Am I missing something? Warming up the car outside while keeping it locked...

Yup, I did exactly what Philosophe suggested in my Gen 2. I find the mechanical key to be a P.I.T.A.

 

I've done the same (checking on him frequently) and leave a sign in plain sight on the windshield saying the air is on and the dog is more comfortable than the person on the outside looking in. So far no police, Humane Society, or broken window.

 

The Toyota Factory remote start requires three seperate actions on the remote to start the vehicle. If the transmission is not put in gear after 10 minutes the engine is turned off. You can also turn it off by the remote.

Remote start is designed to warm up or cool down your vehicle before you enter it. It will not run the engine continuously without the driver engaging the transmission.

 

I am thinking about the person who do not have remote start. Who starts the engine and locks the door with a physical key.

Couldn't someone open the window with a brick, get in, and drive away?


Thanks you all for the insight on the remote start. I don't have one so it is nice to know. How much is the remote start? Can I add it to a pkg III Prius? Do I ask the dealer? Or does it have to come from the factory with a remote start?

 

Remote start is either dealer or port installed. Port installed is usually less expensive. Pricing depends on region or dealer.

Not positive on the new Prius but on other Toyota models once the driver steps on the brake to shift the transmission the engine is cut off and you have to press the start button manually to put the vehicle in gear.

 

Rhino,
Read the earlier posts in this article. It sounds like you can open the window and lock the doors etc....take the key with you....

As for the Remote Start, that's a dealer installed Option. I was quoted about 349.00 for the unit plus 100.00 installation. There may be some bargaining room, or you can buy it on PriusChat for less and have the dealer install it...

I just figured it's easier to have the dealer order it, and install it.

Bob

 

Bob,

Thanks. I understand now about remote start and I am very appreciative of all the advice.

Changing topic here. ------------------------------

I am talking now about someone who do NOT have remote start. If they start the car to warm up with the key. Close the door with window open. Lock the car. Close the window. All is fine. OK. The car is warming up WITHOUT remote start.

In this case, remember the remote start is not installed. Can't someone come with a brick, break open a back window, reach in, open the front door, and drive away. Since the remote start is NOT installed, nothing will prevent me from driving away. The alarm won't sound. How long would it take? 15 seconds?

 

About 6 months, it happens in spring generally.

 

LMAO! :rockon:

 

Yes. They could also hit you with the brick on your way to the car.

Tom

 

Tom,

You are, of course, correct but it is unlikely.

The guy/gal can just hit you with a brick although that is generally not the preferred way to rob. Criminals prefer overwhelming advantages - like a knife, a bat, or a gun. There are very few "brick" criminals because the outcome is far from certain.

Moreover, the population of people who would commit a non-violent crime is a lot bigger than the population of people who would commit a violent (assault) crime. Therefore, the two probability are not equal. The probably of a brick through a window is much higher than a brick towards a person.

And, if an assault were to occur, there would be the risk that the victim can identify the perpetrator. Therefore, assaulting someone is inherently risky and will cause the police to come looking for the criminal. You may have to kill the victim. A property crime is generally given lower priority by the police vs. assault or murder.

A brick can be easily procured in many neighborhoods either through urban decay or as part of a well manicured front lawn (as part of landscaping). And, if one were to commit grand theft auto, a brick is highly advisable since it would hardly prolong the sentence. As long as you are stealing a 20K car, breaking a $500 window does not really elevate the severity of the punishment.

I was only trying to address the original poster's concern about locking up the car while warming up. Obviously, he/she is concerned with crime and he/she thinks there are criminals lurking about. If crime is not a concern, just warm up the car without locking it.

 

This is a little off topic but similar in relence. Background: I drop the kido off at school and walk in with her in the winter (0 to -10 F weather). Neither one of us want to walk in that weather and since I go to work from the school I drive her.
My question is: are really short trips of a block or so bad for the car?
I think about leaving it running because I wonder if this is not a better choice as far as taking care of the care is concerned.
Thoughts?

 

Since the ICE starts and stops so often, I bet that short trips matter far less than in most other cars. Absolutely no scientific basis for this opinion, just a gut feeling from my rather substantial gut.

 

Shutting off the car isn't going to hurt it. Most of the heat will be retained, so it will still be fairly warm when you restart.

Real mileage nuts would probably keep the Prius running for a short stop, simply to avoid the restart cycle, but either way is fine for the car.

Tom

 

Your insurance company will tell you never to leave a car running in a school parking lot. It could be stolen, especially by kids who have no good concept of the risk they are taking. Worse, if for whatever reason the kid hits somebody, you would be liable. It can be argued that leaving a running car in the schoolyard is like leaving a loaded gun in the school yard. A 12 year old kid is not that responsible for his actions. It is like entrapment. You leave a running car, the kid finds out and find it hard to resist, steps on the brake, shifts it into drive just like his daddy, and you are in one heck of a liability situation.

 

You can leave the car running with the doors locked. Just put it in Park, set the parking brake, exit the car, and use the mechanical key to lock the doors.

The engine will cycle on/off normally, and the heater/air conditioner will continue to operate. The smart key system, including the buttons on the remote, will not operate while the car is in Ready mode. The mechanical key works fine, and actually locks/unlocks all of the doors even with the car running. The car beeps three times when you exit it in Ready mode as a warning, but that's ok. For a short stop, it might even save some fuel since the car will not have to go through the startup cycle.

 

I agree. I do this all the time. But I do not set the park brake.

All you have to do is start the car. Get out of the car and manual lock the car with the key. You have to turn the key twice so all the doors lock. Turning it once only locks the driver door.

This does not work in a GEN III. Please stop posting solutions from older Prius models in a GEN III forum. If you are going to post please disclose that this worked on a GEN II it might work on a GEN III.