Forcing the car to stay idlng

rado16v · Friday at 07:50 AM

On these cold frosty mornings, I like to leave the car running to warm up and help defrosting before setting off but this blasted car just won't let me!!

It'll run for a few mins and then shut down. Is there any way to force it to remain running on the ICE?

Thanks

ColinBarber · Friday at 07:55 AM

Turn the cabin heat up. The only way it can heat it is via the waste heat output of the engine. If the engine still shuts down then the coolant is at temperature and therefore the heater output won’t change whether the engine is running or not (until it cools and the engine starts again).

Toyota Owner · Friday at 09:24 AM

1 hour ago, rado16v said:

Is there any way to force it to remain running on the ICE?

You could do the start button, shift lever & pedals dance to activate MAINTENACE mode to force the ICE to run.

It will say MAINTENACE MODE on the display while its active.

Make sure you cancel maintenance mode before attempting to drive the vehicle!

Plenty of videos showing how on everyone's favourite video hosting website.

rado16v · Friday at 10:19 AM

Thank you chaps for the suggestions, I'll look into these.

Andy B · Friday at 10:45 AM

Can you not do this "warming up and defrosting" process via the Lexus Link+ smartphone app?

I don't use it personally so have no real knowledge of it but I know that lots of people on this forum do. I'm assuming that this will keep the ICE running until the cabin temperature reaches the desired temperature set from within the app.

Apologies if I'm barking up the wrong tree here.

Notamech · Friday at 10:54 AM

It doesn't matter. Even if the engine is off the car will do its job of getting the cabin up to the temperature you set it to. If it deems necessary it will turn on the engine by itself. The car is designed to function with the engine cutting out when it is not required. If you somehow forced the engine to continuously be on it would only be wasteful.

rado16v · Friday at 11:13 AM

We've had problems pairing our phones to the car so not able to run those features.

old man 2 · Friday at 11:51 AM

Quote

Can you not do this "warming up and defrosting" process via the Lexus Link+ smartphone app?

To my knowledge it's illegal to have a car engine running when you are not in attendance. I'm not assuming that's what Amit intends, but for anyone using the app, how does it get around that legality ?

Spock66 · Friday at 11:58 AM

6 minutes ago, old man 2 said:

To my knowledge it's illegal to have a car engine running when you are not in attendance.

That may be true on the public highway, but not if the car is on your own property.

Lexusjim · Friday at 02:22 PM

If you warm it up using the app, the car stays locked.....so no need to leave the house until the car has heated up. I believe it automatically switches off after twenty minutes

S Dhuper · Friday at 05:49 PM

3 hours ago, Lexusjim said:

If you warm it up using the app, the car stays locked.....so no need to leave the house until the car has heated up. I believe it automatically switches off after twenty minutes

Absolutely correct with cold weather we're having now,, I use the remote start up to warm up the leather seats and the steering wheel, it was oringally 12 minutes, but they increased it to 22 minutes

ColinBarber · Friday at 05:53 PM

3 hours ago, Lexusjim said:

If you warm it up using the app, the car stays locked.....so no need to leave the house until the car has heated up. I believe it automatically switches off after twenty minutes

Although the point above is still valid, it would be illegal to do that if your vehicle was parked on a public road.

Hayzee · Sunday at 11:24 AM

On 11/22/2024 at 7:50 AM, rado16v said:

Is there any way to force it to remain running on the ICE?

Thanks

Amit.....turn on the front screen demister and I believe the engine will continue running

rado16v · Sunday at 03:10 PM

Thanks, will give that a go

Jumper68Y · 2024-11-25T20:12:38Z

This is an interesting thread, as I had the same question as rado16v

I also wondered is there a way to be sitting in the car with the radio on, without the engine running? As when I press the power button it turns everything off, and the only way to get the radio back on seems to be to start the car again which means everything is on radio, lights etc etc.

Surely its got an accessory / ignition on mode just to listen to the radio whilst your waiting without everything else on?

But after a drive, it seems the only thing the power button can do is turn the whole car off. Unless I am doing something wrong?

old man 2 · 2024-11-25T20:45:27Z

27 minutes ago, Jumper68Y said:

This is an interesting thread, as I had the same question as rado16v

I also wondered is there a way to be sitting in the car with the radio on, without the engine running? As when I press the power button it turns everything off, and the only way to get the radio back on seems to be to start the car again which means everything is on radio, lights etc etc.

Surely its got an accessory / ignition on mode just to listen to the radio whilst your waiting without everything else on?

But after a drive, it seems the only thing the power button can do is turn the whole car off. Unless I am doing something wrong?

On previous cars, when entering the car, if you turn on ignition without putting your foot on the brake pedal, the car goes into accessory mode, which means you can have the radio on witout all the other bells and whistles. If you've been driving, turn off the ignition and then turn back on again without your foot on the brake. I haven't had my Lexus long enough to know if that works the same.but I expect it does.

NemesisUK · 2024-11-25T20:56:30Z

5 minutes ago, old man 2 said:

On previous cars, when entering the car, if you turn on ignition without putting your foot on the brake pedal, the car goes into accessory mode, which means you can have the radio on witout all the other bells and whistles. If you've been driving, turn off the ignition and then turn back on again without your foot on the brake. I haven't had my Lexus long enough to know if that works the same.but I expect it does.

It does work, just as you describe. It also means you will kill the 12v Battery within minutes.

NEVER sit in the car (hybrid) listening to the radio without having it in Ready mode. One can reduce the number of times the engine starts by switching off the climate control. If the cabin doesn't need heat the engine will only start up to recharge the traction Battery. Keep the transmission in Park, do not use Neutral, as the engine cannot charge the traction Battery whilst in Neutral.