Pedal comander vs Pedal monster

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Jay weeks, Oct 31, 2025.

  1. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The graph in #119 clarifies what you're seeing.
     
  2. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    People dont trust graphs from companies.

    Better to test and monitor.
     
  3. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    Dang !
    Now you're talking !!
    What does it do to 'limit HVAC'?

    Maybe I should RTFM and try to get info on this 'mode'.
    I suppose it might only work with AC? Heat is free with a Gasser, right?

    side note: I read that the windshields on the ECO versions of the Prius have an IR blocking windshield to save on AC usage !
    Love it! (y)
    My windshield is old and sand blasted but still has 'SOLAR' printed at the bottom of the data area!
    I can see when a windshield needs to be replaced that the owner might not spend extra for this version of the glass.
     
  4. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    Sorry, I want to save people money on useless crapoli.
    "To protect and serve", yes, I am self-appointed. It's a useful hobby of mine. Thanks for noticing!(y)

    Do you have the authority to peddle all this crapoli in your very long signature?
    I guess it's good work, if you can get it..... probably brings in a few bucks every month or so. :whistle:
    I understand that effects you. Sorry. :(
     
  5. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    You see Bill....there are things you do or did not know about the Prius.

    Chap is not teaching me anyhting new as I already new this about the ECO features.

    Here is another thing Im pretty sure you do not know, the Carista app can make the hvac system even quieter than OEM factory settings.

    Also another thing Im sure you do not know is, if you get out of ECO mode, there is a small 700watt heater that helps with heat for the cabin but it is disabled I believe when in ECO mode.

    The more you know huh?
     
    Bill Norton likes this.
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Not always entirely free: the heater core is rated to extract a max of 5300 watts (gen 3 figure, sorry) of heat from the hot coolant; that's a significant rate (around 7 HP) and the only time that's 'free' is if the engine is already running hard enough / hot enough for other reasons that the thermostat would be open and dumping that much or more heat via the radiator. A fair amount of time in a Prius, the coolant temperature may be at or below the thermostat opening temperature, the heat you extract at the heater core was not otherwise being dumped, and keeping the coolant up to temp is an extra demand on the engine. (You can read more about that in the "on hunkering" threads.)

    ECO mode puts a cap on compressor power (and, correspondingly, blower speed) when using A/C, and also puts a cap on blower speed (and therefore the rate of sucking out coolant heat) when using heat.

    You can observe both of those effects in extreme conditions (say, just getting into a very hot or very cold cabin) once the HVAC system has ramped up to its max efforts to cool or heat you; switch to ECO and you'll notice the max effort drops by a small amount.

    Also, as Azusa mentioned, there's the extra 700ish-watt electric supplemental heater for when you first start the car and the coolant's not warm yet; that goes unused in ECO mode.

    Compared to ~ 5300 watts of heat available from engine coolant when hot, the ~ 700 watts from the electric supplement is peanuts; I can hold my hand in the air out the vent and not be able to tell you if that supplement is on or not. I can, though, tell the difference in how fast it defogs the windshield, so I will switch out of ECO when I want that.
     
    #126 ChapmanF, Jan 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2026 at 5:17 PM
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  7. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    Yes, I am learning new things about my 'new to me' Gen4!
    Only once again, I am skeptical on your statements....
    How can an "app can make the hvac system even quieter than OEM factory settings" other than simply lowering the fan speed?
    And let me guess, you have financial interests in this app. Is it in your signature of 'Making a buck-and-a-half' links?:whistle:
    I have the Torque app. I may run an old android tablet with Prius gauges to show me things. Just for fun.
    But ultimately, will all of this displayed data change the way I drive? I doubt it. I have places to be.(y)

    Just like on the EV forums where they celebrate high mi/kWh numbers, I point out it's a "Go Slow race to the bottom". All you can do is drive slower or faster than the day before.
    For my wife's EV driving at $0.01/ mi due to our electric rate plan and charging only from 12 - 6 AM, why even bother trying to save a few cents per week?

    Thanks for all the detailed info on the ECO Mode switch function, other than fooling the driver on the Go Pedal Curve!
    We've covered that ad nauseum ...:rolleyes:

    This is news I can use !!

    My driving requires an early morning cold start out here on the frozen lonesome prairie.
    I need ALL the heat, as soon as I can get it, then it's just cruising for hours on end. Hence, the Comma4 purchase. And maybe a block heater....(y)
    I doubt any use of ECO mode would ever be measurable with my duty. I'm at 81mph gps speed for hours.:cool:

    I knew the Gen3 had this electric heat element and assumed it was also on the Gen4's.
    Does this electric heater start immediately when the HVAC is calling for just heat with no defrost function selected?
     
  8. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    Carista GEN 3 Options

    Carista GEN 4 Options

    I am a consumer and I dont just go off and make it my mission to go into forums or a Denny's and tell people what they should do with their own money or cars.

    Carista can do dealer level changes and this is not paid advertisement.

    Sometimes things actually do what say they do bill....
     
    #128 AzusaPrius, Jan 4, 2026 at 12:29 PM
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2026 at 12:42 PM
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  9. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    So can TechStream.
     
  10. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    Torque Pro allowed me to turn off the Reverse Beep,,, years ago.... It does some dealer level things, iirc.
    You have to install the pids for the Prius model. I've changed phones and don't have all that is required to dig deep in a Prius.
    I'd love to have a gauge / indicator on my tablet just for shutter position, for instance. :cool: