Winter electric heating experiences with Gen 5 Prime

just like your gen 3, it will be fine with the engine

 

I noticed when temps were 26F. If I put on defrosters the engine would turn on but If I turn on the heat manual and set to low the engine would not turn on. Which was good enough to defrost the windows. I will have to check when it gets lower.

 

It was rare to actually need the defroster in my 2017. The window blower with heat worked just fine. Perhaps that is due to be north enough (Minnesota) where most of the winter is dry (temps stay below freezing).

 

You had a block heater, installed, temp was -30, but you still didn’t use block heater?

 

Winter doesn't even start for a couple more weeks. We haven't even hit -5° or -10°f yet - being that it's still just fall. There are still a few crazies around here wearing cargo shorts (albeit w/ sweatshirts). So come back with your reports when it starts to get cold

.

 

I remember gen2 owners using a block heater nearly all the time. Even outside of winter. It essentially eliminated the warm up penalty to fuel economy.

 

Yes we installed a block heater (had to purchase from Canadian parts store as it wasn't sold locally in SoCal) in the Gen 2 & even ran it on days when outside summer temperatures would only drop to 60°. Still helped keep a tank full of gas lasting longer.

 

Ditto, winter and summer.

 

just like battery conditioning on an ev

 

Glad to hear everyone else commenting on the noise from the heat pump. As an IT Critter, it makes me think of a computer fan that's just about to die. Not just noisy, but an alarming sound. Once the heat comes, which is 5-10 minutes for it to get going, it's actually better than I'd expected.

I'd also note that I had probably a 99% success rate with starting the car remotely through the Spring, Summer, and Fall. I have a zero percent success rate below 40'F and it's really pissing me off.

 

Just curious: Google’s never heard of Cape Schrod.

 

Cape Cod. It's the past tense.

 

just to be sure ... Zero success <40° is what .... heat pump noise? / or the remote heat / or altogether even starting.
.

 

It’s like New Hampster

 

It seems like remote starting always fails when it's cold enough that you really want it.

 

Is "remote start" per this:

Remote Engine Starter | Part #PT39807130 | Toyota Auto Parts

Is it built-in? The term "remote start" is not found in Toyota North America Owner's Manual.

How does it fail? You push a button, and nothing happens?

 

It's not in the manual, but this works:

https://support.toyota.com/s/article/How-do-I-start-the-ve-7424?language=en_US

If you have Remote Connect enabled, the button in the Toyota cell phone app also works.

 

I was referring to the app. AFAIK the fob thing doesn't work on the 5th Gen. It's never worked on mine at least

 

Is it actually a "remote start" or cabin preparation? An actual remote start, the ready lamp will be lit when you jump into the car. Cabin prep. will only turn on the heat pump. An actual remote start will allow the seat & steering wheel heaters to turn-on.
FWIW; 10 minutes of cabin prep in <30F would hardly be noticeable. The big metal box of a car will retain the cold and the heat pump will have to work really hard to pull that cold air out of the cabin.