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What to look for when buying a used Prius w/Solar Roof?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by nanoxnano, Feb 20, 2015.

  1. nanoxnano

    nanoxnano Junior Member

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    Just wondering, what should I look for in determining if a Solar Roof of a Prius is about to go out, defective? Reason I ask if because I am found a used Prius w/Solar Roof for sale. Given their premium price, I want to make sure I am not getting ripped off. I assume the Roofs last a very long time, right? The model year of the one I found is a 2010.
     
  2. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    The solar roof only runs an interior fan* (when activated) so even if the panel is broken, it won't affect the cars' performance at all. You can, of course, test the sunroof operation for any defects on your test drive. AFAIK, I've never seen a report of a defective solar roof reported here. IIRC, there was one thread about issues (lines) within one owners panel that I think were covered by warranty but the roof was still working normally.




    * a common misconception is the solar roof charges the high voltage (hybrid) battery, it doesn't.
     
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The solar panel and moonroof are two separate entities so the moonroof will work independently of the solar panel. That being said, there hasn't been much issue other than discolouration but I'm not sure what effect that has on the performance of the solar roof.

    The solar panel runs the interior fan while parked to vent out the hot air inside the car and draw in cooler outside air. The Solar Panel Ventilation System will only work if the interior is above 68°F (although I have heard gurgles from the system even when the outside temperature is 41°F but the sun is strong enough to warm the inside of the car when parked outside (e.g. Feb/Mar).
     
  4. Maj

    Maj Junior Member

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    I have a 2010 and the sunroof gets exercised year round since I live in Florida. No issues with operation at all.
     
  5. amati5

    amati5 Junior Member

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    I haven't tested mine yet but my plan is to to turn it on (with power on, press the solar fan button, on the dash, lower left of the steering wheel, on and then off ). Set the temp to something quite lower than outside temp. Roll up all windows except the driver's with about an inch open so you can hear the fans running (when it works). Turn off the power, close all door and let the car sit in the hot sun and see if you can hear the fans working. The fans suppose to work until the inside temp lowered to the setting or when the solar power is out, whichever comes first. I hope that's the right way to work it.
     
  6. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Temp setting not necessary. With car in "ready", press in the button and make sure it is "in" (it's sometimes hard to tell).
    Turn off the car. Not sure if you have to get out but you might as well.
    Wait about 10-20 min (forget what the time delay actually is).
    When the car is in the sun, you will hear the fan run if you listen at the wiper area, and if inside you can feel the air coming out of the upper outside vents. It works even if you open the door, but will shut off if you press the "on" button to start the car.

    I leave the button "in" all the time. Unless I have to park in a dusty area.
     
  7. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Yes, approx. 10 minutes. In pure sun and a reasonably quiet environment, you should be able to hear the fan while standing between the right front tire and the windshield.
     
  8. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Time delays are as follows:
    • 2 minutes: damper switches to fresh air if not there already and switch is engaged
    • 10 minutes: fan starts to operate if there's sufficient sun and interior ambient temps are above ~72°F.
    Look for discoloration and delamination near the edges, as well as possible signs of rust on the wire elements near the discoloration, if found.
     
  9. amati5

    amati5 Junior Member

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    You only push the button in once because you want to leave it on all the time, correct? I remember the manual said to push the button twice (so the button will be in the "off" mode) I guess for only when you want to use it. I also remember the manual said it works better if you set the temp, too. If not, how does it know when to stop? just until the solar power is used up?

    May be I remember it wrong: It's better to use the remote A/C with this feature turned on.

    thx
     
  10. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    The button is a two-position on/off toggle. You don't have to touch it again once you turn it on. I leave mine on all the time unless I'm parking for an extended interval in an area where I know dust, exhaust, smells, etc., would be drawn into the vehicle. Set it and forget it.

    As for remote A/C - I find it useless. The FOB range isn't nearly enough. By the time the car powers up into a pseudo-Ready state and spools the A/C, I'm ready to enter the vehicle. It takes several minutes to chill the car (especially in AZ heat), and by then, you're ready to escape the heat, or the battery is depleted, causing the A/C to turn off again. It's enough to chill the vents so that when you start the car, the vents aren't going to blast hot air. Now if I'm at home and I know I'm going to leave at a set time, I may fire up the A/C a few minutes before leaving.

    Either way, the engine must make up for the lost charge, so it's not a whole lot more efficient than a remote start. You're just delaying the fuel consumption required to run the ~2kW A/C compressor motor.
     
    robertmaria likes this.
  11. amati5

    amati5 Junior Member

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    While on this subject, my question is why the heater is so lazy. I can understand the slow A/C (in Auto mode) since it tries to save gas. But heat doesn't require extra energy. My set temp is 72 and it does nothing when outside temp is in the low 60s. I only feel the warm air when outside temp is in the lower 50's and this is when the gas engine fully warmed up.
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The heater comes from the warmth of the engine so it's not that it doesn't require extra energy, but it does require that the engine be warm enough to supply heat.

    Also, in the low 60s, 72 isn't enough to get the heater kicked in (It's slightly below 50°F here with the setting at 72°F and the heater isn't that warm because it's not that cold ;) on the drive home today).

    Make sure you're not in ECO mode and jack the temperature up.
     
  13. amati5

    amati5 Junior Member

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    It must be the program they put in there, which is completely different from other normal cars. I understand the gas engine takes longer to warm up because of the intermittent uses, or they try to keep the heat in engine bay to speed up the process. But I am talking about my whole commute for more than 1/2 hr. I didn't want to increase the set temp because I wanted to wait to see how long it would take to feel warm air which never happened. I just wonder; if this is normal (but why?) then it's not a big deal.
    thx
     
  14. NoPistns

    NoPistns Junior Member

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    From the Land of Winter; I drive the same route to work everyday, My new Prius, the wife's Corolla and my old Mitsu start putting out heat within about a 100' range of each other. All the cars have automatic climate control, and they all build enough engine heat to kick in the blower at about 3/4 mile from where they're parked at home - and were talking single digit (F) temps.
     
  15. cipsaz187

    cipsaz187 Member

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    If you live in Midwest, just pass on the solar roof. Not worth it IMO. Go straight to Prius V. I bought the Four with solar and it was clearly a bad decision. The weather in Chicago sucks so the advantage of the solar is nearly zero.
     
  16. katiesdad7

    katiesdad7 Member

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    I live in South Florida and the solar roof is a God send. Keeps the interior about the same temp as it is outside. I also got the Blizzard Pearl since I didn't want to cook eggs on the hood. :)
     
  17. amati5

    amati5 Junior Member

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    I was checking the car under the hood on Saturday when it was hot here. I heard the fan noise and went inside the cabin and checked. First thing caught my attention was how cool it was inside considered the car has been sitting in the 90 degree sun. Then I saw the "solar fan" button was in the "on" position. I started to appreciate it more, much more useful than the remote A/C, I think (haven't tried).
     
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    @amati5 , Remote A/C is activated via the remote fob. You use it in conjunction with the Solar Panel Ventilation System to further cool the cabin if it's a really hot day. I wouldn't use Remote A/C on its own without the SPVS running to vent the hot air out because it'll be a "waste" of electricity.
     
  19. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    I passed on the solar option and got the Prius Two. I spent $800 for the remote start option. That gave me 12 minutes of AC or HEAT year round where the remote AC option only works if you have enough battery power.
     
  20. amati5

    amati5 Junior Member

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    I handed the car over to my son but I don't see myself turn on the A/C and wait for it to be cool before getting in. Someone also mentioned you have to be close to the car to activate it. I have to try it sometime.