My car takes a long time to heat up.

[fpage77]

My car takes forever to heat up (heater). I set the setting all the way up to 80 and put blower on the max and have circulation and ac off so I know it should be heat. It blows out this luke warm air and only after about 10 minutes or more it get warmer. I know my smart is not a Scion but just moving from one car to another I see a difference. I imagine theres some ducts running under the car from near engine (assume that is where heat comes form). I just wondered is it taking long to warm up for you guys?

[NCC1701]

I'm pleased with my '08's warm up time. I've driven the same route to work for nearly over 16 years, in three cars. The other two took about two miles to put out heat, while my smart starts a little after a mile, seriously. I thought it was due to the smaller mass of the engine block warming up more quickly. I don't know if that makes sense ... but, I do know I get heat a little sooner.

I have seen others with your complaint on this forum though. Maybe because a COLD day here is not as cold as a cold day there. My car started at 30-40° ... but the other two cars did too.

It's nice to have heated seats 'til the car starts putting out.

[hijinx54]

I start the temp below 70 at first then walk it up a little at a time
until it gets hot.
By the time my seats are completely heated so is the heater.

[fpage77]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

It's nice to have heated seats 'til the car starts putting out.

You have a strange relationship with your car.

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by fpage77

You have a strange relationship with your car.

Yeah, we get along just fine!

[mdfortwoguy]

Don't even turn the heat on until it has been running a few minutes.

The smart has 2 separate cooling loops for the engine, depending on whether the thermostat is closed or open. By cranking the heat so early, you are slowing down the whole warm-up process once the thermostat opens.

The heater core is nothing but a small radiator, and it is located far enough from the engine that there is some loss of coolant temp while it is travelling to it... mind you there is not much coolant as it is, and sending it through both the radiator and heater core really saps the ability to warm it up.

[dagwodzz]

Originally Posted by mdfortwoguy

Don't even turn the heat on until it has been running a few minutes.

The smart has 2 separate cooling loops for the engine, depending on whether the thermostat is closed or open. By cranking the heat so early, you are slowing down the whole warm-up process once the thermostat opens.

The heater core is nothing but a small radiator, and it is located far enough from the engine that there is some loss of coolant temp while it is travelling to it... mind you there is not much coolant as it is, and sending it through both the radiator and heater core really saps the ability to warm it up.

Good post.

[paroyboy]

Agreed...I never turn the fan on till I've been driving for around 5 minutes. I leave the temp up at 80 but the fan off. Even so, its not rel quick to get "hot".

[mdfortwoguy]

I've gotten used to the rudimentary climate controls in my little beast.

Keeping it at 72 or so works just as well as all the way up, except for that whole rolling oven effect after a while.

[NeWave]

then again.. on sunny days, the natural solar heating for those with a panoramic roof helps out that oven effect, too.