Heating issues

3313 Views 31 Replies 18 Participants Last post by lrvaught2, 3 mo ago

Mikey7436

Discussion Starter · 5 mo ago

I have searched around and couldn't find heat issues except for the hybrid.

I have 20 rav and in the winter my heat is completely horrible in my opinion. For instance today was -10 Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -40. I drive about 20min to work. In that 20min it takes to get to work my feet are still cold. I do remote start it for about 10min before I leave. So that means I'm letting my car run for about 30min which I feel should definitely get some good heat. This isnt new neither this has happened ever since I got the vehicle. Yes I know -40 is cold but all of my previous vehicles were just fine in the cold. This is my 1st 4cyl so maybe that's why?

Anyone else have issues or ideas on what is causing this?

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Tazio Nuvolari

· #21 · 5 mo ago

Paragon said:
Did some driving with the scanner attached.

I'm shopping for an OBD2 scanner to replace my basic 20 year old one. What scanner did you use and how much did it cost?

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Paragon

· #22 · 5 mo ago

I have the OBDLink MX+ bluetooth. I think it was under 100 when I got it almost 2 years ago. Now over 130. Currently using their app
Scans fine and pretty quick for DTCs. Originally got it when my Vibe was acting funny. Have used it on a few other things.
you will need to download the toyota ID info for the car (app does it automatically)
OBDLink app you can have dashboard and also logging but you have to set up logging separately (does not automatically log what you set up in dashboard - need to go into setting-logging and select IDs. I may try Carista app next time to see if it is a little easier to set up. Just seems like a lot of steps to view the live data that you want (although once you have it updated for the vehicle, you can set it up in the house and then connect it)
Carista seems to be recommended a lot. Not sure how it is for updates. OBDLink has free firmware and ID updates so far.
My next tool will be one of the ones CarCareNut recommends that is full mechanics handheld for around $500. Those can actuate things for diagnostics. Split it with a friend and it isn't that bad of an investment. These bluetooth ones are handy to keep in the car though.

Thats the log. 1 second intervals. Engine and pump RPM are cropped out so temps can be seen easier. The blue blip at the bottom is the valve. Can see the blips at 889 when I was messing with the temp/ac to determine if it was for the heater core.

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Paragon

· #23 · 5 mo ago

So that oil temp data above it not correct. Had the wrong PID selected. That all must be the trans oil data. Engine oil temps were higher when I found it.
Carista currently is not able to view live data but can view settings of the car and TPMS but need to pay to have access to change any of that.

Regarding heat. Even with that valve showing closed, heat was coming out of the vents so I'm not sure what it is intended to do.
I think the venting in the feet area likely is not directly on the feet like I said before. Perhaps some double sided tape and a small deflector could bump it to the toe area.

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Henry L

· #24 · 5 mo ago

I have the same problem. In the same weather, when I drive my Subaru Outback, it would be warm by the time I arrived at work. With my RAV4, I've driven the same route and it just doesn't seem to warm up quickly. Really sucks during this cold snap. Considering getting a small electric heater.

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Paragon

· #25 · 5 mo ago

Electric heater? not going to do much with the available current and interior volume. Just don't be that guy on youtube that pulled into service with a propane turkey roaster going on the back seat...

Perhaps try a grill cover or block heater.
Sport mode will keep it in 1 gear lower so rpm will be a little higher.

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FKHeath

· #26 · 5 mo ago

Henry L said:
I have the same problem. In the same weather, when I drive my Subaru Outback, it would be warm by the time I arrived at work. With my RAV4, I've driven the same route and it just doesn't seem to warm up quickly. Really sucks during this cold snap. Considering getting a small electric heater.

Paragon said:
Electric heater? not going to do much with the available current and interior volume. Just don't be that guy on youtube that pulled into service with a propane turkey roaster going on the back seat...

Perhaps try a grill cover or block heater.
Sport mode will keep it in 1 gear lower so rpm will be a little higher.

An electric heater for the cabin is exactly what the OEM Toyota Comfort+ system has (Toyota COMFORT+ - Taylor Toyota). But it is only available in Canada. You could order the system, have it delivered to you in the US and install it yourself.

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Henry L

· #27 · 5 mo ago

Thank you, I'll look into that.

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AbbyParis

· #28 · 4 mo ago

XA50_Trail said:
I do find it take a while for the car to warm up and find the coolant temp and oil temps stay pretty low. The transmission keeping the revs below 1,500 RPM doesn’t help and I do use sport mode to warm things up and accelerate more aggressively. Yeah fuel economy sucks but at least I’m warm.

Here I had takeout in the car and wanted to keep it warm. Got the interior to +24C while it was -27C outside.

On a side note the rear defrost sucks too.

View attachment 190674

Hi, How do I get this display to show? I certainly want to see these. RAV4 Hybrid Prime 2021 Thanks, Abby.

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Paragon

· #29 · 4 mo ago

looks like an OBD reader and phone app

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XA50_Trail

· #30 · 4 mo ago

AbbyParis said:
Hi, How do I get this display to show? I certainly want to see these. RAV4 Hybrid Prime 2021 Thanks, Abby.

Paragon is correct, I’m using the OBDFusion app via a WiFi OBD2 adapter. It’s pretty slick.

The dashboard I created within it also shows transmission lock up (blue ring when locked) and also the fuel injection mode for the D-4S system.

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Bones34

· #31 · 3 mo ago

AO1 said:
I'm experiencing similar heat issues in our 2022 ICE RAV4 XLE. The car just had its 5,000 mile service so everything is fine from that perspective. Drove 300 miles in subzero temps and the cabin was warm but you couldn't get it hot if you wanted to. But most noticeable and bothersome (besides the rather pathetic partially heated steering wheel) was poor heating of the foot well area. I like warm feet when I drive but this car seems incapable of producing that kind of heat in the driver's side foot well. Give me an old '69 air cooled VW Beetle where you could roast your toes if you wanted to. On the plus side, even at -14 deg. F, it started up easily and ran well. I'm sure the 0W-16 oil has something to do with that.

At least we don't own Teslas where an owner reported that, in these frigid temps, the car could not warm up the battery sufficiently to accept a charge. Just another reason why an EV is not on my radar until the technology is improved, especially with regards to cold weather operation and efficiency.

Same issue in my 22 Rav4 ice, any where from -17 to -40 the cabin heat does not very warm, when I stop at a red light engine temp drops, I also feel the fan speed on def/feet is not sufficient, I can't get help from the dealer because I haven't been able to get it to the dealer when it happens because I'm an hour and half away, basically they tell me I'm shit out of luck. One dealer told me Toyota Canada is aware of a problem but no solution yet, first last Toyota I will ever own, trying to sell.

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lrvaught2

· #32 · 3 mo ago

Mikey7436 said:
Like I said though this is the only vehicle I have had that is having this issue my past vehicles no problem in the cold. My wife's f150 gets so hot you have to crack a window even at this cold temp. I bought it brand new. I did put a little coolant in which was the recommended. So there should not be any air in the system. It is odd though my temp gauge is sitting halfway when driving which it is suppose to but if I stop and park somewhere the gauge will move down to a quarter. I have never seen a vehicle like that.

I have a the same issue almost, air volume is weak when on vent and floor mode. on remote start it warms up slowly, but if I start it manually and the outside temp is in the 30's the engine will run for about 30 seconds on high temp settings in the eco mode. the will come back on when I start driving then shut off when I coast or stop. So it takes a while to warm up

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