Install remote start to warm car up

I bought a heated seat cushion that I use if it gets really cold.

 

That's maybe oversimplifying. We got the block heater put in, eight-o'clock-day-one, and use it almost without fail, for a couple of hours before the first cold start of the day. Depends on ambient temp's, but except in sub-zero temperatures, 2 hours will have the coolant temperatures "plateauing", maybe 25C above ambient. That's as good as it gets, which is not bad; it definitely gives the warm-up a leg-up.

 

That's how I always used mine in my prelude. Plugged into a timer that kicked on 2 hours before I left. Had heat before pulling out of the driveway even if it was single digit temperatures outside.

 

Yeah both Honda and Prius block heaters are 400 watt, about the same performance. I really think they should just slam these in at the factory, it is so much easier than retrofitting. The part cost is fairly trivial.

 

please sir, may i have another piece of coal for the fire? it's Christmas.

 

I think most prius have the a/c remote start, but the one I need is to warm up the engine

 

doesn't work if your plugged in

 

So you already know the drill. Expect roughly the same from a block heater on a Prius.

I think they should include them on every car full stop. Get the people used to plugging in. Everyone can use them to save fuel and mechanical wear in every part of the world where it's still colder than 170°F. Fortunately that's still a lot of places...

 

Yeah, same here. If I'm driving myself, I can usually go without heat even in sub-zero temp outside. Of course with PRIME, when the temp gets to sub-zero ICE kicks in even without turning the heat on. Since ICE is running and generating heat, rather than wasting them, why not use it to warm up the cabin.

I thought about installing a block heater on my PRIME, but I still have to start the engine and let it sit while windshield gets defrosted before I can drive the car. If I can use remote engine starter to turn on windshield defroster 10 min in advance of my departure time, it would make much easier and safer to drive in the cold morning.

 

The remote start puts the car in READY mode so the engine can charge as needed, but the doors can be locked.

 

The PRIME has an electric heat pump. The engine does not need to run to warm up the cabin.

 

Even for PRIME, at or below 14F, ICE has to come on to heat the cabin. The heat pump is not efficient enough when it's very cold outside. And when ambient temp is below single digit, even with climate control off, ICE will come on when you first turn on the car. I have done this all winter long. So, my routine is to turn on the car to READY and immediately put to HV mode, so I don't wast traction battery charge. I have to keep the ICE running to use defrost function to clear ice on the windshield. This usually takes ~10min, so the car is sitting with ICE on for that duration of time without moving.

 

Yeah just don't immigrate to Venus.

 

for a gen 1 plug in forum, this may be one of the most confusing threads I've ever read. and that's saying something

 

It’s even made it to Venus now.

And what was the original thought?

Oh well ‘tis the season.

 

It's the venusian new year, a traditional time to go completely off the rails...

Getting in my car and just driving off without defrosting it tediously and at length would be a good way to destroy the car as I bumped my way blindly along the road. It is common for it to frost over both inside and out. Scraping the windshield is not that good.

 

In almost all areas of the USA it is against the law to drive with windows obstructed, Some of us must park outside and yield to the whims of mother nature thereby defrost the thing before moving, Safety is always first before the pocket book. I would rather buy a few drops of gas versus a lifetime of guilt from running over the neighbor's beautiful little girl.

 

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