Remote A/C & Climate Prep Quick Guide

I wanted to chime in on this since I've had it awhile....my comments below are only for using the Entune App (2017-2019 cars)

If you're only hooked up to 120V, it takes about 30min to recover the charge from pre-heating so 120V is a non-starter.
If you're outside of a garage, its a battle between the climate and the charger.

I have a semi-insulated garage (~15deg hotter or cooler than the house). I will tend to pre-condition the car ~25min before going anywhere. After pre-conditioning, it takes ~10-15min on 16A/240V to regain the charge lost to the A/C.

When I'd go out to a restaurant and park at a 240V charger. I'll usually start pre-conditioning a few minutes before I ask for the check. The pre-conditioning only runs for 10min, sometimes you need to run it twice to let the heat or cold soak into the car's materials so that after its done recharging, you're not back to square one. By the time I've sorted out the check, and finished the meal, the car is nice and toasty (or cool) and fully charged.

I really wish Toyota had it setup so it wouldnt lose so much charge while connected to 240V and pre-conditioning.

The only time I'd use it NOT hooked up to a charger is if I needed to defrost my windows, I just havent run into that situation yet.

 

Ok, got the remote start to work, but how do you update the APPS on the APP screen or update anything software wise. It wants to update etune but that never works (as previously discussed). Also 3.0 is not available for down load in my apps on the iphone. Apple Play works but does not appear to update the software in the control unit.
Has anyone been able to download updates to the control head?

 

My remote A/C definitely depletes my traction battery on a plugged in non scheduled charge. Twice now I pressed a/c remote after receiving a full charge and afterwards indicator said I now needed another 20mins charge even though I was still plugged in

 

its really hard to use AC via Manual

 

What am I doing wrong here?

In the dash scheduler I have climate prep turned on. But it seems the ac does not run as scheduled.

Car charges as scheduled. So am/pm is correct.

Doors are locked.

Ac is left on when Car turned off last

Car is fully charged (still plugged into charger) when climate prep should be running

Charging completes around 30 mins before scheduled departure.

was asked by someone if climate prep runs right after charging is completed. I checked, it does not.

I know it's not running because I've gotten in just 2 or 3 mins after scheduled departure time and it's hot. Plus after I started watching more carefully there is no water puddle under the car...and we have had very high humidity lately so there Def should be some.

Any ideas?

 

I own 2021 Toyoyta Prime. Can it be remote started AC with 100 percent charge??

 

I'm guessing (just got it so never drove it in winter yet) that since HVAC uses a heatpump and that one is operational until -10C, when it's colder than that and you have a base trim (like I do), you'll have no choice but to get out and start the defroster, right?

PS, yeah, I know it's a 2017 post but so is my Prime

 

Yes.

I have tried many times with my 2017, when it has been -20F. The 'start A/C' button will NOT startup the defrost.

Also you must unplug the charger first. When I run it plugged in, the vehicle will shut off after about 10 minutes. Many times I have gone outside to sit in my car with the heat going and to listen to the radio. When it shuts off.

 

So when it's really cold and you need to defrost/warm the vehicle, what is the procedure if you don't want to sit in it while it warms up?

 

I guess you must leave your fob in the car as you run back to your house. In my region, all winter long people leave their cars running as they go into the grocery stores to shop. It keeps their cars warm with no ice on the windshields. When it is -20F and snowing any vehicle out in the open will get iced up pretty quick.

I have a carport breezeway thing on the side of my house. Our cars and tractor park under a roof. I have a block heater & heavy-duty battery charger for my tractor in its bay, and an EV charger in my plugin-hybrids bay. My vehicles will be -20F when that is the outside temp, But they never get coated in ice or snow [unless I park anywhere else].

My farm is fairly rural in dense forest with no other houses for a mile in any direction. So I am not concerned that someone is going to steal my car while it is at home. Obviously if you lived in a high-crime city, that would be a big concern.

 

Nah, I live in a very quiet city. With my ICE vehicles in the past, I would do like you said, get in the car, get it started with the air set to recirculate and go back in the house. Five to ten minutes later, the car is warm. Best NOT to forget to put it out of Recirculate when you get in to drive!