Cold Weather Effects

Morning all!

I have a few questions about the weather/temps up here and how they might affect my '17 TRD OR.

1. Since I got the truck, I've had a thin layer of frost build up on the inside of the windshield and all of the windows. The sunroof's interior slider door was closed...when I opened it, the sunroof glass was bone dry. I understand that any source of moisture could cause this, and I don't want to assume a leak until I know it's not something else. Can water/snow leftover from shoes and from opening the door (and falling in) really be enough to cause this? If so, would adding silica bags or leaving recirc on/off have any effect?

2. I have the dealer-installed Compustar 2W901R-SS remote start. The last few mornings, neither transmitter (1-way or 2-way) connects with the truck...no arm, disarm, or start. I reprogrammed BOTH transmitters yesterday afternoon, and they both worked...until this morning...same thing. I disconnected the antenna (mounted on windshield, to the right of the Go-Pro mount) for a bit, but that did nothing. This time, I started the truck manually and let her warm up. After a few minutes, the transmitters worked fine. I'm guessing yesterday's "reprogramming" did nothing, as I had the same issue this morning. Any chance the cold could affect the antenna's reception? Has anyone had this issue and resolved it by relocating the antenna?

I live in the valley and prefer not to waste a day at Anchorage's sole Toyota dealership if I can remedy these myself. I park outside, so the wife can have the heated garage...and I've got a feeling that if we swapped, I wouldn't have these issues. I've also researched both of these...and there's a multitude of answers...just not sure which ones really apply here.

Thanks all!

 

Any moisture in the air would tend to freeze on the inside of the glass, so more then likely no leak. Not sure silica bags would help.

 

Makes sense. I'm thinking science is to blame...dew point, condensation, etc.

 

Yes, since after you drive it any kind of a distance, especially during really cold weather, the inside of the cab will be much warmer then the outside, so moisture in the air will condense on the coldest areas, the glass, and eventually freeze there as the interior cools off. Kinda like a beer bottle sweating...

 

My wife has a Compustar auto start on her Subaru and I'm not a fan. She has a manual so it's a little more complicated, but it has a ridiculous set of requirements that must be met in order to start. Must be in neutral, parking brake on, foot off brake, and then remove key. Do any of that wrong and it won't be armed to remote start. Open the car in anyway without starting it and the remote start is dearmed until you start it with the key and redo all the arming steps. It's a poor design and system.

When it first got cold I had to reprogram the remotes for the slower start and lower initial idle speed. Basically cold start the engine without having it plugged in, in the garage, etc on a cold morning and set the remotes. Hers wasn't starting consistently when cold until I did that, remote was installed and programmed during the summer.

 

Perfect analogy!

 

I heard cat litter works to stop condensation too.

 

Yeah, that's apparently the issue with these push-to-start vehicles. You remote start it, only to open the door and kill the engine...then manually start it.

Mine just stops working all-around, both transmitters. It just seems that the temp is what's affecting it, since it works after I start it and warm it up. Maybe insulate the antenna from the window...

 

Crystal Kitty litter.

Arctic Basics.
The moisture is collecting because (probably) you have the heater control set to recirculate the warm air inside the vehicle. This just keeps reheating the same air and helps to warm up the interior faster. The downside is the moisture from your breathing collects on any cold surface.

Solution, after the interior starts warming up turn from recirculate back to vent. It will bring cold-dry outside air through the heater core and that pesky moist interior air will exit behind the seat. I will sometimes open a rear window a quarter inch to help vent.

Sandy

 

So, I cleaned out all of the snow residue that I could...hardly any moisture on the windows this AM.

Took the Taco in to Toyota for the Compustar remote start. They originally suspected the truck battery (I didn't agree), but that checked fine. The accessories guy replaced the antenna...so far, so good. Not sure how it could go in and out based on light temperature changes, but at least it's good for now.