New to Prius, help

JCox · 11-06-2005, 10:24 AM

I am to take ownership of my 05 prius next week. With the upcoming winter months, I can't help but wonder, how do I "start" the car up to let it warm up so that I have heat from the heater?

I asked my salesman the other day while test driving one and he answered me but to be honest with you, I don't have a clue as to what he was saying or meant.

Can I have some help here to help me undersand this concept and to answer my question. Please don't tell me I have to drive it to warm it up. If so, I'll be going down the road with 6 inches of snow on my car and a very cold interior.

LaughingMan · 11-06-2005, 10:36 AM

My Prius is still fairly new, so I haven't been through my first winter yet, but I can tell you that even though when you first start the car, the engine isn't started, within 30 seconds, the car goes into a warm up cycle where the ICE is turned on, even if you're currently parked, to warm itself and the cataytic converter up.

If you're parked, it does this for a minute or so, and sends the energy to the battery. After a minute at park, it shuts off. My suggestion would be to let it do this warm up thing before starting the heater.

Also, the car will keep the engine running no matter what if you use the A/C (or heater in this case) on highest setting...

Anyway, someone who has more experience in the winter can probably chime in and correct me where I'm wrong.

jeepien · 11-06-2005, 10:45 AM

Well, you don't have to drive it to warm it up, but you certainly can, and you'll find that it warms up faster than any other car you've ever owned, most likely.

But if you absolutely must have a toasty warm interior, and you don't mind wasting all that energy <tsk, tsk> then just go outside, power it on, set the heater and then go back inside without powering it off. If nobody steals it while you're gone, it will be warm when you get back, two minutes later.

There's no secret trick. I wonder what the heck your dealer was talking about.

By the way, driving your car with six inches of snow on it is stupid, dangerous, and illegal in most states (although hardly ever enforced, more's the pity).

Once your car warms up and creates a little layer of nearly frictionless water beneath the snow, and then you step on the brakes, the heavy layer of snow will slip seamlessly down over your windshield, and unless it's very light powder, your wipers will be hopelessly overpowered. You are now traveling completely blind, at high speed. Good luck.

If you don't manage to kill yourself by the method above, you still have a chance to kill the guy in back of you when your roof-mounted lethal missile lets go at highway speeds and crashes into his windshield.

ALWAYS clean off the roof before driving, in a Prius, or any vehicle.

IndyDoug · 11-06-2005, 10:49 AM

I keep a bottle of tequilla underneath the driver's seat when I want to warm up on cold mornings.

mikepaul · 11-06-2005, 11:06 AM

I get heat relatively quickly. Unlike the first few months I owned the car, it now spends nights under a carport, which eliminates most frost and dew issues. A decent jacket works until January around here, when the heavier stuff including gloves comes out of the closet. Back when I first got it, I was thawing the car out quite a while some days, including the annual ice storm. I'd watch the MPGs drop as the ice on the windshield got soft enough to chip away. I'm glad I sprung for the carported house: no chipping required.

Now, it was running a little rough yesterday morning when it was only 54 outside, sputtering a little when I came to a stop about 1/2 mile from home, so I'm thinking I may not get that $2.19 gas anymore. Or I'll have to use more of that Techron stuff than I want to.

Wait. $2.15 today? Hmmmm....

BrianTheDog · 11-06-2005, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JCox@Nov 6 2005, 09:24 AM
I am to take ownership of my 05 prius next week. With the upcoming winter months, I can't help but wonder, how do I "start" the car up to let it warm up so that I have heat from the heater?

[snapback]151466[/snapback]

You're asking how to warm up the interior of the car, right? The Prius has almost instant heat. The A/C and heater are electric, so you don't need to "warm up" the engine before you get heat. You'll have heat as soon as you power on the car and set your climate control.

BrianTheDog · 11-06-2005, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikepaul@Nov 6 2005, 10:06 AM

Now, it was running a little rough yesterday morning when it was only 54 outside, sputtering a little when I came to a stop about 1/2 mile from home, so I'm thinking I may not get that $2.19 gas anymore. Or I'll have to use more of that Techron stuff than I want to.

[snapback]151482[/snapback]

mikepaul,

Mine does that, too, usually when the outside temp is low and the car is cold. Others have complained about it in other posts. Senior members on this board say it's normal, though. So it's probably not your gas.

It is a little disconcerting when it happens, though.

**efusco** · 11-06-2005, 11:41 AM

There's some discussion on Yahoo 2G that suggest that it may be necessary to get the auxillary electric heaters to work that you must have the heat set to "MAX"...it may come on when you activate defrost as well.

Anyway, if you must warm up before starting out just turn on max heat & defrost and it will pretty much force the ICE to run continuously.

You might find that your tolerance of cold improves with the Prius as you start to see the hit in gas mileage that a warm-up cycle like that will give you.

**efusco** · 11-06-2005, 11:44 AM

One other thing, see the thread in the Peformance Mods forum about an Engine Block heater you can install that will pre-warm the ICE to about 138 degrees which costs very little energy (comparatively), will give you basicly instant heat and will improve your cold-start fuel economy.

If you don't have the car yet you could order the EBH and ask the dealership to install it for you at/before delivery--you wouldn't even need to get your hands dirty!

JCox · 11-06-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BrianTheDog@Nov 6 2005, 11:07 AM
You're asking how to warm up the interior of the car, right? The Prius has almost instant heat. The A/C and heater are electric, so you don't need to "warm up" the engine before you get heat. You'll have heat as soon as you power on the car and set your climate control.

[snapback]151483[/snapback]

Brian,
You hit the nail on the head. I was not clear on my question. I just didn't understand how the INSIDE of the vehicle would heat up. If it's instant, I'm good to go. Just have that ALL GAS vehicle concept still in my head. Sorry for making it harder than it is.

John

11-06-2005, 10:36 AM	#2
LaughingMan Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Marlborough, MA Posts: 1,387 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	My Prius is still fairly new, so I haven't been through my first winter yet, but I can tell you that even though when you first start the car, the engine isn't started, within 30 seconds, the car goes into a warm up cycle where the ICE is turned on, even if you're currently parked, to warm itself and the cataytic converter up. If you're parked, it does this for a minute or so, and sends the energy to the battery. After a minute at park, it shuts off. My suggestion would be to let it do this warm up thing before starting the heater. Also, the car will keep the engine running no matter what if you use the A/C (or heater in this case) on highest setting... Anyway, someone who has more experience in the winter can probably chime in and correct me where I'm wrong. __________________ "I thought what I'd do was I'd pretend I was one of those deaf mutes... or should I?" 2005 Seaside Pearl Prius, with Nav. "Tachikoma"

11-06-2005, 10:45 AM	#3
jeepien Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 165 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Well, you don't have to drive it to warm it up, but you certainly can, and you'll find that it warms up faster than any other car you've ever owned, most likely. But if you absolutely must have a toasty warm interior, and you don't mind wasting all that energy <tsk, tsk> then just go outside, power it on, set the heater and then go back inside without powering it off. If nobody steals it while you're gone, it will be warm when you get back, two minutes later. There's no secret trick. I wonder what the heck your dealer was talking about. By the way, driving your car with six inches of snow on it is stupid, dangerous, and illegal in most states (although hardly ever enforced, more's the pity). Once your car warms up and creates a little layer of nearly frictionless water beneath the snow, and then you step on the brakes, the heavy layer of snow will slip seamlessly down over your windshield, and unless it's very light powder, your wipers will be hopelessly overpowered. You are now traveling completely blind, at high speed. Good luck. If you don't manage to kill yourself by the method above, you still have a chance to kill the guy in back of you when your roof-mounted lethal missile lets go at highway speeds and crashes into his windshield. ALWAYS clean off the roof before driving, in a Prius, or any vehicle. __________________ =Gary '05 Millennium Silver; BI + Wheel Locks, Fog lights, Auto-dimming mirror, CoastalEtech EV switch; Garmin StreetPilot 2610 GPS; XM Satellite Radio

11-06-2005, 11:06 AM	#5
mikepaul Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,742 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	I get heat relatively quickly. Unlike the first few months I owned the car, it now spends nights under a carport, which eliminates most frost and dew issues. A decent jacket works until January around here, when the heavier stuff including gloves comes out of the closet. Back when I first got it, I was thawing the car out quite a while some days, including the annual ice storm. I'd watch the MPGs drop as the ice on the windshield got soft enough to chip away. I'm glad I sprung for the carported house: no chipping required. Now, it was running a little rough yesterday morning when it was only 54 outside, sputtering a little when I came to a stop about 1/2 mile from home, so I'm thinking I may not get that $2.19 gas anymore. Or I'll have to use more of that Techron stuff than I want to. Wait. $2.15 today? Hmmmm.... __________________ 2004 Seaside #9/BC as of 1/3/2004 Oil now any GOOD synthetic I can get on sale Michelin Hydroedge 195/65R15 tires since 2/5/2009 90,000 miles as of 8/15/2009

11-06-2005, 11:41 AM	#8
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,231 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 249 Times in 148 Posts Friends: 37	There's some discussion on Yahoo 2G that suggest that it may be necessary to get the auxillary electric heaters to work that you must have the heat set to "MAX"...it may come on when you activate defrost as well. Anyway, if you must warm up before starting out just turn on max heat & defrost and it will pretty much force the ICE to run continuously. You might find that your tolerance of cold improves with the Prius as you start to see the hit in gas mileage that a warm-up cycle like that will give you. __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD "It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." -Andrew Jackson

11-06-2005, 10:24 AM	#1
JCox Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I am to take ownership of my 05 prius next week. With the upcoming winter months, I can't help but wonder, how do I "start" the car up to let it warm up so that I have heat from the heater? I asked my salesman the other day while test driving one and he answered me but to be honest with you, I don't have a clue as to what he was saying or meant. Can I have some help here to help me undersand this concept and to answer my question. Please don't tell me I have to drive it to warm it up. If so, I'll be going down the road with 6 inches of snow on my car and a very cold interior.

11-06-2005, 10:49 AM	#4
IndyDoug Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 120 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I keep a bottle of tequilla underneath the driver's seat when I want to warm up on cold mornings.

11-06-2005, 11:44 AM	#9
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,231 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 249 Times in 148 Posts Friends: 37	One other thing, see the thread in the Peformance Mods forum about an Engine Block heater you can install that will pre-warm the ICE to about 138 degrees which costs very little energy (comparatively), will give you basicly instant heat and will improve your cold-start fuel economy. If you don't have the car yet you could order the EBH and ask the dealership to install it for you at/before delivery--you wouldn't even need to get your hands dirty!