Remote start and heating

[Goatherder]

Had posted in another thread, but hijacking was probably not wise So, starting afresh here:

I have a MY21 XC60 B5D (from new) and opted for the HUD, and happy with it.....although the wife disagrees. She always wanted a heated screen (had one in a Passat), and she is irritated by the '60 now, because even when remotely starting for 15 mins prior to her leaving....the ice has barely defrosted at the bottom of the screen. Volvo say "the cabin will get to a 'comfortable temperature' when prestarting". Well, -2'C outside, ice on the screen and after 15 mins, I would say it is probably 8'C in the cabin. I (actually the wife) would say that is not comfortable, and resorts begrudgingly to the ice scraper as is has hardly defrosted anything !
So....something wrong here ? I would have thought it should be well warm after 15 mins.
What is the concept behind the timers for "preconditioning" in the sensus screen?

[nu11eaf]

I find that the temperature in the car has not increased much on remote start but heated seats and steering wheel are warm, but car climate obviously warms up quicker once on the move, diesels take a while to warm up. I have heated screen so screen clears very quickly, but still have to scrape side windows, without heated screen the max defrost works but nowhere near as fast as the heated screen.

[vonRypp]

I have the fuel-driven heating so the car doesn’t even need to start up the engine. It warms up the cabin in 10 minutes. It also melts the ice quite rapidly. I think it’s a stupid idea from Volvo to have this function on cars without the fuel driven heater or plug-in charging.

Idling the engine cold is not good wear and tear wise and also it uses much more fuel than a fuel-driven heater for the same amount of heat.

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by Goatherder

So....something wrong here ? I would have thought it should be well warm after 15 mins.

If idling from cold a diesel engine will take a long time to reach operating temperature.

What is the concept behind the timers for "preconditioning" in the sensus screen?

Preconditioning really applies to those cars with either electric or fuel-fired heaters whhereby the pre-heating can be done without having to start the engine.

[Backinavolvo]

Agreed. Diesels take an age to warm up when it's chilly. Little you can do there, I just throw a blanket on the screen the night before.

[V60 probably]

I use the timer for preconditioning (Sensus) and I have the fuel fired aux heater. I've noticed it starts up around 30-40 minutes before the 'ready time' and works for about 10 minutes. It then switches off and starts again 15 minutes before departure and it is always warm in the cabin, with entirely clear windows (although I have heated windscreen, the side windows are clear too).

I'd assumed any car newer than mine would have an aux heater of some kind; is that not the case?

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by V60 probably

I'd assumed any car newer than mine would have an aux heater of some kind; is that not the case?

Only plug-in hybrids have aux heating now and it is electric. The fuel-fired heater was discontinued a couple(?) of years ago and the option for one on other cars was removed a long time before that.

[silo24]

My XC90 seems to be able to de-ice quite effectively from a 15 minute remote start...with very little ice remaining in most instances.

Must admit though I usually run late getting out oft he house so often I will start the car remotely a second time! 🤣

[Goatherder]

Originally Posted by silo24

My XC90 seems to be able to de-ice quite effectively from a 15 minute remote start...with very little ice remaining in most instances.

so not a diesel ?

[Mint Cake]

Originally Posted by Backinavolvo

Agreed. Diesels take an age to warm up when it's chilly. Little you can do there, I just throw a blanket on the screen the night before.

Even on the chilliest nights, 15 mins of remote start on my diesel V90 is enough to clear the ice from my screen.