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after-market keyless engine start

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jeromep, Nov 23, 2005.

  1. jeromep

    jeromep Member

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    The biggest question about remote start is why? GM is making a big deal about remote start on their high end cars and frankly they are the only ones doing it in quantity. Ford is totally ignoring this, and so are most other manufacturers. So, there must be a reason that not many more than GM are interested in this "feature".

    The Prius does not lend itself well to being "warmed up", which seems to be the only reasons for remote start. The Prius has features which help it warm up quickly from a cold start. The hot coolant storage system is that feature. The vehicle stores 3L of hot coolant at shutdown and then when the vehicle is restarted, if conditions are correct, the system will circulate that still hot coolant back into the engine. I find that the car warms up very quickly in the winter. However MPG always takes a hit in cold weather. If you were to do a remote start on the car with the goal of warming up the cabin your MPG will end up in the toilet.

    Anyway, regardless of vehicle, most auto experts basically state that you should start your car and drive away slowly for a few minutes rather than sit and burn gas needlessly.
     
    #1 jeromep, Nov 23, 2005
  2. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    On only one site, the Smart Key watch is supposed to have a button that does a remote start, but I'm suspecting that that's a writer who received the wrong information. The rest say the buttons will remote lock and unlock.
     
    #2 aaf709, Nov 23, 2005
  3. Wynder

    Wynder New Member

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    A bit after I take delivery, I'll have a new infant in the family -- my second. And I'd much rather kill the MPG getting the car warm for them while I got them ready. For me, that's why.
     
    #3 Wynder, Nov 23, 2005
  4. kente777

    kente777 New Member

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    Thank you so much for judging me for considering an engine start and not answering my question. If I wanted to know whether it was a good idea or not, I would have asked that.

    Now, for anyone else, can a remote engine start be installed on a Prius?

    Thanks.

    Ken
     
    #4 kente777, Nov 23, 2005
  5. jeromep

    jeromep Member

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    No one is judging you. If you have read other of my posts I will admit to being opinionated, but I do not actively or intentionally put people down. I will admit to putting GM down quite a bit.

    I did however provide my commentary regarding remote start and the Prius and why it is not technically feasible in terms of the overriding goals of this vehicle, fuel efficiency and low emissions.

    However, the ignition system on the Prius is more complex than your average vehicle. I'll walk through the general steps.
    1. Smart key in key fob slot in dash or someplace inside the vehicle on the driver's person (sks only).
    2. Press Power button.
    3. Computers look for the presence of key in slot, or smart key inside cabin.
    4. Computer verifies presence of key then verifies if electronic code of the key corresponds with a code registered with the vehicle.
    5. If key code matches code stored in vehicle electronic startup sequence begins (a series of computer boot ups, and self tests, onboard network tests and so forth).
    I did not intend in this post to specifically detail the technical process of startup. Nor did I mention any of the processes surrounding the use of a rolling code system on the smart key equipped cars to further prevent unauthorized unlocking or power-up by spoofing the car into believing that it is talking to a real fob when it is really talking to an imposter.

    Although we can imagine ways of making a remote start work with this system, Toyota has pretty much made it impossible to graft anything into the ignition control system. This has been talked about quite a bit on various boards, but there is no way to hotwire this car. Aftermarket remote start systems are really nothing more than sophisticated hotwiring devices, especially if they can turn on a vehicle without going through the various switch points that are normally in a typical ignition tumbler (even if the ignition of that car requires a "chip equipped" passive anti-theft system key).
     
    #5 jeromep, Nov 23, 2005
  6. kente777

    kente777 New Member

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    I don't care about "in terms of" anything. That was not what I asked. I just want to know if it can be done.

    Ken
     
    #6 kente777, Nov 23, 2005
  7. spaziwk

    spaziwk New Member

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    Here is a link to another tread on priuschat that you may be interested in.

    http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=1...=remote+starter
     
    #7 spaziwk, Nov 25, 2005
  8. Technogeek

    Technogeek New Member

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    For those who are interested in pre-warming the car in cold environments, you could consider the Engine Block Heater accessory. Just plug it in with a regular extension cord. It warms the engine to a temperature somwhere in the neighborhood of 110F - 130F. It definitely helps. Check the other message threads on it. It keeps the engine warm thus reducing warm-up time of the engine, thus reducing the amount of gasoline burned to reach operating temperature. So a side-benefit is improved winter MPG. The car should put out heat quickly when you start it, thus helping to defrost the windows and warm the cabin beginning immediately when you start up the car.
     
    #8 Technogeek, Nov 25, 2005
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    wow, it's all about you you you eh? hehehe :ph34r:

    He's just saying it's economically viable for you. He's just giving a suggestion, if you don't wish to take his advice, no one's stopping you :rolleyes:. Just install your damn remote starter and be happy with your life :). No point arguing.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Nov 25, 2005
  10. kente777

    kente777 New Member

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    #10 kente777, Nov 25, 2005
  11. Wynder

    Wynder New Member

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    Bloody good idea.
     
    #11 Wynder, Nov 25, 2005
  12. tomdeimos

    tomdeimos New Member

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    There is no reason to ever pre heat the car by burning gasoline, unless you are where there is no power to plug into.

    I plug in my cabin heat and a block heater and get into a warm car with windows all defrosted every morning!

    My block heater is the regular Toyota one from Canada.

    The cabin heat is a Holmes ceramic heater in a small metal box. Forget the model but they have two models that are similar. One has plastic case the other metal.

    I use the metal because it has a swivel base and I just run bungee cords around each side and clip it to the back seat I keep folded down. This holds it in position for the winter.

    I ran a cord through the firewall to the back and put in a marine outlet. So with one plug I power up both block heat and with a delay timer the cabin heat comes on later!

    Currently running block heat for 2 hours and cabin heat for 15 minutes!
     
    #12 tomdeimos, Nov 25, 2005
  13. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    living in Florida??... ya i see a real need to remote start. dont think you can do it. already been talked about here. no one here really knew. definitely some major hurdles to overcome
     
    #13 DaveinOlyWA, Nov 25, 2005
  14. DaveSheremata

    DaveSheremata New Member

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    Hehe. I originally hail from Montreal Canada. It's not unusual to see the mercury drop below -30C in late January, and right about now -20C can be considered normal at night. At that temperature, an engine cools down REALLY quickly - I don't think the coolant thremos helps much after 2 hours. So, if you drive to work, that "no reason to ever preheat" is pretty much a daily "unless", at the very least....

    I'm curious too - it'd be really neat to have a remote start option. For me, I'd love to be able to pre-cool the car, because I'm too much of a wuss for the hot summers down here in D.C.! ;)

    Dave
     
    #14 DaveSheremata, Jan 12, 2006
  15. Salsawonder

    Salsawonder New Member

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    I want to teach the car not only to start but also to come and find me when I have parked in a large lot and I can't find it!
     
    #15 Salsawonder, Jan 12, 2006
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