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bfukumoto

Fusion Energi Member
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Everything posted by bfukumoto

  1. Is there a fix for the driver side seat cushion cover? I noticed that the plastic clips on the front and right side of the seats are not attached to anything so the seat cushion has some movement and the leather cover rides up a bit. I have looked under the seat and did not see any obvious areas that the clips should be attached. And you right that the passenger side does not have this problem at all with the seat cushion cover tight as a snare drum.
  2. bfukumoto

    Windshield

    Had my headliner replaced on Friday. It is much better than the original. However, in the process of replacing the headliner, the plastic housing around the front facing camera and the small piece that covers the wiring harness from the rear view mirror are now not able to latch together. In addition, the sunglass door now spontaneously opens. The dealer is ordering 3 parts which need to be replaced requiring another visit. They said the pieces are warped. I think the installer damaged them as I found a small plastic piece that looked like it came from the latching mechanism of the sunglass door.
  3. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304610404579403041411705368?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_business Ford To Swap BlackBerry For Microsoft BlackBerry's QNX Will Power Car Technology Software Beginning in 2016 by Mike Ramsey Updated Feb. 24, 2014 12:40 p.m. ET Ford Motor will begin using a Linux-based operating system, called QNX, to power its Sync mobile-phone multimedia software beginning in 2016, ending its use of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows, an official with the car company said. The move will lower Ford's costs and give them a simple system that hardware makers and other software developers are comfortable using. Despite pioneering the move into in-car mobile technology, Ford has run into trouble with the Microsoft-based Sync in recent years as it integrated the phone-pairing system with a touch screen called MyFord Touch. Many of the bugs in the system weren't related to problems with Microsoft's platform, however. Ford considered using a Google Inc. Android-based system, as well as Microsoft's system before settling on QNX Software Systems, which is owned by BlackBerry Ltd. , according to this person. The system is used by other auto makers to run multimedia systems that connect phones to in-car technology, allowing for voice-activated calling and radio controls, and other applications. The decision to drop Microsoft and its Windows Embedded Automotive offering came primarily as a result of the expense of licensing the Redmond, Wash.-based company's operating system. Equipment suppliers also had a strong familiarity with the QNX system and preferred working with it, said the official, who declined to be named because the matter isn't public. Bloomberg News earlier reported the change. Honda Motor Co.'s Acura, General Motors Co., Hyundai Motor Co., Volkswagen AG's Audi and Porsche use QNX in their multimedia systems, according the company's website. QNX has about 50% market share among car makers. "QNX is the best system for this application from an objective standpoint," said Egil Juliussen, the principal analyst for IHS Automotive researching this area. "It's smaller, takes less memory, it's more flexible." Ford, along with Microsoft, was a leader in pushing in-car mobile phone integration. It launched Sync in 2007 on a few models as an option and now its system is standard on most of its vehicles in many regions of the world. Its Sync system is used on more than 7 million vehicles around the world and has become an important marketing tool for Ford. More recently, Ford has had quality problems with its MyFord Touch system, which is a touch-screen interface and Bluetooth-activated voice control system. MyFord Touch had problems with freezing, or failing to recognize voice controls early on. Ford has been upgrading the system to work out the bugs, but most of these issues had little to do with Microsoft, the official said. Microsoft's other major customers in the automotive industry are Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, Nissan Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp, according to the company's website. A spokesman for the software company couldn't immediately be reached to comment. Mr. Juliussen estimated that about 50% of Microsoft's automotive business goes to Ford now. "As the provider of a standards-based software platform used throughout the auto industry, QNX has worked with Ford on technology that is available in vehicles on the road today," a BlackBerry spokesman said. "We can't comment or speculate on the plans of Ford or other auto makers, as a matter of policy." -Shira Ovide in San Francisco contributed to this article. Write to Mike Ramsey at michael.ramsey@wsj.com
  4. bfukumoto

    NOT TSLA

    2013 Energi Titanium
  5. From the album: NOT TSLA

    Photo after 19" H-spoke wheels and 235/40R19 Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires mounted at America's Tire in Gilroy, CA. Wheels were $800 on ebay and were take-offs in like new condition. Tires were $222 each.
  6. I will be swapping out the standard 17x7.5 Energi wheels and 225/50R17 Michelin Energy Saver A/S tires with 19x8 H-spoke wheels and 235/40R19 Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires. The Primary is a Green X (LRR). Both wheels have a 55mm offset. I picked up the wheels on eBay for $800 and the tires ($222 each) are will be installed at Discount Tire. Since I bought the Energi for the HOV stickers, I don't care too much about any MPG hit. I am strictly trying to improve the look of the vehicle. In fact, I would have stayed with the 17" setup if I could find a similar 5-spoke OEM wheel. I went with the 235 tire width that would reduce the sidewall height by only 0.7" to maintain ride comfort. I like the ride quality with the 17" tires. In fact, I have friends who drive Tesla Model S and they say the 19" tire is the best setup for rid comfort and MPGe and a few have downgraded from the 21" option. With the overall tire diameter being 13 mm (2%) taller and the wheel width 0.5" wider, the wheelwell will be filled out by extra 7mm. When speedometer reads 60mph (96.6km/h) actual speed will be 61.2mph (98.5km/h): 2% faster. Unsprung weight will increase by 24lbs (6lbs per corner).
  7. Yes, I had 35 watt installed and they are plenty bright. I have had the car since Black Friday and driven only 500+ miles so far, and only 60 miles of that at night. I have not noticed (not really paying attention) to the "other" power usage. I probably will not notice since my driving pattern enables me to get only 16 miles on a full charge.
  8. Funny you should ask. I tried the auto high beams last night. They still function properly, but with the added light of the HID, the high beams did not come on as frequenty as they did before conversion while driving through my neighborhood. I believe this is because the light sensor of the auto high beams sensed more light (probably reflecting off houses and signs) as thought it was on-coming traffic. When the high beams did switch on, I did notice the light from the H7 bulbs, but it really was not necessary and due to the mixture of the whiter 5K HID and the yellower H7 halogen, was not pleasant to the eye and may even detract from your nighttime visibility.
  9. Beam pattern is essentially a brighter, sharper version of what it was with halogen bulbs. I am still getting used to the U.S. code beam pattern since I have only driven German cars since 1999 all of which have e-code beam pattern which I find to be much better because the driver side headlight is angled downward and the passenger side is angled upward which makes sense to me. If I start to get flashed, I will have the headlights aimed down a bit. Since I rarely drive with high beams, I don't care if those are also angled down. With the HID, I cannot imagine when you would ever need high beams except on I-5 at night. The set I purchased had a CANBUS defeater so no idiot lights on the dash at all. I went with 5K temp as I want maximum light output (lumens) and minimize glare. I also prefer stock look. I don't need the fake poser look with the blue or purple color. You can have the fogs done as well, but I opted not to since I rarely use them and didn't want to spend another $300. My other cars are a 1999 Porsche Boxster, 2000 Mercedes E430 sedan, 2004 Mercedes E320 wagon, and 2009 Mercedes GL550 and all came with factory Xenon HID (Litronics). Only the E430 was non-projector (D2R). And I can tell you that the Fusion conversion is brighter than all of them which I attribute to (1) newer capsules (2) more efficient ballasts, and (3) newer technology materials and workmanship/quality standards. I had to upgrade the Fusion because I could not stand driving it with stock halogen bulbs at night. Now the car is near perfect as my daily driver for my 60-mile trip commute to/from work. And even with the upgrade, the car is still better than all of my other cars in one respect, green HOV sticker.
  10. bfukumoto

    Windshield

    The headliner on my brand new 2013 Titanium around the 3rd brake light is warped and there is a 1/2" gap between the edge of the headliner and the roof/window. I can see it in the rear view mirror and it irritates me. I have to keep reminding myself that this is a Ford since I have only driven Mercedes for the past 13 years. I bought the Energi strictly for the HOV sticker in California. I did read on another forum that there is a quality alert/TSB for the headliner so I guess I will ask the dealer when I take it in for my complimentary oil change in March 2014.
  11. Just had the LCS25-P installed in my garage yesterday and it works great. Cost of the charger was $549 + tax + shipping direct from Clipper Creek (located in Auburn, CA). The 240V/30A circuit and NEMA 14-30 receptacle installation cost was $310.
  12. Thanks. Just used a modified version of this to send to the City of Morgan Hill (CA).
  13. Thanks for this. My electrician told me about this tax credit. I guess I will get a credit of ~$330 since my Clipper Creek charger and installation cost ~$1000.
  14. I just had a 240V/30A outlet (NEMA 14-30 receptacle) installed in my garage yesterday for $310 (materials & labor). I bought a Clipper Creek LCS-25P direct from the manufacturer located in Auburn, CA and it arrived in 1 day to my house. The charger was $549 + shipping + tax. It is the same form factor as the 110V/15A unit that came with the car. It charges the battery from empty to full in 2 hours. I bought the charger with the plug so that I can take it with me if we were ever move or use it at work (or any where else that has NEMA 14-30). The hardwire version is $495 and the cost to install is the same as the cost to install a NEMA 14-30 receptacle.
  15. I didn't realize that the EV range when the battery is fully charged varies based on driving style and conditions. I know the car is rated for 21 miles and had expected to see that number when the battery is fully charged, but I have never gotten more than 16 miles after owning the car since Black Friday. I have driven the car 400 miles since taking delivery, mostly on freeway during commute hours. My commute is 30 miles (24 miles freeway, 6 miles surface street) one way. Average speed in the morning is 30-40 MPH; 45-50 MPH in the evening. I haven't filled up the gas tank yet since taking delivery and gauge reads 1/4 remaining with 35.8 avg mpg.
  16. I just had my low beam (H11 projector) converted to HID yesterday. The result is literally like night and day. The beam pattern and cutoff is very good, essentially super sharp version of the halogen. However, due to the higher intensity of the 35W HID, the distance and therefore the height of the beam is increased. I live in a neighborhood that has no street lights and is very hilly with curving roads and never was flashed by oncoming cars that thought I was driving with high beams on. The only issue (which could be installation related) that I have noticed is that the left HID did not ignite when I started the car in Auto headlight mode. When I turned the lights off and on again, the both sides ignited fine. This has happened only 1 time. If the problem persists, I will take it back to the installer as I received lifetime warranty. The cost of the install (parts and labor) was $300 and it took the installer less than 1 hour during my lunch hour. If you located in S.F. Bay Area, I would highly recommend Xtreme HID in San Jose on Tully Road.
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