I’m new to my Defender and have noticed the EZ Pass does not read when going through a toll, slow or fast. Is there something about the windshield that is causing this or am I just not lucky?

 

It must be placed in the space behind the rear view mirror that does not have the little black dots. They block signals, use the clear glass area.

 

Actually I don’t think is true. dot matrix has not bothered my EZ Pass in any of the dozens of cars that I have owned, nor does it interrupt the radar detector. Some Defenders have plated glass, which will interfere with the EZ Pass unless you place it in the cut out in the plate on either side of the mirror. Easy to tell if your windshield is plated by looking at it from the outside in sunlight while wearing polarized sunglasses. Can’t miss the plate as it shows up sort of purple-ish. Mine has the later solar glass that has no plating in it. There was a whole thread about solar windshields and each variety a few months ago.

 

There’s a spot where the UV film is open on some defender windshields. I can see that spot on my Lincoln. my Defender does not have that spot. I had the toll authority send me “external mount” transponders. My plan was to mount one on a roof rail. It actually works fine just laying on the dash. (It has nothing to do with the black mask)

 

I have the heated windshield, so I got the EZ pass version that mounts to my license plate.

 

That’s pretty much the same transponder as the external mount for trucks. Not having a front license plate, I was looking into less obvious options. Made a trip before I could mount it, that’s when I learned it works well enough just laying on the dash.

 

attach it to the lower/bottom grill it's black and will blend in.

 

Gotcha. Had that experience with a few previous vehicles but that was years ago, probably different coating on the glass. My previous Evoque did have the heated windshield/plated glass and the EasyPass did not function mounted on the windshield. Finally went with the external, but didn’t want it on the front license plate, too easy for someone to tap it in a parking lot and crack it. Found a good spot by popping off the front grill and zip-tying it to a support bracket. Blended right in, out of sight.

 

I don’t travel on toll roads enough to be worth mounting it at all. I just toss it on the dash for the once or twice a year I need it, and can still use it in my other cars.

 

Here in the SF Bay area as long as you have 1 transponder you can just register your car on the transponder payment site with the license plate and dont need a transponder at all. As you pass thru the toll booth it reads your plate and you are good to go.