Remote Start

[YarisHybrid2016]

Hi,

We tried the remote start the other night, and as much as I understand all things software/remote communications, it was still strangely unnerving to watch the car come alive on its own.

It did raise a question though: during the start cycle, it kept flashing the hazard lights until it was running. Is there a way to suppress this? IMHO it is a little too conspicuous that something is happening. I'd rather not alert the neighborhood that it is about to start. Car thieves are dumb, but not that dumb.

[paul9]

As far as I understand, the remote start woudln't allow the car to be driven until you get in with the key. So opportunist thieves can't just jump in and be off with it.

[RobertR]

The car is super loud when remote start is used, who cares if it's flash hazard lights or not, it can be heard from 50m away that motor is running. Don't know why this 3-cylinder engine is that loud when charging or when heating up itself, and it's noise coming from the hood, not from the exhaust. I know, there are different engine operating modes, and "normal" idling is quiet but man...when it's in "generator" mode is very loud. My old 1.8i civic was bearly noticeable when you stand next to him at idling ( yes, it's not the same situation but still).

And yes, when you want to jump into the car, you must unlock the car remotely (or keyless) and the car shut up itself, you must start the car again.

[bathtub tom]

Isn't it illegal to leave a car unattended with the engine running, or does that just apply to the public highway? Not that the police would be bothered, as they seem to have carte blanche to ignore crimes.

[Ralph H]

31 minutes ago, bathtub tom said:

Isn't it illegal to leave a car unattended with the engine running, or does that just apply to the public highway? Not that the police would be bothered, as they seem to have carte blanche to ignore crimes.

Yes if it’s on a public road the app has a disclaimer on it 

 

[YarisHybrid2016]

It's on a private driveway, so not on the public highway.

Valid point about the engine noise! So long as it can't be driven, that's fine.

[TonyHSD]

5 hours ago, RobertR said:

The car is super loud when remote start is used, who cares if it's flash hazard lights or not, it can be heard from 50m away that motor is running. Don't know why this 3-cylinder engine is that loud when charging or when heating up itself, and it's noise coming from the hood, not from the exhaust. I know, there are different engine operating modes, and "normal" idling is quiet but man...when it's in "generator" mode is very loud. My old 1.8i civic was bearly noticeable when you stand next to him at idling ( yes, it's not the same situation but still).

And yes, when you want to jump into the car, you must unlock the car remotely (or keyless) and the car shut up itself, you must start the car again.

The larger 4 cylinder engines on any other Toyota hybrids are as loud when warming up or charging the Battery stationary. There are also a vibrations often felt on the floor pan , seats, etc . The MG1 can use as much as 65 or even more bhp to create electricity. When the Battery is fully charged and if you are still waiting inside you can hear how the system gets unloaded and the engine calms down. Perhaps in Lexus LS500h these won’t be as pronounced as in a basic Toyota models. 👍

[Ralph H]

Mine’s also on my drive but my retired neighbour gets upset when I remote start it at 6am!  so I don’t use it unless it’s frozen up 

[YarisHybrid2016]

10 minutes ago, Ralph H said:

Mine’s also on my drive but my retired neighbour gets upset when I remote start it at 6am!  so I don’t use it unless it’s frozen up 

(Un)fortunately, we have bright street lights, so the flashing shouldn't be obnoxious. If it flashed once, that would be an improvement, but it seemed to flash about 10 times before it started.

[paul9]

Your Toyota dealer may know if you can disable the flashing.

 

[RobertR]

18 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

The larger 4 cylinder engines on any other Toyota hybrids are as loud when warming up or charging the battery stationary. There are also a vibrations often felt on the floor pan , seats, etc . The MG1 can use as much as 65 or even more bhp to create electricity. When the battery is fully charged and if you are still waiting inside you can hear how the system gets unloaded and the engine calms down. Perhaps in Lexus LS500h these won’t be as pronounced as in a basic Toyota models. 👍

Well, it's still much quieter than some big-***** standalone gasoline generator. U used remote start once 😄 just to try it. But this winter is super warm, I don't even use an ice scraper this year, so no need to defrost the car. It's a handy feature but I can live without it.

[TonyHSD]

I believe these remote starts and cabin pre condition are more suitable for electric or phev cars where there is no engine to do that job. In Toyota hybrids obviously not the case and too many variables like car been outside because of the exhaust, then the noise then the lights ,.. just jump on start and drive like older times and enjoy been a driver 👍

[Ralph H]

I’ve used it more in the summer to cool the car before setting off for home after work 

[Mojo1010]

I'm down south and had to scrape the ice a fair few times in the morning this winter. Above poster didn't need to scrape because of the time when using the car I suspect. 

The remote start feature I think it's great. Jumping in cold morning and scrape far too many ice/snow off for my liking over the years and I'm base in the south. Use probably about the same in fuel, get in the car warm and ready, this is a very good invention. 

[YarisHybrid2016]

We've had some pretty hard frost/ice this last month. Pre-heat would have certainly been beneficial, otherwise one of us needs to sit with the car. Lazy/"first world problems"? Perhaps 😂 , but it can do it, so why not? Certainly useful for those times one of us is away. I'm going to be working some pretty anti-social hours soon, so won't be around to help when my wife goes to work.

Not sure why it took this long to try it though. 😂

[YarisHybrid2016]

8 hours ago, Ralph H said:

I’ve used it more in the summer to cool the car before setting off for home after work 

Can you set the temperature?

[TonyHSD]

I know it’s cool as we have it on the other car and my girlfriend uses every morning in the winter. I can start the car and lock it with the manual key and let it do the same thing winter or summer, so half remote function 😂👌 

[Ralph H]

54 minutes ago, YarisHybrid2016 said:

Can you set the temperature?

Not remotely, it reverts to the previously set temperature which in mine is usually 22 degrees so in winter it will heat the car up to 22 degrees and in summer it will cool it down to 22 degrees 

[anchorman]

Mine stays at whatever it was left at.  It’s an Excel with the new heater in.  

[Big_D]

The hazards don't flash on ours when we use the remote start. Maybe this was de-activated at the dealer before we took delivery?? I wonder if this is something that can be activated and de-activated with the Carista?

[anchorman]

I did a little video of mine remote starting a while back.  You can see the indicators flash and if you look through the reflection of the garage window you can see the heater boot up at 26.5 (just to test it).  All the clicking and whirring is the car.  I stopped the video just as it started the engine 🙄

[Big_D]

@anchorman I've just realised that you have a Yaris Cross. Ours is a Yaris, rather than the Yaris Cross. The hazards on ours definitely don't flash when we use the remote start

[Ralph H]

10 hours ago, Big_D said:

@anchorman I've just realised that you have a Yaris Cross. Ours is a Yaris, rather than the Yaris Cross. The hazards on ours definitely don't flash when we use the remote start

They flash on my Yaris wake’s the neighbours up apparently!

[Mojo1010]

BigD's car doesn't flash so it's most likely the dealer can modify this setting. 

[Ralph H]

8 minutes ago, Mojo1010 said:

BigD's car doesn't flash so it's most likely the dealer can modify this setting. 

Or it could have the different infotainment system. The 8” v 9” sreen?