We have an EZ Pass for our Ford E450. It only gives us the green light about half the times we go through a toll booth. The rest of the time it flashes yellow and says "Call EZ Pass". When I call them they don't know what the problem is (the account is fine). One time they suggested the system might be having trouble reading the license plate. It's a new plate mounted in the spot for it on the drivers side of the bumper. There is no cover or anything over it. I notice most newer models (ours is a 2006) have the plate in the middle. Has anyone else had this problem?They have told us to just ignore the message from now on but the toll history shows we are only getting charged for half the tolls. Okay, so maybe that's a good thing but I don't want to be in the middle of a trip and get stopped somewhere for not having the pass working correctly.I can't believe they don't know what's wrong. You would think the system would tell them what the problem is it's having.

How old is your tag? The tag has a battery in it, and that battery does eventually die. That's my bet.I'm pretty sure the placement of your license plate has nothing to do with it.Just a few months ago, we got notice from EZ Pass NY that they were replacing our tags to the new smaller, cylindrical ones. We got the new tags and had to return the old ones. They were ~6-8 years old.

We have the new smaller one. It's a month old.Also, they work on an RFID system. There is no battery in them. It uses the power from the transmitted signal at the toll booth to "excite" a small circuit inside the pass to enable it to broadcast a unique ID back to the receiver. Similar to security fobs on clothing in department stores that trigger an alarm at the front doors if they aren't removed by a clerk.

Is it on the windshield? The cabover may be blocking the signal. I've got one of the license plate mounted tags on my Class C.In most toll booths, the receiving antenna is the pizza box looking thing hung from the underside of the overhead canopy.

Lumpty wrote:Is it on the windshield? The cabover may be blocking the signal. I've got one of the license plate mounted tags on my Class C.In most toll booths, the receiving antenna is the pizza box looking thing hung from the underside of the overhead canopy.That's a possibility. It's mounted behind the rear view mirror on the windshield. Maybe I'll try mounting it toward the bottom away from any defrost vents. That might give it enough angle. I have to be able to change it with another one I have for pulling a trailer so anything permanently mounted won't work.

I say you need a license plate mounted one. The cabove is blocking the signal.

EZ Pass Problem - Anyone else? | Good Sam Community

OldRadios
Explorer
May 21, 2014
Update: Mounting the EZ Pass at the bottom center of the windshield worked just fine. No problems now. If you have a C with cab overhang don't mount the EZ Pass up top by the rear view mirror as the overhang might block the view of the antenna.
OldRadios
Explorer
Apr 17, 2014
Thanks! I re-mounted ours to the center bottom of the windshield. Next extensive trip on toll roads is three weeks away. I'll report back on how it works in that location.

I did just get charged the tolls from the far end of the thruway twice for that trip which they are refunding so their "Just go ahead and keep using it" they told me to do is not such a good idea.
KristinU
Explorer
Apr 17, 2014
OldRadios wrote:
Maybe I'll try mounting it toward the bottom away from any defrost vents. That might give it enough angle.

This is where we have ours mounted, low and in the center - works every time for us!
DaCrema
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
I have mine on the dashboard near the middle but slightly to the drivers side. We have a carpet like dash covers and that holds on to the velcro to keep the little puck from sliding around.
super_camper
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
OldRadios wrote:
Lumpty wrote:
Is it on the windshield? The cabover may be blocking the signal. I've got one of the license plate mounted tags on my Class C.

In most toll booths, the receiving antenna is the pizza box looking thing hung from the underside of the overhead canopy.

That's a possibility. It's mounted behind the rear view mirror on the windshield. Maybe I'll try mounting it toward the bottom away from any defrost vents. That might give it enough angle. I have to be able to change it with another one I have for pulling a trailer so anything permanently mounted won't work.

We have a one by our rear view mirror and have never had a problem with it, it is blocked by the cabover but works perfectly.
Gonzo42
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
Personally, I have a big grudge about how they are used here on the left coast. First they had HOV lanes which the state admitted were only to make a big inconvenience to try convincing people to carpool.

Then they let electric/hybrid cars use the HOV lanes with one passenger.

Now they are converting those lanes into toll lanes. But we already PAID FOR THOSE LANES.

On top of that, the rules and tolls change by the day and the hour.

OK, so they say I can ride my motorcycle in the toll lanes for free. Really? What about the requirement that I buy the transponder? How is it free?

Try walking a mile in the other guy’s shoes. That way, you will have his shoes, and a mile head startThe last thing I want to do is hurt you. But its still on the list.
OldRadios
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
OH48Lt wrote:
Don't know about the 450, but my F150 and former F250 have a dark metallic imbedded shade from the top of the windshield down about 4 inches or so, and more behind the mirror. Is that blocking the signal?

No, nothing on the top of the windshield. My Ford SUV has that shade also and it doesn't have any affect on it's EZ Pass. I'm going to try moving it's location to the bottom of the windshield which would give it a better angle under the overhang.
OH48Lt
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
Don't know about the 450, but my F150 and former F250 have a dark metallic imbedded shade from the top of the windshield down about 4 inches or so, and more behind the mirror. Is that blocking the signal?
gcloss
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
Half the tolls and assuming no fines is a good thing. I would't part with that EZ-Pass tag.
OldRadios
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
Can't use a permanently mounted one. It has to be changed when I'm pulling a trailer. I suppose I could also try mounting it in the cab window.