Warming the car up in winter

[Sasha94]

Originally Posted by Big Ted

Thanks all for the comments & suggestions.

Sasha94
With PCC, I don't have the exposed key hole avail & I'm thinking the cosmetic cover will ping off if i keep taking it off & back on again.
(I used to use this method in my V70 P3)

With PCC & Keyless, I'm unable in any way to leave the car running & locking it with with the buttons, or worse unlocking if if I try Simon's way!


I guess what I'm after is a cheap way to enable the ERS, but I know from a forum search that's a chunk of work.

Back to having a coffee & watching it defrost, and/or out with the ice scraper!

Oh yeah, I forget the key hole isn't exposed on keyless/PCC cars. My apologies!

[Simon Jones]

Originally Posted by luggsey

This is just an oil warmer, if you want the cabin heated up sooner you need a system that warms the coolant.
Or does it heat Coolant through the block?

It'll heat any fluid in contact with the block. I've got a proper pre-heater which I never got round to fitting to previous XC70. It has a pump that circulates hot coolant round the system. Fairly common optional extra on Land/Range Rovers, and even Rover 75's

[luggsey]

Originally Posted by Simon Jones

As long as its not on a public highway, you can leave you engine running all day without contravening rule 123 of Highway Code:
http://www.highwaycode.info/rule/123

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.u...n-car-cont.htm

[luggsey]

Originally Posted by Simon Jones

It'll heat any fluid in contact with the block. I've got a proper pre-heater which I never got round to fitting to previous XC70. It has a pump that circulates hot coolant round the system. Fairly common optional extra on Land/Range Rovers, and even Rover 75's

I was thinking of fitting one about £80 for a basic electric element one.
I think Land rover used Webasto?

[Tatsfield]

In the oil fields of Northern Alaska in the winter the temperatures drop to -40°C and to prevent the extreme cold damaging the engines of their vehicles which are all diesel powered trucks, 4x4 and tractors, the oil field operators just start them when the temperature starts to drop and don't turn off the engines until spring comes around. They employ guys to drive around in fuel bowsers to top off the tanks routinely and the vehicles all have engine powered heaters in the fuel tanks to stop the fuel waxing. If you can legally leave the engine running on your own drive..........

[Fantastic]

Thought I'd read on the new XC90 threads that they can come with remote start/warm option in this country. So it can't be illegal (can it 😕?), unless Volvo UK are contravening the law?

[Simon Jones]

It's no more illegal for Volvo to supply a car with remote start feature than it is to supply one that can exceed 70 mph, it's where and when you choose to use the feature that can get tricky. As mentioned before, if it's not on a public highway, then it doesn't not contravene the Highway Code. Likewise, if you choose to drive an untaxed, uninsured, untested, unroadworthy car on your private property then you are perfectly at liberty to do so, it's the use on public highway that is prohibited.

[Fantastic]

Originally Posted by Simon Jones

It's no more illegal for Volvo to supply a car with remote start feature than it is to supply one that can exceed 70 mph, it's where and when you choose to use the feature that can get tricky. As mentioned before, if it's not on a public highway, then it doesn't not contravene the Highway Code. Likewise, if you choose to drive an untaxed, uninsured, untested, unroadworthy car on your private property then you are perfectly at liberty to do so, it's the use on public highway that is prohibited.

My comment about Volvo was more 'tongue in cheek' - I thought I'd added smilies but they don't seem to appear to be there on my portable electronic device (phone type thingie).

However, I disagree with " if it's not on a public highway, then it doesn't contravene the Highway Code". The Highway Code is just that - a code. There are also other Laws that must be obeyed, which are additional and over-rule the H. Code.
For example - A good friend got 'done' for leaving his car in 'park' without the handbrake applied, off highway, on his own land, but importantly (as transpired in court when he tried to fight it) it was adjacent to a highway!!!

As for remotely starting a car - don't know how insurance companies will react if stolen. Maybe, 'So you started the car for a passing car thief who smashed a window and took it. And you want to claim for what reason??).

[Tatsfield]

As for remotely starting a car - don't know how insurance companies will react if stolen.

I'm sure they would take the same attitude as if the insured had left the key in the ignition; contributory negligence rendering the claim invalid. But that would be a risk the chilled early morning driver would have to evaluate and take for himself.

Of course, if the key fob wasn't in the car, how the insurers would prove that the engine was running would be interesting as they would have to take the word of the only witness, the thief, who by virtue of being caught would not be likely to convince the police: "So the car was fully locked so that you had to force an entry and yet the engine was running? Pull the other one sunshine!"

[tt82]

Going off the OP's post, it seems the intent is to defrost the car and warm up the cabin prior to setting off as opposed to warming up the engine. In the past I have placed an oil filled radiator in the boot connected to an extension cord leading to the building I am in. They are safer than electric fans and provide steady heat.

If we're talking about setting off from home, you could fit an external weather proof socket outside of the house with the switch being inside, have an extension cord fed to the car with the reel being placed in the boot, allowing the car to be locked and the extension cord to not be stolen. Then you just need to flick the switch at the appropriate point in your morning routine to ensure the car has warmed up and defrosted prior to setting off. It would not take much time to to remove the heater, extension and place in the house/garage before setting off, or you could just wind up the extension cord and leave it all in the boot. All you need to do is set it up when you return home ready for the next morning.