate (not Toll-By-Plate). Perhaps this varies with the sticker type and/or the Gravity's windshield.

Strangely, however, the electronic sign beneath the ramp gantries that usually flashes "Go SunPass" does not illuminate when I pass by, as it did with my previous vehicle. I wish it wasn't impossible to research toll equipment and how everything operates; Raytheon supplies the cameras in my area, so no wonder the Internet is void of information on this.
 
Chrome said:
In my Air, I have the "transferrable" SunPass Pro transponder with suction cups mounted sideways. I've verified that it's charging me the appropriate discounted toll rate (not Toll-By-Plate). Perhaps this varies with the sticker type and/or the Gravity's windshield.

Strangely, however, the electronic sign beneath the ramp gantries that usually flashes "Go SunPass" does not illuminate when I pass by, as it did with my previous vehicle. I wish it wasn't impossible to research toll equipment and how everything operates; Raytheon supplies the cameras in my area, so no wonder the Internet is void of information on this.
Click to expand...
Looking at how much you're being charged is not enough. You have to look at your transaction history from SunPass to see if you were being charged based on your transponder or from your license plate.

For example, my transaction history from Virginia E-ZPass shows whether I was charged based on my transponder or my license plate, but either way, the charges are the same. The fact that I have an E-ZPass account means I get charged at the discounted rate, regardless of how I was tagged. If my transponder doesn't get tagged properly, they look at my license plate and link it to my account automatically.

Just for shits and giggles, could you try putting your transponder the right-ways-up and see if the "Go SunPass" illuminates when you pass a checkpoint?
 
I can also confirm that the orientation may be relevant as I originally installed my TollTag in a vertical orientation while trying to squeeze my radar detector into the same small tint cutout window...It also did not get read until it was placed in the proper horizontal orientation.
 
Ohm 488 said:
Looking at how much you're being charged is not enough. You have to look at your transaction history from SunPass to see if you were being charged based on your transponder or from your license plate.

For example, my transaction history from Virginia E-ZPass shows whether I was charged based on my transponder or my license plate, but either way, the charges are the same. The fact that I have an E-ZPass account means I get charged at the discounted rate, regardless of how I was tagged. If my transponder doesn't get tagged properly, they look at my license plate and link it to my account automatically.

Just for shits and giggles, could you try putting your transponder the right-ways-up and see if the "Go SunPass" illuminates when you pass a checkpoint?
Click to expand...

I thought about exactly what you're saying, in regards to the toll plaza defaulting to my plate (since I tied it to the transponder on the website). The Activity log doesn't explicitly say which was picked up. A column is labeled "Transponder/License Plate" and each cell just has my tag characters. Perhaps if it got the transponder, it'd show an ID for that instead. I can't know from looking at my list here.

I'll try rotating it to the regular orientation and see what happens. Wonder how it took this long for me to hear that "the way it's positioned in a spot matters"; been driving with E-Pass/SunPass for 20 years lol
 
Chrome said:
I thought about exactly what you're saying, in regards to the toll plaza defaulting to my plate (since I tied it to the transponder on the website). The Activity log doesn't explicitly say which was picked up. A column is labeled "Transponder/License Plate" and each cell just has my tag characters. Perhaps if it got the transponder, it'd show an ID for that instead. I can't know from looking at my list here.

I'll try rotating it to the regular orientation and see what happens. Wonder how it took this long for me to hear that "the way it's positioned in a spot matters"; been driving with E-Pass/SunPass for 20 years lol
Click to expand...
FWIW, that’s how it works in CA; if the transponder is read it lists the transponder number, otherwise it lists the license plate the camera read. In the same column.
 
Can someone with a 2027 gravity post a pic of where they placed their ez-pass? I’m having a difficult time seeing the box after getting the windshield tinted. I think it goes where I drew in the attached pic but unsure.

Thanks, all.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0239.webp
    IMG_0239.webp
    144.5 KB · Views: 65
Actually, I think I had it too low in my prior pic. Revised pic attached using Chat and some pics from others on the forum but still tough to tell.
 

Attachments

  • E6DCE538-5B41-46F5-A8B0-88913596A319.webp
    E6DCE538-5B41-46F5-A8B0-88913596A319.webp
    131.6 KB · Views: 73
Here's mine, hasn't failed since I got the car. Sorry it's dark, I can take again in the morning if you want.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20260903_004709950.NIGHT.webp
    PXL_20260903_004709950.NIGHT.webp
    303.3 KB · Views: 51
  • PXL_20260903_004623932.NIGHT.webp
    PXL_20260903_004623932.NIGHT.webp
    251.7 KB · Views: 58
  • Like
Reactions: RL8
Use a flashlight directly at the inside and you'll see the rectangle.
 
tmichael said:
Use a flashlight directly at the inside and you'll see the rectangle.
Click to expand...

I tried using my iPhone camera. I’ll try again with a brighter flashlight. Odd they don’t have anything discussed in the manual, at least I couldn’t find something.

Thanks for the help.
 
RL8 said:
I tried using my iPhone camera. I’ll try again with a brighter flashlight. Odd they don’t have anything discussed in the manual, at least I couldn’t find something.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

The tricks are:
1. It must be dark outside (or in garage).
2. Sit normally in the drivers seat while holding the flashlight on the passenger seat pointing in the general direction.

Note, it's much harder to photograph than to see in person. I've only used an LED flashlight, don't have any incandescent, maybe the limited frequency range of LED helps.
IMG_2358.webp
 
I have my EZ Pass transponder within the grid as well as my RFID gate pass above it. I have not been through an EZ Pass gate yet but my home gate pass does not function as it did on my 2023 AGT. I have to go very slowly through the gate and even then it does not always read my pass. I believe that the EZ Pass toll cameras default to the license plate only because I drove in the express lane by DC for miles and did not get a fine after picking up my 2025. I did not know about the windshield blockage when I picked up my 2025. My surmise is that the grid somehow still blocks a clear signal through the windshield, but hope that I am wrong.
 
bicycleguy said:
The tricks are:
1. It must be dark outside (or in garage).
2. Sit normally in the drivers seat while holding the flashlight on the passenger seat pointing in the general direction.

Note, it's much harder to photograph than to see in person. I've only used an LED flashlight, don't have any incandescent, maybe the limited frequency range of LED helps.
View attachment 40942
Click to expand...

Awesome guidance. I see it now. Looks like mesh in the windshield. Thanks a lot.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0272.webp
    IMG_0272.webp
    330.6 KB · Views: 30
  • IMG_0273.webp
    IMG_0273.webp
    285.7 KB · Views: 27
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top