Introducing Luscious Garage

PICC Certified Prius Plug-In Installer

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:52:48 PDT

Available now! Plug-in Prius upgrades from Plug-In Conversions Corporation (PICC), the true “third generation” Prius!

Best performance to date of any plug-in conversion platform, backed by Luscious Garage, full service hybrid specialists with the most plug-in Prius experience.

We have the technical expertise, professionalism, and personal attention to make your conversion a legitimate and rewarding experience.

Conversion specs:

Fits: Toyota Prius, model years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Battery: 6.1 kWh Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), 203V nominal
All-Electric Range: 25 miles
Top EV Speed: 34MPH base, 70 MPH high speed optional
Charge Input: 120V (240V optional)
Charge Time, 120V: 6 hours
Fast Charge, 240V: 2 hours
Installation time: 2 days
Cost: $12,500

High Speed EV option: $2000-2500 (TBD)
Fast Charge option: $1000

Test drives available now! Email Carolyn for more information or appointments

Luscious Garage PICC conversions to date: 5

Omaha Public Power District
Luscious Shop Car (pictured)
Gold Peak Battery
China Light and Power
Hong Kong Electric

(blog on Hong Kong conversions to follow)

Kim Adelman, CEO of PICC, with his company car, Poway, CA:

PICC Battery Box with lid removed, Gold Peak modules, 168 Total, which they’ve innovated for over 20 years

LG Shop Car with factory battery removed (PICC system replaces factory battery, which we then use to build replacement packs for earlier model Prius):

Final product installed, very clean, safe installation

No loss of cargo space or change to interior panels:

Bob Dylan Special: $50 Oil Change

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:40:41 PDT

Originally named the “Depression Special”, our $50 Oil Change has been renamed (in a customer contest) “The times they are a changin’” Special (which I’m editing to the Bob Dylan Special).

Read the lyrics to Dylan’s timeless tune (via BobDylan.com)

Read the original blog:

Loss leaders are nothing but trouble. “Too good to be true.” “You get what you pay for.” My poor ear has been a dumping ground for automotive service trauma. Just last week: an 07 Prius with 30k miles being sold a $300 injector cleaning at the dealer!!!

Don’t even get me started!

That said, times are tough; why make it worse? Do not, DO NOT take risks with your vehicle maintenance. Let Mama Luscious take care of you. We don’t manipulate, threaten, pander, or otherwise bullshit. We’re eternal idealists who want to fix your car. All we ask is that you accept our altruism and tell your friends…

Gold Peak Battery

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:39:40 PDT

The core of LG’s plug-in conversions, supplied by Plug-In Conversions Corp (PICC), is a 6.1kWh battery pack, comprised of 168 nickel metal hydride (NiMH) cells from Gold Peak Battery (GP). A global battery manufacturer headquartered in Hong Kong, GP has been in business for 45 years and has produced high capacity rechargeable NiMH cells for two decades.

Last year GP purchased a minority interest in PICC and is therefore invested in seeing the Prius plug-in conversions succeed. This brings major manufacturing and business resources to bear in producing the best plug-in conversion system currently available and demonstrates GPs commitment to automotive applications. (Pic: GP batteries in LG’s conversion kit)

GP is hardly new to EVs: they already supply the batteries for the Vetrix scooter, other electric-assisted pedal bikes, and previously supplied energy storage devices for small run OEM products developed during the original ZEV mandate. Beyond cars, they are the largest producer of rechargeable NiMH batteries outside of Japan. (Pic: Production lab in Hong Kong; note Vectrix scooter on right)

Indeed because they have been producing NiMH for so long, they were early to apply for a license to the original Ovonics patent on the chemistry, and their license specifically includes 4-wheeled vehicle applications. Legal missteps by other companies (including Panasonic and Toyota), and ownership of Ovonics by Cobasys (joint venture with Chevron) and the patent along with it, have otherwise stymied use of NiMH, giving Gold Peak the advantage.

(Patent encumbrance for 4-wheel applications is the main reason why NiMH has not seen widespread use in cars, not because the chemistry is inadequate, which in turn has delayed EV applications. It is also a driving force behind the development of lithium-ion batteries to which the patent does not apply.)

Link to Gold Peak Batteries
Link to Gold Peak International
Link to Gold Peak North America
Link to EVB - GP subsidiary that supplies the NiMH cells (GP30EVH) for the Prius Conversion
Read more on LG’s Plug-In Conversions
(Pic: Carolyn at EVB lab, Gold Peak Building, Hong Kong, May 2009)

ART IN THE SHOP: Patrick Smith “LIFEnearDEATH”

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:01:03 PDT

Patrick Smith
LIFEnearDEATH
Portraits from a Hospice
July 7th - August 7th

Join us for the reception:
Saturday, July 11th, 4-7

“This series of portraits shows the faces of patients living in a hospice. The patients are of many ages, from early forties to late eighties. They are dying of various illnesses—stroke, congestive heart disease, emphysema, cancer, AIDS, alcoholism, drug addiction—and of simple old age. Most of the people in the portraits are now dead. A few live on bearing the daily efforts of life. Some are vividly aware of their condition, some are in dementia or wandering the dreamy labyrinth of final days. Some are on the private, knowing journey through medicated pain. The portraits are meant to show that life does not surrender itself until the only final moment; and to dream that, in a way, no one dies, because there is no land between life and death. There is the ultimate heroism, and then the rest.”

Carolyn presents on plug-ins for Perfect Sky’s “train the trainer”

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:48:37 PDT

Thanks again to Jack Rosebro of Perfect Sky hybrid training for the invitation to teach and for promoting the crux and potential of hybrid technology. The “train the trainer” 3-day course took place at Skyline College, home to one of the best automotive training programs in the country, and included instructors from all over North America. Carolyn lectured for 75 minutes on plug-in conversion history, system architecture, benefits, and technical challenges, and demonstrated the PICC system currently available from LG with test drives in the shop car.

New Prius no “prius” at all

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:21:50 PDT

"Prius” means “to come before”, and in that sense the new 2010 model is no prius at all. It has a bigger engine (1.8L up from 1.5L), lower EV Mode speed (24mph down from 34mph), and the exact same battery. This is not progress by any green standard; it is capitulation to the status quo: selling more of the same thing, dressed up in a new style, with a bit more “power” and a few new accessories. (Pic: LG at Pri promo event)

Translation: less Prius, more BMW.

Late last year, environmental pundit Amory Lovins explained how incrementalism is now a high-risk strategy. In other words, the environment (which is to say, human life) cannot afford business as usual. We need alternatives to burning gas now.

Luckily, we have them. The second generation Prius can easily become a plug-in vehicle; here at LG we’ve converted dozens of Prius to plug-ins and now offer the best plug-in package to date (see earlier post). This is the true 3rd generation Prius.

If you’re looking for a Prius, I would highly recommend buying a 2004-2009 model and converting (a used vehicle with the conversion will cost about the same as a new model, roughly $30,000, depending on package). We have the resources to find you exactly what you want. Use the contact page for inquiries...

If you already have a second-generation Prius and you’re considering something new, convert it! You will have twice the car as the 2010: a regular Prius and an EV built into one. Arm rests worn out? Tired plastic? LG can solve these problems. The core of the vehicle has tremendous value: Gen 2 Prius will last over 300,000 miles with very few issues.

New cars are inevitable and at some point necessary. LG’s business is largely based on them, and I’m not suggesting a John Denver hypocrisy: don’t build a house in the mountains of Colorado (now that I’ve already got one). I’m reminded of Kyoto critics pointing at greenhouse gases from China and India (now that we’ve already loaded the atmosphere with them). I digress… Clearly we can and will service the 2010 Prius and many new models beyond.

But as far as cars and the environment are concerned, we have crossed a threshold. The second generation Prius is perhaps the best car ever made: it’s practical, reliable, fuel efficient, and an ideal platform for a plug-in conversion. (Pictured: Carolyn with plug-in Prius converted at China Light and Power) With it’s bigger engine and lower EV mode speeds, the 2010 Prius appears less desirable as a plug-in candidate, which to me indicates that the car is slipping back in the internal-combustion direction. We cannot allow this slide to happen.

If you are inclined to buy new, I strongly encourage waiting. Toyota can provide plug-in functionality off the assembly line; indeed they recently announced a plug-in version of the latest model at the end of this year. Caveat: only 150 units in the US, only for lease, and only to fleets. Range and performance are unknown. One thing is clear: they won’t make it available to the public unless our collective buying habits encourage them to do so.

Gen 2 Prius MFD Screen Repair, $500

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:43:57 PDT

2004-2005 Prius multi-function displays have some weak soldering points, causing a failure well documented by our colleagues across the bay at Art’s Automotive:

Repairing the Multi-function Display via ArtsAutomotive.com

New screens from the dealer are unmercifully expensive, between $3000-$5000 depending on the model (navigation or no). Much more attractive—not to mention green—is the prospect of repairing the original screen.

Paul from Art’s, author of the earlier link, openly admits that he got his info from Hobbit, the east-coast Prius guru (pictured demonstrating the safety of Prius high voltage AC motor phases, from a class Carolyn attended back in 2006). His original account of repairing the screen is also available online:

Evaluation and repair of a failed Prius MFD via techno-fandom.org

Hobbit basically pinpoints his problem to a pair of joints on the top board, the most common point of failure. Like Art’s, we offer resoldering of these joints in house. (To be honest we hire Eric, our friend and IT computer science geek, to perform the very fine solders himself.)

The price for the service, including removal and reinstallation of the screen: $500

Admittedly there are other possibilities for failure. Because the diagnostic time necessary to chase those other potential soldering breaks quickly outpaces the value of an already repaired (or otherwise guaranteed) used unit, we offer a fall back solution: if the first soldering attempt does not work, we’ll replace the unit with a known-good one from Steve Woodruff of AutoBeYours, which comes with a 1 year warranty, at no additional cost.

In other words, if the initial repair doesn’t work, we’ll replace with a used unit, parts and labor, for the same price, $500. Of course we’re happy just to switch yours out with a replacement screen, if you prefer.

Use the contact page for appointments... or call us: 415-875-9030

Photo Gallery of Screen Repairs, for the curious:

Screen removed and on the bench, Carolyn disassembles for Eric:

Two screens that recently failed in two separate Prius, ready for attention:

Eric, the 21st century mechanic, working his magic:

Gen 1 Prius Steering Rack Failure, Code C1513 Torque Sensor Malfunction

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:40:51 PDT

(This blog is one in a series on Gen 1 Prius common failures. Read the introductory blog here.)

CUT TO THE CHASE? LINK TO PRICES BELOW

Classic Prius, model years 2001, 2002, and 2003, employ a 12V electric motor for power steering assist. The following is an explanation of how the system is designed, how it fails, and how much it costs to fix.

The motor is integrated around the shaft of the pinion gear (input part of the steering rack) and the amount of assist is interpreted through a torque sensor, mounted at the top of the motor. The sensor has two pads, each with two “fingers” (think of the needle on a record player); as the steering wheel is turned the sensor flexes, changing where the fingers touch the pads, which corresponds to varying voltage values sent to the steering computer. The amount of flex translates the resistance to steering and, therefore, the amount of assist needed.

This sensor has a penchant for failure, triggering the “Problem” screen on the center display, illuminating “PS MAIN” for power steering (pic forthcoming), and setting trouble code C1513: Torque Sensor Abnormal/Malfunction. Out of range voltage values are saved in the computer’s “freeze frame” at the time of failure and confirm the code and that the sensor is bad. The component cannot be purchased separate from the rack.

Other symptoms include jerky steering assist (sometimes quite frightening). It’s possible for the code to set with no change to steering performance.

We have also experienced intermittent steering assist from cars with no codes or warning lights (but no less scary), which may originate from the torque sensor or internal failure of the assist motor windings. Regardless the rack must be replaced as a unit.

Toyota did issue a recall campaign for steering racks on early models (first three months of the 2001 model year run, produced between May 9th, 2000 and July 21st, 2000, which equates to less than 2000 units), with replacement covered by Toyota for free.

PDF of Toyota Special Service Campaign Y05, 2001 Model Year Prius Power Steering Gear, Letter to Dealers
(an interesting look at Toyota’s attitude towards Prius early adopters)

Of the cars we’ve seen with rack failures, none was produced during this small window (which makes you wonder what exactly they improved); in fact we’ve even seen a failure in a car that already had its rack replaced under this campaign (years ago). In short, while there is a chance your rack could qualify for free replacement, it’s not likely. We do however check to see if the campaign applies to any vehicle’s we diagnose with this condition.

Given the widespread failure of these components, we no longer entertain used replacements. We did replace a rack with a used one once, at the owner’s insistence, and it ended up being bad “out of the box” and proved a real PITA for everyone involved.

The good news is that new racks are readily available from dealer parts departments and can be replaced quickly and easily. The unit is mounted to the top of the vehicle subframe (on John’s hand, in pic); there are a few tricks to stay out of trouble (a cautionary note to other techs who may be reading), but LG charges 2.5 hours for R&R plus a front wheel alignment.

Prices

Price breakdown for the job:

Labor: $300
New Steering Rack: $1499
Front End Alignment: $85
Sales Tax: $142.41

Total: $2026.41

Gen 2 Prius Inverter Water Pumps backordered

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:28:56 PDT

The Prius cannot be driven without a functional inverter water pump without risking inverter overheating and potential damage. These pumps are prone to failure, see our related blog:

Prius Code P0A93: Inverter Water Pump Seized

According to two local dealers, the replacement pump, part number G9020-47031 is on backorder until July 1st (though my contact says it might become available sooner); it is impossible to guarantee when these pumps will be available. Given that any car with a failed pump in essentially out of service until a replacement is found, we are offering a temporary solution of replacement with a first generation Prius inverter pump. It will not bolt down but it will suffice until the proper replacement becomes available. The pump is slightly more expensive than the Gen 2 part, so the price of the repair runs a bit more, $300 installed with tax. But it may be cheaper than renting a car.

LG on Fox Business Network

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:35:39 PDT

Video link:

Getting up to speed on hybrid repairs via FoxBusiness.com

LG on CBS 5’s Eye on the Bay

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:53:21 PDT

Video Segment: “Our Environment” via CBS5.com

Learning from GM

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:28:17 PDT

The bankruptcy of General Motors is a profound event—economic as well as cultural—worth recognition and reflection regardless of our feelings for cars. The company’s failure is a collective one—labor, consumer, and executive (both internal to the company and in government policy)—of not taking responsibility.

As an affluent, non-industrial bubble, the residents of San Francisco seem unable to sympathize, and I agree in the sense that GM’s myopia has been obvious for decades. However, bankruptcy is much more than an overdue embarrassment to relish as we drive Japanese cars. It’s a genuine opportunity for the company to do right, and given its overwhelming influence in our country’s economic and environmental future, it’s crucial we all learn from GM’s mistakes.

Here are a few resources I recommend:

1.) Video: The Decline of GM from The New York Times

2.) GM’s Reinvention Corporate Website

3.) The World of Business: The Road Ahead from The New Yorker

4.) Interactive: GM Timeline from The New York Times

5.) Interactive: Automotive Bailout Timeline from The New York Times

I remain amazed and impressed by how much Obama has taken on in his first months as president, and I understand his endorsement of GM products. But I remain strongly opposed to buying a new GM vehicle, just as I am to buying the new Prius. It is essential that we only support the automakers when they produce plug-in vehicles. All of GM’s materials, including the website linked above, put enormous emphasis on the Volt; we must put equal emphasis on that car as the one worth waiting for and ultimately buying.

One of the problems already apparent with the Volt (and the same problem with the EV1) is the goal of perfection, which is unrealistic. Evidence the Prius, which took three years in Japan and then three more globally to mature into the model we now see all over San Francisco, which is one of the best cars ever made (and yet only half functional as a gasoline-dependent vehicle).

Don’t misunderstand me: the Volt is a valid indicator of why GM is worth saving and supporting. GM can be restructured and ultimately sustainable, just like our means of transportation. But there is no Chapter 11 for the environment, at least not without a Chapter 7 for us human beings.

LG in SF Chronicle

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:31:15 PDT

Garage’s hybrid approach to fixing green cars via SFGate.com

My thanks to Brad Berman of HybridCars.com for his kind words.

Farewell Julia!

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:57:50 PDT

Luscious Garage is blessed by an extended community of supporters, local and beyond. My sincere thanks to Julia Langholt, budding graduate of my alma mater Hawken School, back in Cleveland OH, for her dedicated service as volunteer/intern. Today she completed her “senior project” exploring small business, green business, hybrid technology, and California culture, to influence her pursuit of mechanical engineering at Ohio State University. For more on Julia’s experience, check out her blog:

My Luscious Blog via blogspot.com

Carolyn speaks at Lincoln High School EV Club

carolyn@lusciousgarage.com (Carolyn) — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:23:19 PDT

Many thanks to the San Francisco Electric Vehicle Association for their ongoing mentorship at Lincoln High School this past year. Five seniors have refurbished three electric scooters during after-school hours with help from Mark Albers, Secretary of the SFEVA, and other members; the program is lead by Lincoln photography teacher Jack Alter. I was asked to present on EV battery technology and my experience with both lead acid and nickel metal hydride chemistries in EV applications. Topics also included hybrid and plug-in hybrid architecture to expand students’ thinking on how to design different EV platforms.

The afternoon ended with a test drive of their finished Vego scooters (they work great!) and a demo of LG’s plug-in Prius.