The dealer said you cannot use a remote starter on a Prius because of the CVT. Does anyone know if that's true?
Not true for the 2010, it is an accessory now. $529 installed but slightly higher if done afterward at a dealer
See the thread http://priuschat.com/forums/audio-electronics/54116-remote-starter.html for a discussion of the successful install of a remote start in a Gen2. It should also work with a 2010, or you could purchase the Toyota option. There are aftermarket remote starters with range beyond 1000 feet, while the factory one is probably about 90 feet.
It works as advertised, it starts the car lol. What I don't like it does is it starts the car but when you open the door to get in the car it shuts the car off. Then once inside you must restart the car again. I don't know about aftermarket ones, I thought for those you had to store a key in the car to send the sks signal etc. I think for something like this OEM is the way to go if you really want remote start.
when you open the door to get in the car it shuts the car off. Then once inside you must restart the car again. Are you serious ? what's the point of it than, it allows you to warm up the car ? that's kind of lame !!!!!
Honda's OEM remote starter works that way too. It's there as a theft prevention measure, but they should have made it work the way aftermarket ones worked 15 years ago. You remote start the car, then once inside if you placed your foot on the brake without putting the key in the car it would turn off. There is no physical key with the Prius but they could have just made sure the car recognized that the proper SKS key fob was in the car and had it act the same way...
Silly question, but is the primary reason for remote start to help with ice and snow covered windshields? Suppose you could use it to cool off car in summer but seems like a waste on energy? I'm coming from my tanker-sized Suburban where it took for ever to cool or heat. The Pri can't take that long, can it?
It is good for preheating and/or precooling a vehicle. It's also nice to get a head start in winter when you have ice or snow covered windows. I know some people that use them to do the heating/cooling because they have toddlers/infants. I don't know, my parents didn't do this when I was growing up and for the most part I turned out just fine lol. I just bundle up now, and if I have a longer drive I'll turn the heater on once I know the car is at least partially warmed up. It's a great way to burn extra fuel while the car sits there running.
I didn't install a remote start, but I had a shop install one for me: ABT. It was the Viper Smart Start. After some Viper-related teething problems (nothing to do with the installer or the Prius itself), I'm very happy with the results.
I am looking at installing this on the 2008 model. Which model of the Viper SmartStart did you install - 3000 or 5000? Also, did they have to put in a bypass module ? Please let me know.
I work nights it's 3 am and 21below zero snow and wind, Hit the auto start for 10 minutes that's the set run time, by the time I get to my car it's starting to warm up! It is kind of a waste but I don't use it all the time. What ever you do have a pro do it. Like the Viper!Get the 2way so you know it's running. Viper - Car Alarms | Remote Starters | SmartStart | Window Tint | Window Film | Vehicle Security | Keyless Entry | Interface Modules | Accessories | Transmitters | Remote Start | Find Your Next Car Alarm or Remote Starter
ebookbrowse.com/pt398-47091-pdf-d231033162 here are the instructions you will just need the dealer to finish the install for you with their fancy laptops.
We have a 2011 Subaru Outback and its remote starter works the same darn way too. It's infuriating. Moreover, the remote starter is a separate key fob! At that rate, I might as well get an aftermarket one with twice the range that doesn't shut the car off when I open the door! The Subaru's remote starter was the reason I didn't get a factory remote starter in the Prius. I'm glad you validated my decision by indicating that it is equally stupid. Sigh.
