Cabin heat not working well in very cold temperatures

[MME Farmer]

Searched and really didn't find what I was looking for. Earlier I had made the comment that our 21 GTPE was heating better after we received an update to improve the heating. I had said we'll see when the real winter arrives. Arrive it did, we've had daily highs around -10F to -15F. Tonight went to Christmas Eve service and when we left to return home it was -6F with 20+ mph wind, started the car about 10 minutes before leaving. It was somewhat warm in the car when we left, but it never got comfortable in fact borderline cold. It seems like anything below zero we better drive something else. Turning to auto made it worse, the best heat we got was when we had the fan on 5 or 6 and the heat set for floor and vents. In that setting the windows would periodically frost so I would turn on the defrost which cleared the glass but made it colder. Is there something wrong with my heater? Has anyone run into this? Do I have to start it much earlier? As it was it took 62 miles of predicted range to drive about 29 miles after 2 remote starts. I thought these things were supposed to be winter tested, where? Arizona?

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[heisnuts]

You might want to take a look at this recent thread in a similar situation.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...temperature-vent-measuring-15c-degrees.24052/

 

[Space Ghost GT]

You’ve really got to give 15+ minutes in these conditions. 30 minutes would give it its best shot of getting nice and toasty.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Searched and really didn't find what I was looking for. Earlier I had made the comment that our 21 GTPE was heating better after we received an update to improve the heating. I had said we'll see when the real winter arrives. Arrive it did, we've had daily highs around -10F to -15F. Tonight went to Christmas Eve service and when we left to return home it was -6F with 20+ mph wind, started the car about 10 minutes before leaving. It was somewhat warm in the car when we left, but it never got comfortable in fact borderline cold. It seems like anything below zero we better drive something else. Turning to auto made it worse, the best heat we got was when we had the fan on 5 or 6 and the heat set for floor and vents. In that setting the windows would periodically frost so I would turn on the defrost which cleared the glass but made it colder. Is there something wrong with my heater? Has anyone run into this? Do I have to start it much earlier? As it was it took 62 miles of predicted range to drive about 29 miles after 2 remote starts. I thought these things were supposed to be winter tested, where? Arizona?

The heater is small so you have to manage it differently by plugging in and preconditioning longer in advance. I just did a series of tests in very similar temps here: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/mach-lees-mach-e-cold-weather-testing-taking-requests.24393/

Basically I found that if you didn't precondition before leaving, the cabin would take upwards of 1.5 hours to warm up while driving, and will only reach a maximum temp of the lower 60's when it's below 0ºF outside. The heater is just too small to maintain 70ºF inside when it's that cold.

Make sure you are leaving the car plugged in all the time when it's off (like a block heater) so the battery stays warm. Remote start or precondition at least 30 minutes in advance, 15 minutes isn't enough time for the cabin to warm up in those temps.

I don't recommend driving the car when it's colder than -13ºF outside, it will be uncomfortable. Drive something else.

 

[Maquis]

I’ve been driving in subzero temps with the system set a auto 2 and 68 degrees, seat heat on level 2. It’s quite comfortable. No preconditioning or remote start.

My garage is kept at 40F.

 

[MME Farmer]

The heater is small so you have to manage it differently by plugging in and preconditioning longer in advance. I just did a series of tests in very similar temps here: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/mach-lees-mach-e-cold-weather-testing-taking-requests.24393/

Basically I found that if you didn't precondition before leaving, the cabin would take upwards of 1.5 hours to warm up while driving, and will only reach a maximum temp of the lower 60's when it's below 0ºF outside. The heater is just too small to maintain 70ºF inside when it's that cold.

Make sure you are leaving the car plugged in all the time when it's off (like a block heater) so the battery stays warm. Remote start or precondition at least 30 minutes in advance, 15 minutes isn't enough time for the cabin to warm up in those temps.

I don't recommend driving the car when it's colder than -13ºF outside, it will be uncomfortable. Drive something else.

Thanks for the information, one problem I have is that we are on off-peak so we can't precondition when plugged in so going to try a half hour remote start and see what happens. It's -10F today but it's going to be sunny so that will help. I see on another post that he uses the seats on the second setting, I find the first setting is way too hot for my liking. Even my wife doesn't leave the seat on which I thought she would. I have found that when alone and the passenger seat on high does make a difference. Wish they would have taken some of the heat from the seats and put in a bigger heater.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Thanks for the information, one problem I have is that we are on off-peak so we can't precondition when plugged in so going to try a half hour remote start and see what happens. It's -10F today but it's going to be sunny so that will help. I see on another post that he uses the seats on the second setting, I find the first setting is way too hot for my liking. Even my wife doesn't leave the seat on which I thought she would. I have found that when alone and the passenger seat on high does make a difference. Wish they would have taken some of the heat from the seats and put in a bigger heater.

In your case, I would recommend setting a departure time 15 minutes before the end of your off-peak time (usually 6-8AM timeframe) to warm up the battery for the day, and then use remote start for 15-30 minutes right before you leave.

 

[MME Farmer]

In your case, I would recommend setting a departure time 15 minutes before the end of your off-peak time (usually 6-8AM timeframe) to warm up the battery for the day, and then use remote start for 15-30 minutes right before you leave.

In your case, I would recommend setting a departure time 15 minutes before the end of your off-peak time (usually 6-8AM timeframe) to warm up the battery for the day, and then use remote start for 15-30 minutes right before you leave.

Thank you, I'll give that a try. We had a 350 mile trip today with some terrible roads this evening, chickened out after checking on the charging at Sioux Falls and it was below zero so took the old DTS that did spectacular and cooked us out if we let it. Didn't have to charge for an hour or better either, but was more expensive.

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