Latest Firefly mod: remote control block heater + cabin warmer

[MetroMPG]

In the depths of winter, I certainly understand why people want to install/use remote starters in their cars & trucks. (A couple of independent mechanics in town even time their newspaper ads to capitalize on the cold snaps by pushing these things on the shivering commuters & parents doing school runs.)

Still, I despise remote starters. They drive me nuts. And my smug, efficiency-wired brain says "LAZY BUFFOON!" every time I hear a car start up remotely.

But I don't want to shiver in a cold car any more than the next buffoon. I may be lazy, but I'm not that smug!

Which is why I use a coolant heater. (OK, I also use it because it saves fuel, oh and it's better for the engine than a cold start, remote or otherwise.)

First I installed a 300w block heater in the Firefy, then an 800w coolant heater (I even compared their performance). On top of that I will also run a heater in the cabin as well.

Latest mod ... a "remote starter" for my coolant + cabin heaters:



It's an indoor/outdoor model with a 1560 watt (resistive) rating - just enough for the coolant heater + a hair dryer running on the medium setting in the cabin.

This one's a Heath/Zenith model SL6139-D and cost about 20 bucks.

I love it!

But it has drawbacks:

• no LED on the receiver, so you have no visual indication when it's on/off
• only a 50 ft range on the transmitter, which may not work for everyone
• no on/off switch on the receiver
• single outlet, so I had to add an adapter to plug in my two power cords

Of course, this doesn't help much if you've parked somewhere you can't plug in. But even then I couldn't bring myself to idle the engine.

[Daox]

Nice mod Darin. I'm doing the same thing with my wife's car right now. She only drives 3.5 miles to work and in the winter thats not enough time for the engine to warm up to even defrost the windows. Having the cabin heater not only allows you to get into a comfortable car, but it also takes care of defrosting on short trips.

[mcrews]

Darin,
I love the 'courage of your convictions' !!!!!!!




ps. Ive had a remote for 5 yrs.

BUT I always park in parking lots as far from the store as possible so I get exercise and NEVER orbit looking for the closest space!

[Frank Lee]

I've used three strategies:
1) Just go out there and plug it in at the right time before I go
2) Use an el cheapo timer when I know ahead of time when I'm gonna go (work commute)
3) Have the outside outlet on an indoor switch

Oh yeah: rows upon rows of idling SUVs almost give me a migraine, just from the mass stupidity of it all. I think autostarts should be outlawed.

[brucey]

When my block heater worked, I would get home and plug it in, and go inside and flip the breaker to the garage. In the morning, I would flip the breaker back on.

It was the only thing plugged up and running on that circuit if I wasn't in the garage, so it worked out well.

[Ryland]

How about installing a heat lamp or light bulb in the car so you can see when it comes on? a heat lamp pointed at the drivers seat would warm it up nicely.

[brucey]

Originally Posted by Ryland

How about installing a heat lamp or light bulb in the car so you can see when it comes on? a heat lamp pointed at the drivers seat would warm it up nicely.

I'm pretty sure I still have one of these sitting around:

Lights for all Occasions - Red Revolving Police Beacon Novelty Light, 8 inch, 120V, Plug-In



I'm sure that would look great in the mornings.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I've used three strategies:
1) Just go out there and plug it in at the right time before I go

That's what I used to do. I'm getting soft in my old age.

And I don't commute, so a timer doesn't really work for me - my car use is always at different times.

3) Have the outside outlet on an indoor switch

Great idea - Brucey's breaker, too. Not options in my current place. Moving this year, though, so next winter that may be the way I can do it.

I think autostarts should be outlawed.

I read (don't know if it's true) that you can order an OEM remote starter on the Cruze ECO. That for some reason makes me think of "light" cigarettes.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Ryland

How about installing a heat lamp or light bulb in the car so you can see when it comes on

Might take that route as well. Beats straining to hear the faint "click" of the relay in the receiver plugged in way over in the far corner of the garage.

[GRU]

I'm too afraid that the space heater/hair dryer will burn down my car