Another Remote Start Question

[zoomy zoomy2007]

I just had remote start installed in my 2007 Mazda CX7 on Friday. It was ordered and installed by the dealership and it only $377 w/ installation, which I thought was decent. Anyway, the car only stays running for 10 minutes and then shuts off. Now, my car doesn't get warm enough in 10 minutes. I mean it is -20 here with the windchill. Is there anyway I can change it to 15 or even 20 minutes or is 10 minutes all it will run?

 

[CX7_Scott]

It's setup that way for a reason. You must restart it every 10-minutes.

 

[AWmustang]

I just had remote start installed in my 2007 Mazda CX7 on Friday. It was ordered and installed by the dealership and it only $377 w/ installation, which I thought was decent. Anyway, the car only stays running for 10 minutes and then shuts off. Now, my car doesn't get warm enough in 10 minutes. I mean it is -20 here with the windchill. Is there anyway I can change it to 15 or even 20 minutes or is 10 minutes all it will run?

My car sat outside 2 nights ago. The temperature was -9 (windchill was -35 to -45 though windchill has little effect on inanimate objects). The car was nice and warm when I got to it. I don't know how long it was but it was less than the 10 minutes since it was still running when I reached it.

If you don't have auto temp, make sure that the temp dial is full hot and the fan dial is full speed.

 

[CX7_Scott]

well - THAT seems atypical.

If I start my car in 20-degree weather, Therm set to 90-degrees:
- 1st 10-min. cycle: Car interior not warm at all
- 2nd 10-min. cycle: Car bearable, not freezing
- 3rd 10-min. cycle: Car very comfortable

It's VERY rare that I give it a 3rd cycle... waste of gas & all that. In REALLY cold weather, I am generally getting into the car mid-way through the 2nd cycle and it is warmed-up enough to not be freezing... and once I drive away, it's warm within 4-5 miles of driving.

I am not trying to dispute YOUR results, but in 20-degree weather, my CX-7 set to 90-degrees is FAR from warm after just ONE auto-start cycle... I cannot imagine one getting warm in minus-9-degree weather within one cycle. I guess I'd have to see it to believe it - OR... we have different ideas of "warm".

 

[AWmustang]

well - THAT seems atypical.

If I start my car in 20-degree weather, Therm set to 90-degrees:
- 1st 10-min. cycle: Car interior not warm at all
- 2nd 10-min. cycle: Car bearable, not freezing
- 3rd 10-min. cycle: Car very comfortable

It's VERY rare that I give it a 3rd cycle... waste of gas & all that. In REALLY cold weather, I am generally getting into the car mid-way through the 2nd cycle and it is warmed-up enough to not be freezing... and once I drive away, it's warm within 4-5 miles of driving.

I am not trying to dispute YOUR results, but in 20-degree weather, my CX-7 set to 90-degrees is FAR from warm after just ONE auto-start cycle... I cannot imagine one getting warm in minus-9-degree weather within one cycle. I guess I'd have to see it to believe it - OR... we have different ideas of "warm".

My car is usually set to 68. Because I have a winter coat on I don't need it any warmer in the car. So if you are expecting it to be 90 inside the car, then yes I'm quite certain it would not reach that temperature during the first start cycle.

And by warm I mean that I can comfortably unzip my coat and remove my hat and gloves (if they were on). So in actuality the car is probably only around 50-55 degrees. But compared to -9, it feels very nice.

 

[CX7_Scott]

My car is usually set to 68. Because I have a winter coat on I don't need it any warmer in the car. So if you are expecting it to be 90 inside the car, then yes I'm quite certain it would not reach that temperature during the first start cycle.

And by warm I mean that I can comfortably unzip my coat and remove my hat and gloves (if they were on). So in actuality the car is probably only around 50-55 degrees. But compared to -9, it feels very nice.

Well - no, I don't WANT the car to be 90-degrees... I just set it there so there's NO QUESTION that the heat will kick-in when I start it. I would not expect it to get to 90 to be comfortable... but to ME, comfortable is in the mid-60s.

So, as yours is set to 68... I would ALSO consider 68-degrees to be very comfortable, but I set it higher, knowing that it's not going to even reach that temp - BUT, if it WERE to reach that temp and go higher, That'd be fine as when I open the door in really cold weather and let all the heat out and the cold in, it'll be a quicker jump back to that mid-60s temp.

Comparatively... Yes, even 40-degrees is a better climate than 10-degrees... I was just saying that my CX-7 is far from 68-degrees on the first or second remote starting.

- - - EDIT - - -

P.S. - The other reason I set mine to 90-degrees when I get out of the car, is that when it DOES start to warm-up to the 40-50-degree range, the fans remain on HIGH... blowing the warm air around into the back more. When I have it set to 70... I notice that it's no warmer, but the fans kick-down slower as it gets closer to that temp.

 

[RiP 8/23/07]

they might be able to plug it in to change the program settings I know mine has a bitwriter program that dealers have but I have a viper alarm and I can set mine to up to 2 hours but I currently have mine at 17 min, but I only use it to warm up my turbo in cold weather cause we all know the heat warms up faster when you drive it rather then just let it idle there. ask the dealer if he can set it to 20 min for you if not then I guess you gotta restart it every 10 i take it you dont have a gt cause the seats start to warm up in about 4 minutes to make up for the lack of heat

 

[CX7_Scott]

SLIGHT TOPIC SHIFT:
You just mentioned the seat heaters... Do YOUR seats heat-up before you get in...? I was under the presumption that the heating elements didn't engage unless the seat "sensed" you were seated in them.

I keep my switch on, but even after 1-2 remote starts, my seat is not warm when I get out to the car. It DOES warm-up after I get in and drive away.

Hmmm... I'd be curious to know that.

 

[WWNJCX7]

Seat Heater

Let chime in about my disappointment with the seat heaters, my NEVER heat up until after 10 min or so of driving. I am disappointed because my wifes car (Town&Country) heats up within 3 min of driving. Not to mention it has a high and low setting which would be a nice feature for Mazda to put in the 7.

As for the autostart run time, I agree that it takes a good 20 mins to warm up the car when the temp is 10 or under. Also if you have auto climate, set the temp to max(90) as the air coming out is hotter. Another good trick is to leave the air set so that it comes out of the panel and the floor, this helps the warm air circulate better.

just my 2cnts

 

[CX7_Scott]

I traded-in my Town & Country Limited for this CX-7. There are a LOT of creature-comforts I miss by moving to the CX-7, Memory seats, auto-dimming lights that really work well, quality interior, I could go on and on...

BUT, you are right about how quickly the T&C seats warmed... BUT, beware!!! I had to have my passenger seat replaced due to the heating element(s) burning-through the leather. Almost caught fire. There was a blackened "hole" on the mid-back area of the seat... about 1/2 the size of a dime and it melted/burned the leather and SMELLED. They replaced it for free even though it was out of warranty.

I told them that I understand that it's not under warranty, but this is the kind of thing that hurts/kills people and causes really bad press. There is no reason I should have to PAY to have them fix a fire hazard. They agreed.

 

[family guy]

It was ordered and installed by the dealership and it only $377 w/ installation

That's good, my dealer ask mer $495 installation only, so I'm still waiting for somebody who installed for his car and give us the tip.

 

[Rivman]

Remote start

My dealer installed after market remote start run time is programable.
I had it set for 15 minutes, and I set the auto temp. and fan controls where you want em when you turn the car off - the heated seats can be turned on also, so everything is toasty warm for those cold winter morning starts ! (cool)