remote start

A pure guess would say no. I also want to know if there is an answer.. so i'm posting to keep this topic on the board of recent topics

 

Actually, I'm curious as to what the benefit of installing it would be. In a conventional car, I can see it because you can start warming up the car earlier... but the Prius doesn't work that way. What am I missing?

 

I'll say that at -10 F or -15 F (maybe -20 F, it's not been that cold here since I was a kid), it's kinda nice to NOT get in a -10 F or 15 F degree car!

From the warmth of your kitchen or living room, one could get the car going, warming the interior, then get in after 5-10 minutes and drive warm, instead of having to run out, start car, set heater, run back inside, thaw fingers, etc. I know the southern climates may not 'get it', but ...it's a comfort thing.

I'm an ex-installer of such devices and would wonder if something could simulate applying power to the 'power' button remotely. That's all that would need to be triggered as there isn't a 'start' wire that the car uses to crank the starter motor (Prius doesn't even have THAT). The car then starts 10 or so seconds later. Would it require a pulse to get things going or a constant 12 volts? hmmm...

 

I think it would definitely work and the cost would be about $600 dollars for the dealer installed. It was offered to me when I bought the Prius but I turned it down.

Here's why I know it will work. When you start the Prius with the outside air 35, the engine does not start right away but just sit there for awhile and it will. If the inside A/C is set for 74, it will stay on to bring the car up to 74. It may go off and on, thereafter, but the car will try to keep itself at 74.

My last car had the remote starter and I loved it and I swore that I would always get it on future cars. But I didn't because my daughter pointed out to me that here I was buying a super clean fuel efficient car and then putting on it one of the most fuel ineficient options money could buy.

I looked into it and she was right. I won't do that again, regardless of the convenience.

 

No, no, I totally get it (born in Wisconsin, so I know from cold )... I just wasn't sure if the remote start would cover cabin climate control since the car was designed to warm up as you drive instead of idling first. I haven't sat and waited long enough to find out, I guess.

 

being that the immoblizer uses a chip in the fob I doubt that it's an easy install at all. If you powered the pin on the computer would the power back into the immoblizer damage it. Yes some times it's nice to get into a warm or cool (A/C) car, this one isn't going to be easy.

 

Sure it CAAAAN be done.

OPTION ONE:
If you have a SmartKey car . . . Place said key -minus the small metal key - in a lead lined box with a remote lid which also has a “finger†on the lid. Strategically pace box on dash to allow contact between finger and “Start†button. Place a remote control plunger in front of brake pedal.

Push “Rube Goldberg†remote button.

Once car is pre-heated. Approach car and manually unlock door with small metal key as all Prius remote functions are inoperative.

OPTION TWO:
(No SmartKey) Get rid of lead lined box and use a second remote plunger to insert key into dash slot and also push “Start†button.

OPTION THREE:
(Depending on your status)
“Hooooooonnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyy, Pllllleeeeeeeezzzzzzzeeee go start my caaaaarrrrrrâ€

 

Well just recently released in Japan... I quit not sure how much

 

you have a new career over here installing the stuff they get over there that we can't over here.

 

I don't see how you can remote start without having the key fob in the the car (or slot without SKS). The transponder ECU communicates encryptically with the HV ECU. If you replace one, you have to match it with the other through some steps, so they are linked. That is the whole point of the immobilizer and the great security with the Prius.

 

My dealer told me it could be done. However, as we've all found, dealers tell us things about the Prius that are totally not true all the time.

As for the heating. This morning the outdoor temperature was 45. I went in and pressed power with my foot on the brake and then turned the heat up to 84 just to remove all doubt.

I went back in the house and 5 minutes later, my car was very toasty. So if the car can be turned on, it will definitely heat the car up real quick.

As for the electronics. If the electronic FOB can be bypassed in some way so that an electric start can work, doesn't that also mean that maybe our cars can be stolen more easily than we all thought?

 

The only way it would work, is if the remote starter was special with Toyota, and integrated with the immobilizer security as SKS does. I am sure the secure communications is similar to secure web browsing, using certificates, and/or possibly rolling code communications that can only be initialized once at installation of the associated module.

 

Link to Remote Start
Here go... Its Japanese page for remort start

 

Anyone want to do us the favor and take everything from the Japanese webpage and turn it to english so we can read it? or.. a short summary of every part and how to order them? oh.. and prices

 

[font=Arial:61cb0241e3] [/font:61cb0241e3]
Hope you are enjoying your new Prius. I haven't got mine yet, but having a remote start is really important to me. Did you ever get a definitive answer as to whether there is a way to put one in? It gets really cold here, and I've had a remote in my last several cars, and I can't imagine being without it. thnx