Tesla cuts prices in the U.S. and Europe

I may have the solution for you.

I have no problems warming my car while it's locked. You might have overlooked the instructions. I have my choice of turning on the climate control remotely via key fob, or from the Toyota cell phone app, or by starting the car normally and then getting out and locking it with the key that's hidden in the key fob. Turn the key one way and it unlocks all, turn it the other way and it locks all. If you lock it with the key you have to use the key to unlock it too.

The use of the key to lock the doors from outside has worked on every Toyota that I've had in the last 40 years.

 

Thanks for the help, but I've tried most of that.

• There's no climate control or remote start button on the key fob.
• I have high doubts that I can connect a cell phone app to the car as I don't see anything about that in the owner's manual.
• When I use the hidden physical key it automatically unlocks itself immediately after locking it. This is what I hate about the car and have no idea why Toyota built the car this way.

 

Isaac, It sounds like yours is an older model, maybe a base level? What car are we talking about?

The other technique that works on many makes and models is to
Start the engine
get out of the car, leaving the driver's door open.
lock the car using the driver side controls on the door.
make sure you have the key to get back in.
close the door while holding the the handle out as if you had just opened the door.

 

2013 Avalon hybrid touring. The newest and most expensive car I've ever owned.

Thanks! Checking!

Um, no it didn't work. It automatically unlocks the doors right away with any door open.

 

Oh well, it was worth a try. The video below suggested that you could run the climate control without starting the engine, but that probably assumed that you were in the driver's seat. Google said that remote start was available for your car as a dealer installed accessory that uses the same key fob. Back in 2013 it should have been about $75 and was easy to install.

There was another short video that was more generic, but might work. It is a video that suggests that you might be able to start the engine, then roll down the window and step out of the car. After closing the door, reach in through the open window to lock all the doors, then pull up on the "one touch" window switch to roll up the window as you quickly pull your hand out.

 

I'll have to try those, probably during the day in case I set off the car alarm.

I have three key fobs for this car, but none have a button for remote starting the car.

I bought the car used 5 years ago. It was 5 years old at the time. I didn't think of asking for a remote start as I try not to idle for more than necessary. But I did get a block heater installed after purchasing the car. Sadly it's very weak comparred to my last car's block heater. It only keeps the engine some 30 degrees warmer than ambient. With many days well below zero, the engine will still be below freezing even with the block heater plugged in all night (as I can tell with a Scangauge plugged into the OBD II port).

The last car would have the engine warm or even hot to the touch with the block heater plugged in for a few hours. In that car I'd just get in and go as there was not point in idling to warm things up except when the windshield was especially frozen over with ice.

I guess I could try to get a remote start installed. I think I'll try to get a better block heater first.

 

If you have the remote start harness installed, push the lock button 3 times to start it. Now I have to see if that works on my wife's Camry.

 

Thanks. I wonder how hard it would be to install one myself.

 

Might be be a combination of two buttons, or holding one down. Toyota should have your owner's manual up on their site.

 

Nope. That did not work on my wife's car, but she does not have the remote start installed

 

I will look at the owner's manual tomorrow. That would be neat if it did. I tried the lock three times to no avail. Holding lock and unlock and then releasing the unlock and hitting it one more time makes the key fob turn off (no car access or engine start from the cockpit) until I hit a button again.

 

Since we're back in the big city for a funeral, just checked out the Hyundai ionic 5 as a comparison. Those poor slobs are still trying to charge $5,000 over msrp. Talk about finding a great way to chase away customers. LOL
They do sure have a lot of inventory here in South OC SoCal.
.

 

Son happened to be in Charlotte yesterday. Passed a lot full of Teslas and there was a truck unloading 8 more.

 

Did the "lot" have 10 parkings space? a 100? more?

Mike

 

I think he described it as more than a hundred. Don't recall the exact verbiage he used. May be the result of the shipments getting to delivery points and a backup in turnover to owners. Or whatever...

 

I've seen lots of 1000+ with Hondas, Toyotas . such as this

aerial view above imported cars Port of Benicia San Francisco Bay California Stock Photo - Alamy

Mike

 

Are they cars needing parts affected by shortages?

 

doesn't seem to be hurting them too much:

Tesla posts record quarterly profit amid challenges, offers sunny outlook

 

Try locking your car this way;
Start It Up Normally, turn on heat - roll the driver window down, get out, shut door - then reach inside driver window to lock the car and then hit the window up then quickly remove your arm. You're good to go!
.