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New 21 Prime limited will not start car

Discussion in 'Prime Audio, Electronics, and Infotainment' started by Boomer 2298, Jan 18, 2021.

  1. Boomer 2298

    Boomer 2298 Junior Member

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    I just purchased a new 21 prime limited. I have Toyota connect app loaded on phone successfully and I am registered no issues. Problem is, the battery charging information is coming up, but the car starter does not work. After a long period of time I get "server error" as a message. Has anyone encountered this ?
     
  2. phorse

    phorse Junior Member

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    I recently purchased a 2021 XLE and was experiencing the same behavior until I tried it with the doors locked then it worked.
     
  3. Boomer 2298

    Boomer 2298 Junior Member

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    I will give it a try after it charges. Hopefully it will work. Thank you.
     
  4. Boomer 2298

    Boomer 2298 Junior Member

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    Any idea why the app doesn’t have door locks on it ?
     
  5. phorse

    phorse Junior Member

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    No idea, I'm still trying to demystify the Toyota App capability differences between the LE and XLE. See this thread for more information.
     
  6. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I don't think 2021 PP's Remote Connect functionality includes the Remote Engine Start if that's what you are talking about. There was another thread someone was having a problem with Limited and XLE trim to have some Remote Connect functionalities, but none so far I have read said it has the Engine Start functionality. Toyota's publication specifically states that the Remote Connect works on Remote Climate Control only.

    Screenshot 2021-01-16 at 5.46.19 PM.png Screenshot 2021-01-16 at 5.43.58 PM.png
     
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  7. phorse

    phorse Junior Member

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    I assumed the OP was referring to the remote climate control. I'll have to double check, but when I activated it on my XLE yesterday, I thought I heard the engine start, but could have been noise from the defrosters/fans. Not sure why one would want to remote start the engine other than to defrost or bring temp to a comfortable level.
     
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  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    OP's title is "will not start car" and he also commented, "but the car starter does not work." So, I assumed he meant the remote engine starter function of the Remote Connect which is available for all the Toyota models except for Prius Prime and a few model trims with the manual transmission. As you said, an engine starter is used to heat the cabin. For PP the ability to be able to start the engine becomes essential in colder climates when the temperature is below 14F. The remote climate control of PP uses only the traction battery operated heat pump which is not capable of heating at a lower temperature. AFAIK, all the aftermarket engine starter installed on the PP will only work if the charging cable is not plugged in and there is no charge left in the traction battery.
     
    #8 Salamander_King, Jan 19, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2021
  9. phorse

    phorse Junior Member

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  10. Boomer 2298

    Boomer 2298 Junior Member

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    Thanks phorse, It did start the EV hvac system. It did not however start the motor even though I turned on the power defrost before shutting it down. Looks like I will have to get a remote start kit. I can not believe they don't even offer door lock and unlock. This was misrepresented to me in the advertising. Considering the simple code it would take to write the door lock system I am kind of dismayed they would not offer it on the higher trim packages like mine.
     
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  11. Boomer 2298

    Boomer 2298 Junior Member

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    I did want to start the engine. With snow belt there are occasions like this morning that power defrost is needed. Probably would be ok if I could leave it plugged in, but doesn't appear to work that way.
     
  12. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Remote Start is not a part of Remote Connect for the PP. The Remote Climate Control should work either the car is plugged in or not, but this only uses the traction battery power, thus it can not heat the cabin at a temperature below 14F.
     
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  13. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Ditto
    Won't turn on AC either/does show battery condition and current battery condition if you wait awhile.

    Also my 11.2" screen goes no where when I try the apps icon. It looks for etune and can't find it but does not offer any other functions.

    Is this all smoke a mirrors and not really prime time yet.
     
  14. Boomer 2298

    Boomer 2298 Junior Member

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    It appears eventually after I registered several downloads occurred into etune. I know have all of that. As for the starting, you have to lock the doors. FYI leave plugged in or your EV guess -o-meter will drop quite a bit in cold weather.
     
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  15. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Still have not been able to get etune to do anything. Only the Toyota app works so far and I guess if you hook up the USB cable you get more options. I will try that next.
     
  16. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Only apps available are with the iPhone hooked up on a cord. Very inconvenient.
    After a clue from Boomer I was able to get the remote start to work.

    Not sure how Boomer got etune downloads. Maybe the dealer did that when I was on my cell phone.
    Strange auto stop results. I think my center front sensor and or auto stop in the computer may be bad for just the one spot.

    I will try the auto parking to see if it stops with that on.
     
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  17. DC_2004_Prius

    DC_2004_Prius Member

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    interested in how you guys with the 2021 Limiteds are finding things monitoring/control wise after a couple months. Have you found any further monitoring or control access with the Toyota app? Entune is all over my manual but the Limited has no access to it?

    Also I am surprised there isn't better EV consumption data - like a real time bar for Miles/kWhr - there is nothing to give me numbers in any real time for EV driving. The "information" icon on the 11.6" screen offers fairly useless series of bars - all of them pegged to 200mpg??? And the info screen shows a nice prius engine/motor/battery animation in portrait or landscape - with zero data on that screen? really? very annoyed that this AMAZING vehicle treats the EV usage/stats/data like a step child.

    My 2004 has very useful "current mpg" tracking - and useful stacking of the mpg bars by pressing the info button and toggling back and forth to see exactly what the gas pedal position is doing to the usage.

    My 2021 gives you nothing for EV usage except delayed 1mile EV bars with the miles/kwh avg. for past miles - but no way to see the number estimated in real time. and it's gone every time you restart the car. the 11.6" screen also gives the daily average EV usage bars - frankly useless and lacking in any detail. very disappointed in the monitoring and control of this amazing local EV car. LOVE THE CAR.

    But come on Toyota the data and tech are in the car - can't you display it or let us read it?
     
  18. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Use split-screen and select the Current electricity consumption gauge. If you are driving EV mode, it will show the instant miles/kWh. When the car switch to HV mode it automatically switches to Current fuel consumption showing the instant MPG. There is no numerical display. The yellow triangle is the average miles/kWh on Drive Monitor 2.

    upload_2021-3-18_22-32-48.png

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    #18 Salamander_King, Mar 18, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2021
  19. DC_2004_Prius

    DC_2004_Prius Member

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    thank you. i could not find that split screen - or how to turn it on. i do not have the instant miles/kwhr instant consumption bar. is it on the customize meter under the settings wheel through the steering wheel buttons? thought i went through every single option there.
     
  20. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    This is from 2020 PP manual, but the steps are the same for all year models and trims of PP. You can change the display by selecting the “Meter Customize” settings on the MID.

    upload_2021-3-19_7-18-22.png

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