The EPA wants my G

[C-Kwik]

You should take off the Cats, then give it to them for testing.

[Beancooker]

You should take off the Cats, then give it to them for testing.

LOL

[smockers83]

Haha, it would throw them off, but probably couldn't do anything to me since we don't have laws and testing here in MI.

[Rivalry]

Been avoiding you guys cause I have not purchased a G... yet. Epic fail.

I am currently jobless (aside from my one weekend a month at my ANG base) and spending my time doing things I have always wanted to do - road trips, working out, basketball, etc. Been kinda nice, actually.

[BrandAidDesignG35]

No worries, welcome here anytime!!! Save some $$$ and sell that truck, you'll be all set!

See if the EPA is looking for any Dakotas

[poms302]

Smockers- you can give them your car and rent my car for $50 a day, I will even drop it off for you. Isn't there a PF changs in AnnArbor.

[smockers83]

PF changs? Never heard of such a place. Sorry, but if I give my G away for an amount of time, I'm looking to be compensated, not to compensate.

[smockers83]

Well, an update. I have to take all the mods off--all two of them. I have to put the OEM intake back on and I guess I'll have to take off the grounding kit because they want it stock (didn't tell them the kit was in there). So when I reinstall, I'll be able to take pics for my article (for the article managers that read this) and I'll actually be able to test the difference with the grounding kit (wasn't able to when I put it on during the winter).

They'll call me a week before I need to drop it off. I'm supposed to get some sort of 4-door sedan, there will be a list to pick from when they call me. This will actually work out quite well because I need a bigger vehicle to make an IKEA run for a new dresser. The G and only having the G isn't always practical haha.

[soul_hfk]

i can see having to put the stock intake back on but not the grounding kit but thz for the update

[JohnnyE]

Haha, it would throw them off, but probably couldn't do anything to me since we don't have laws and testing here in MI.

Emissions are governed by federal laws so you would still be hit with a $5,000 - $10,000 fine.

[MS6_to_G35x]

smoker..

My work is right behind the EPA place on Plymouth...That place has surprising amount of security..I knew someone who worked there a few years back.. but have since lost contact.. Quite a few are smart engineers in there.

Good luck..

[smockers83]

Well, it went in yesterday morning. Got to tour the facility, it was pretty cool. I was up the night before putting the stock intake back on and I got there and they said that they could have done it. I was like, great that would have been good to know because the lady I talked to made it seem like I had to come to them with the stock parts on the car. I was having issues with a hose clamp on the G-tube at the MAF, so I just left the Z-tube on. Lets see if they notice.

Anywho, driving the 06 (I think) Escape. Haven't driven it enough to offer any type of review. I haven't driven an SUV for quite some time, so I'm getting used to the seats and the height. I did find one thing that I didn't like real quick--CD player doesn't play MP3s, but it is a 6 disc.

[zozoka1212]

So did they tell you how long exactly they'll have your G?

zozo

[smockers83]

No, they just said the 1-4 weeks again. My girlfriend asked if I was going to miss my car, I said probably not until after the weekend. But I kinda hope to keep the Escape for at least a week, there are some things I need to do/haul with it when I have time.

It will be at minimum 2-3 business days, unless they work weekends, too. They have to let the cars sit until they reach a certain temperature, which takes about 2 days I guess. Then they do their tests. They're looking to see if anything is breaking, not operating correctly, etc. in terms of pollution. If it fails tests, nothing on me, its all on Nissan and the government. So if they find that my O2 sensors are bad, I get new ones for free. Temp sensors, new ones. All OEM parts. They'll also do necessary maintenance such as oil changes, which will be coming up for me while its there. They'll have their engineers and Nissan engineers on site as well. When I was there, they were testing mostly Lexus vehicles. They had a Nissan on a dyno as well, but he said they were just testing the engine, the body most likely isn't the body that is used with the engine. Saw some "disguised" 09s and 10s, too.

So basically to me, its just a free diagnostics test and I get the dyno info after, I get paid, some free gas, and I get to test out another vehicle. Pretty good deal if you asked me.

[zozoka1212]

Sounds pretty good deal too me.

zozo

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I still don't think I would have ever done it

[soul_hfk]

i would of done it to

[smockers83]

I left the grounding kit on and just got a call about it. They were wondering what it was for and what not and Nissan was having problems with it because its not stock. They can't take it off? They told me they could have changed the intake back to stock. But because of that, they might not be able to keep it.

[Sentientbydesign]

It's like 6-8 screws. WTF?

[smockers83]

Got the G back today with my $240 check. Now I just have to put the JWT back on, take some pictures for the Articles Managers. They actually didn't put that many miles on my G because the 300 they told me would have put me at an oil change I thought, but its still pretty low. I'll have to find the paperwork to see how many miles they actually put on. I'll also have the test and dyno results in about a month they said. They also said that they were surprised at how quickly they were able to turn my vehicle over, most of the time it does take closer to the 4 weeks and people ask them to stop paying them at $590 so they don't have to report it to the IRS, which they can't do.

They did end up testing it despite the grounding kit issue. Took a quick looksie under the hood, looks like they hooked it back up right if they did take it off. Will have to look more in depth when I put the intake back on. They also didn't notice that I had the Z tube on instead of the G tube, but that wouldn't really affect anything anyway. I have noticed though with the stock intake on now that it does feel a little restrained than with the JWT.

My review of the Ford Escape of 12 days. I actually liked it. I didn't like it so much that I would trade it in, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I wish they would take my G and test it all through winter so I could have the Escape during that time, or just keep it and store it there. On the freeway/highway, I was getting 23 MPG with it, which pleasantly surprised me. The seats are much more upright than the G's, when I sat in my G for the first time this afternoon, it took me awhile to get used to it again. The Escape doesn't play MP3s, at least the one I had didn't. Its also pretty quick for an SUV. One of the engineers and I were talking about how quick they actually are. The steering, handling, and ride were good as well. The side mirrors could be designed a little bit better, there was just something weird about them, but they worked fine. All in all, the Escape passed and gets a recommendation from me.

The engineer I was talking to also said he put in this top of the line gas in for me, better than anything else out there, I forget what it was called. Started with an I. He said I should feel a little extra in it so I asked him if I could get it anywhere and he was pretty sure you couldn't. They use top of the line gasoline for most of their vehicle testing. So once the intake is back on, you better believe I'll be burnin' up that gas like no other.

[zozoka1212]

Glad it turned out good for you.

zozo

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Me too... What a cool job that would be to work for the EPA and get all that good gas for your car!

DJ