Leaving a running vehicle

Yes, assuming we are talking about the Smart Key System (SKS). Once the engine is started, you can drive the Prius until the engine is shut down, after which it won't restart without the keys. This behavior has led to some interesting stories being posted to PC, all revolving around dropping off the person with the keys and driving somewhere to be inconveniently stranded.

The Prius does warn you about the keys, giving three (I think three) beeps when you leave the vehicle with the engine running.

Tom

 

Yes.

But, they won't be able to restart your Prius when they turn it off.

 

I start mine in the morning to allow it to warm up so we can have some heat driving into work. Doing this will lower your reported mileage however. I stopped for groceries the other night and left the car running since my wife was waitng in the car and was sick. It took about 15 minutes and with three 5 minute bars of -0- mileage really killed my mileage for this tank.

A litte off topic, but I just thougth I'd throw that out there anyway.....

 

That hasn't been my experience. I always leave the car on while I'm waiting to pick up my kids, so I can listen to music. The ICE stays off, same as at traffic lights, even for twenty minutes or half an hour. It has no effect on my MPG. If I'm using the air conditioning, though, eventually the battery drops to pink and the ICU comes on to recharge the battery.

I'm guessing that in your example, it was a very cold day and the ICU had to stay on to run the heat to keep your ill wife comfortable.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rangerdavid @ Jan 15 2007, 07:24 AM) [snapback]375779[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(janetjanetbobanet @ Jan 15 2007, 02:06 AM) [snapback]375767[/snapback]</div>

Use the mechanical key to lock it. I haven't tried but assume someone could drive it off without the key, but of course couldn't restart it when turned off.

Dave M.

 

<_< In some cities it is illegal to leave your car 'running.' My habit: Turn the car OFF when I'm not actually in it. Insofar as warmth, the ICE coolant thermos is effective and I don't find it 'punishing' to allow the interior to warm up while driving. My wife comments "Why do you turn the car off when I just run back in the house to get something?" My response: "I get ZERO MPG while sitting on the driveway with the gasoline engine running."

An unoccupied 'running' car is a great temptation to teen joy-riders and thieves. It would be little consolation to know they couldn't re-start the Prius after shutting it down.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Jan 15 2007, 03:05 PM) [snapback]375970[/snapback]</div>

... and much easier to have a child accidentally crash it into something while playing with the knobs. I agree, never leave an unattended car running if it can be helped.

 

You can leave it running and locked.

Start the car, turn on the heater.
Roll down the driverside window.
Get out, take the key with you.
Close the door.
Reach in the window, lock the doors, activate the auto-window up.

Remove your arm before it gets chopped off.

Your car is now locked and running.


You'll need the mechanical key to get back in.

I used it in the summer when it was hot out and I needed to keep the AC cranked on a bag of ice cream or something we had in the car while we took 10 minutes to run into a store for something else.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daronspicher @ Jan 16 2007, 08:53 AM) [snapback]376280[/snapback]</div>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DARN...I was was just going to say that!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(janetjanetbobanet @ Jan 15 2007, 02:06 AM) [snapback]375767[/snapback]</div>

Just be aware that depending on local laws, you may be liable in some manner if your car is stolen when you leave it running, no matter if the door is locked or not.

ie: You leave the car running and go back inside, a thief jumps in and steals it, races around town and hits a child crossing the street. You may be held partially responsible. As the thief likely doesn't have two dimes to rub together, the grieving family (and their lawyers) are going to be looking at your assets...

Something similar (thankfully, without any accidents) happened to a guy I knew who was picking their kid up from the babysitter. They left the car running and went inside to get the kid, a thief jumped in and stole the car. When the cops showed up, they spent 20 min. tearing the guy a new one for leaving the car running, and told him that he might be charged if there were any incidents.

Not worth it to have a warm car, IMHO.

(there are remote-start systems which can be used with some cars to warm them up remotely, but which will kill the ignition if a thief tries to steal it, however they won't work with the Prius's security system).

 

Instead of leaving it running have you tried, turning the heat to max heat when you get in? I know I live in a mild climate and it does not get really cold like some places but that works fairly well. If you turn on the front window defog this also keeps the ICE running. Evan a MPG wacko like me uses the heat and air at the extremes. Check with your insurance company they may not pay if the car is running when stolen. I don't know about where you live but around here there are teams of car thieves that specialize in this sort of thing. Cruse around looking for a car with tail pipe emissions and no one in the car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hdrygas @ Jan 18 2007, 09:38 AM) [snapback]377257[/snapback]</div>

I do similary Henry, and the weather here is much colder than where you are. I usually don't use the AC, but hit the defroster button on the steering wheel as soon as it starts to fog. Set at max temp. When it's clear, I just double "click" the AC button to turn off everything AC related.

Dave M.

 

Or you can do what I did and miss hit the Start button, exit the vehicle and work for 8 hours...coming out to a running car. I park behind gates and armed guards, so not worried about theft, but boy did I feel stupid...I am curious how many times the engine started. It used about 1.5 gallons of gas in 8 hours on a cold day with thermostat set to 78.

 

WOW! Now that's something to be careful of! Thanks for the warning.

Speaking of remote operations...sorry if it's too far off topic...I had a frustrating experience lately when I went to get my windows tinted. I was waiting in the parking lot in my friends car and using my cell phone...the speaker would cut out so I couldn't hear the person on the other end. The tinting shop crew had my car ignition on and the car's Bluetooth connection kept stealing my cell phone signal and playing it over the speakers for all to hear. I had to walk a half block away to use my darn cell phone. I told my cell to disconnect the Bluetooth but everytime I walked back anywhere close to the shop, it kicked in again. I nearly froze in the cold! I'm new to this Bluetooth thingy....it's great otherwise. :blink:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DougBear @ Jan 27 2007, 12:19 AM) [snapback]381596[/snapback]</div>

I never tried talking on the cell phone out of the car with it running, but have noted that if I leave it in the house and go out and start the car I do get the message "Bluetooth Connection Established" (or whatever the actual message is). So I could take phone calls without the phone in the car. I can see your experience would be annoying though.

Dave M.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daronspicher @ Jan 16 2007, 11:53 AM) [snapback]376280[/snapback]</div>

Why go to all this trouble? On my 2004, I just leave (with the car running) and lock the door with the mechanical key.

 

What a silly question. I see so many questions and concerns on this site that can be simplyanswered by the author using a little common sense and simple rationalization. Also, I suggest that when a message includes abbreviations or acronyms, the writer defines what they mean. i.e Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF). NEVER ASSUME ALL READERS KNOWN WHAT YOU MEAN.

 

I try not to power off my prius. The reason is I read somewhere (I can't remember where and I can't find it) that turning off and turning on the prius will cause the ICE engine to run through the start up cycle that uses gas. On the other hand, if you leave the prius on but turn off the AC, heat, radio, etc. the ICE will not turn on and when you are ready to go the ICE will not cycle on (unless needed for acceleration).

Does anyone know if this is true?

Otherwise, if I have to leave the car, I don't leave it running. After all, I live in an urban downtown.