1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

solar roof

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by franpb, May 25, 2013.

  1. franpb

    franpb New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    2
    1
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I do not think th solar roof is working on my new prius 4. Is there a switch I must turn on?
     
    JMD likes this.
  2. snoctor

    snoctor Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2009
    126
    27
    0
    Location:
    Davis, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Yes. On my 2010 the switch is on the dash to the left of the steering wheel.
     
  3. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,985
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    As I recall the switch has a fan like symbol on it. Also the car must be warm for it to activate. You can leave the switch on all the time but the fan won't run unless it's hot in the car and the sun is intense enough to generate enough power. The switch sits "in" slightly when on. The fan also won't run unless the car is "off".
     
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ... and it has about a 10 minute delay, after turning the car off, before the fan comes on.
     
  5. css28

    css28 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    1,566
    442
    3
    Location:
    Suburban Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    So, you must depress the button (it has two positions but the depressed position is only a mm or so lower than the "off" position) while in Ready mode.
    Then, 10 minutes after powering the car off, if there's sufficient sun (and the interior of the car isn't cold) the fan should run.
     
  6. katiesdad7

    katiesdad7 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2011
    172
    25
    0
    Location:
    Stuart, FL
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The fan will run even if the inside is cold. It just needs sun. Its not on a thermostat.
     
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    45,024
    16,243
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A

    There's a temperature limit. It won't run if the interior is cooler than 20°C.
     
  8. p00kienrayray

    p00kienrayray Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2012
    720
    135
    0
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    make sure the button is pushed in and not out.
     
  9. techno-Zen

    techno-Zen Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2013
    80
    15
    0
    Location:
    Mesa, Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I wish I had this version, living in AZ and all.
     
  10. YoDaddyAlex

    YoDaddyAlex Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2006
    271
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Are you sure? So you can't leave the button pressed, you have to unpress it, then press it while in ready mode every time?
     
  11. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    The outside temperature needs to exceed 70 degrees
     
  12. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    It does not need to be pressed every time. I never almost touch mine, and occasionally get surprised to find it running early in the season.
     
  13. Mark Knight

    Mark Knight Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    31
    4
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    will the fan still come on if windows or moon roof is open?
     
  14. p00kienrayray

    p00kienrayray Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2012
    720
    135
    0
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    No just press it in and leave it on. If u want it off, then press it out.

    Yes. As long as the car is not on, the fans will come on as long as the conditions that are stated in earlier posts are met.
     
  15. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Leaving the solar roof on is good for lowering the in car temperature which keeps the large traction battery cooler.

    Th cabin air filters will get dirtier quicker
     
  16. p00kienrayray

    p00kienrayray Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2012
    720
    135
    0
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Luckily for us, the cabin filter is cheap and super easy to replace.
     
    JMD likes this.
  17. YoDaddyAlex

    YoDaddyAlex Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2006
    271
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I laughed when a local dealership wanted 100 dollars to replace my filter.
     
    JohnL11935 likes this.
  18. css28

    css28 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    1,566
    442
    3
    Location:
    Suburban Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I guess I was unclear. The instructions were for initially trying it out. I leave mine pressed in all of the time.
     
    JMD likes this.
  19. css28

    css28 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    1,566
    442
    3
    Location:
    Suburban Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    My favorite configuration is to park with the sunroof tilted up and the shade open a couple of inches. Having it all the way open will block the cells and let in a lot of the sun.
     
    Mark Knight and p00kienrayray like this.
  20. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,985
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    I have the little plastic covers over the side windows (curved plastic over the top of the window). They keep -most- of the rain out if it rains and hide the fact I leave the front two side windows down about a cm. When the fan runs I -suspect- I get more air flow because of the windows being open. Certainly the hot air, which resides at the highest point in the car, can exit easier.

    I'd like to see some measurements of the traction battery temperature to prove the idea the solar powered fan keeps it cooler. I suspect it does little to affect the temperature that low in the car.
     
    Mark Knight likes this.