The car's on, but nobody's home...

The car will work as normal (except for the 3 beeps each time a door is closed) until the car is powered off. Then the fob will be needed to start the car again.

The car only needs the fob to power on, not to work after that. I'm not sure how it is to lock the car without the fob, so I don't know if a car thief will be able to lock the car if he/she dumps it.

But as long as the Prius is standing in "battery mode", I don't think you save much. Your stops are probably to short. The real FE hit is when the car only warms up a little, then is stopped long enough for the ICE to cool down again and the have to warm up again.


-Stein

 

Yes, it will drive normally without the key. The absence of the key will not be important until the next time someone (you?) tries to turn it on again.

Set the parking brake, press park, and lock the door with the mechanical key. Leaving it on is essentially the same as leaving the key as far as stealing the car is concerned.

PS... The air conditioning/heater will continue to run. Nice!

 

Can-View (an aftermarket instrument some of us have in the Prius) shows that the ICE draws about 7 kW during its startup phase, which lasts about 30 seconds or so when already warmed up. With the car on and sitting still, with all accessories off, there is an electrical draw of about 0.1 kW. Now, it's not as simple as saying you can sit still with the car on for 35 (7 ÷ 0.1) minutes; there will be conversion losses from the ICE running to replenish the battery charge. Still, it seems clear to me that you can come out ahead by sitting with the car on for several minutes instead of powering off and back on, at least the 5-10 minutes that Efusco proposes. I do this when it can be done safely, with 10 minutes as my threshold.

 

Hmmm, Ive tried this... You have to leave the fob in the socket and pull out the little key to lock the doors...

However I would also check local laws regarding you leaving your car running and unattended... In Florida that = a ticket..

FS.316.1975 Unattended motor vehicle.--

(1) A person driving or in charge of any motor vehicle may not permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, and removing the key. A vehicle may not be permitted to stand unattended upon any perceptible grade without stopping the engine and effectively setting the brake thereon and turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the street. A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

(2) This section does not apply to the operator of:

(a) An authorized emergency vehicle while in the performance of official duties and the vehicle is equipped with an activated antitheft device that prohibits the vehicle from being driven;

(B) A licensed delivery truck or other delivery vehicle while making deliveries; or

© A solid waste or recovered materials collection vehicle while collecting such items.

 

I do this all the time. if you have 6 bars on the battery, and everything is turned off, then you have about 20-25 minutes before the ICE kicks in.

Wayne

 

Hycamguy, you don't have SKS? Prius w/ SKS can easily skirt the law you reference because you can effectively shut the engine off (if you don't leave it too long) and take the key with you... ignition is locked... sort of. It will stop, but it won't start again

In short, I think the only way someone will notice whether you car is "turned on" is if you have a pet in the car and they decide that you're being negligent... in which case you probably left in a note in the window saying "AC is ON, don't break the windows to save my dog!" Then they'll report you to the nearest authority for the above-stated non-moving violation

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ichabod @ Oct 19 2007, 10:31 AM) [snapback]527727[/snapback]</div>

Being a former prius owner I know what to look for when owner leave the car running.


I had sks, but my doors wouldnt lock when the engine was running, if I removed the fob the car would just make that long beeeeeeeep sound...


So if your an Honest person and you went somewhere, and left the car running. You put your key in your pocket so it wasnt really in the car. Would you tell your ins co. that you left it running?

Here its a $72 ticket, its just another monthly stat added to my monthly quota, If the owner takes it to court I just bring the digital pictures along to show the judge. If I lose I look at it as either way I get paid for being there as the contestant has to take time off for court.

Anyways Im just glad I do not own a honda they are like # 1 cars to get stolen, because they are the fasts & easiest to steal.

The kids know these cars, Ive seen where a kid will steal #1 car drive across town. Find another one and park the stolen #1 one next to the now newer stolen #2 car. Then drive stolen car #2 to another location just to steal car #3 to get back home.

Why? just for fun.. BTW they trash each car before parking them.. :mellow:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hycamguy07 @ Oct 19 2007, 11:31 AM) [snapback]527750[/snapback]</div>

That's when you use the mechanical key to lock the doors... not that I'm advocating for leaving the car running, just that it can be done, and can be done in a relatively safe and stealthy way. I never have good enough tank MPG avg that avoiding cycling the power will really make that much difference anyway.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hycamguy07 @ Oct 19 2007, 08:31 AM) [snapback]527750[/snapback]</div>

"beeeeeeep" means that you left the car in Drive or Reverse. Not good. The reason it isn't moving is that you set the parking brake. Go back and press Park.

"Beep Beep Beep" means that you took the keyfob with you while the car is still turned on.