Remote Engine Start for 2010 Toyota Prius

I'm curious to know what people are paying to have this installed as well. 355 Toyota in Gaithersburg MD wanted $437 (after 5% discount) for the system and $352 for the three hours of labor to install it. Total is $789.94.

I'm still debating whether I should get it. It is useful when I visit family up north in the winter. I had a remote start on my previous car and really liked it. Although, I got the remote start when I lived in a colder climate than MD. It's harder to justify down here in MD where the winters are milder.

Additionally, I hate to say it, but feel like I have to... The remote starter is all about comfort. It obviously will have a negative effect on mileage, environment, etc. Anybody considering a remote starter, myself included, already realize this. So, there is no need to tell us about it. Anyways, a remote starter in a prius is still much better from an efficiency and environmental view than my last car.

 

I just got a 2010 IV which comes with remote start. I guess I paid for it within the price of the Prius. The IV comes with the photocells whic do keep the car cooler when parked.

 

I ordered the Remote Start over the internet for $349.00. When I ordered the car I worked out a deal for the dealer to install for free. They quoted me $225 to install it.

It works ok. You have to be about 200 ft from the car to start it.

It runs the car for 10 minutes then cuts out. You can start it from the remote another 10 minutes. After that the car will not auto start. You have to start the car in the normal way first before you can use the auto start again.

The real rule is you can start and stop it as many times as you want but it will never run more then 20 minutes total in remote start mode.

The remote is one way. You do not get any feed back when it’s running or stopped. I might try to build something to tell the remote the car is running.

 

So how exactly does the remote start work with a hybrid engine? If the car is not moving, doesn't the engine default to the electric engine? And if so, then doesn't that not heat up the gasoline engine which is the one that really needs to be warmed up?

 

It's just like pressing the Power button. The car goes into a limited version of READY. The air conditioning/heater resumes at its last setting. The engine runs if necessary to warm up or to recharge the traction battery. After 10 minutes, or when the door is opened, the car turns OFF.

 

solar roof comes with remote A/C, not remote engine starter, that is a Port Installed Option

 

I recently purchase a Prius II and had remote start installed by dealer.

Total cost, including parts, labor and tax, was just over $500.

It took the dealer at least three hours to install.

Dealer explained that this was the first time they had installed the device on a 2010 Prius and there was something of a learning curve.

gda

 

I had remote start on a maxima I owned. It was very useful as I did not have a garage at the time. In the summer, I would just set the a/c and fan to high before I turned engine off and in the winter, the heater and defrost to high.

Worked great.

Now, with a garage, it's a non-issue.

 

as part of my lease agreement they "threw in" remote start on mine. took about 3 hours to install. nice. sometimes a little finicky about how long you press the buttons. cant wait till winter.

 

When we chose not to get the solar roof option, we decided to order the remote start as a port installed option. When you do it that way it is $529.

We tested it out yesterday as we returned from a hike. When we got to the car we could hear the air conditioner &/or inverter. I timed how long it took to run off the traction battery before the ICE started running: about 4 minutes. The ICE ran very briefly and then shut off.

We got in about 5 minutes after activating the remote start. It definately worked. It was not cool inside but the usual hot stuffy feeling was gone. My wife hates a stuffy car, so she was quite pleased.

It will not help in every situation. If you are walking quickly to the car in a parking lot, there won't be enough time for the cooling to make much difference. I park my car right outside my office window, so on hot days I expect to activate it before I leave.

You also have to get used to how the head and tail lights signal what you are doing. You press the lock button on the remote twice, the press and hold the lock button for three seconds. Each time you press it the lights flash, then when it actually activates, it flashes at least 4 times, so the first three flashes don't mean that the Prius has gone into ready mode.

 

Oh, that looks like our little Bishon Piper. We sure miss her! She knew people by name and had a vocabulary of over 150 words.

 

This is my guy Brady. He has been the best dog. I'm a Bichon fan through and through... all because of him!

 

you have a prius V.

why would you waste the money when all you have to do turn on the heated seat to warm up?

 

Slowturd,

I would think they want the convenience of having the car "warmed up" for when they get in. As in my case even though your from NJ, living in Buffalo the winters are sometimes intense, and nothing nicer than having the mirrors and Rear windows starting to thaw when you walk out from a 9-10 hour shift at midnight. It just helps to save some time when the ice is frozen it each window..

 

i've had 5 subarus with the all weather package, heated seats, heated side mirrors and heated under the wipers. i very rarely use it here in northern nj.


the heated seats get hot quicker than the heating system and warm me up. some people complain that the highest setting is too hot.

the heated wipers are turned on/off with the side mirrors. the side mirrors defrost within 2 minutes. the wiper thingy i could care less about.



the OP lives in LA, so one would tend to think he needs it almost.......... not at all.




and....a.....i just noticed this thread was started a month ago so we are probably just wasting our mad tyght typing skils on dis thrd

 

BTW you ordered a II version? They don't offer leather or heated seats in that model?? I don't think until you get to the IV, but the Prius has only one button for the heated seats, and have not tried them since it would not be fair or accurate with the current temps.

But it's either on or off. Doesn't sound like they are auto off, but I am looking forward to trying them once it get's cold out for sure.

Glad to have back the Heated outside mirrors...That's been a blessing already with the heavy dew at night, and leaving work at midnight.

 

yes only a II


i don't want to spend any more than i have to.

i'm tired of paying for or leasing cars.

i won't be missing the seat heaters that much and if i really need them for my lower back i can have them installed.


i've had my minor fun "modding" cars and don't need to do it anymore.

 

It works ok. You have to be about 200 ft from the car to start it.


200Ft. isn't very far. I installed a 3rd party in my '07 so it will start from 1500 feet.

 

They just got the remote start option at the dealership in Kansas City, I was the first one to get it installed. This one has feedback so you can tell when the vehicle is turned on or off (series of tones going up for on and going down for shutting off).

The vehicle does shut off when you open the driver's door after being remote started, but still runs when you open the hatchback door.

It costs about $530 and took about 1 1/2 hours to install. So far it works well, I am not sure why the vehicle has to shut off when you open the door, when you are going to just turn it back on anyway, but maybe there are more keypresses I don't know about yet. I do know that you can unlock the door while it is remote started.