Press and hold the key fob car lock button count to 5, release it, press and hold the pre heat button on the key fob ( picture of a thermometer), count to five and release it.

The lights come on to show it is pre heating.

 

Yes, it is the flashing lights that tell you.

Lock the car, lights will flash, then press and hold the precon button on the fob until the lights flash again.

The green light on the dash will change from short flashes (charged) to continually on (drawing power from mains). It is worth keeping an eye out for the continually on green light. I have had two occasions when the precon started but was drawing the battery down rather than from the mains.

 

Thanks for the prompt replies.

Does the car have to be plugged in for it to work?

What settings do I use when I exit the car the night before wanting to use it?

Cheers,
Jim

 

No, doesn't need to be plugged, but obviously will draw on battery if not. Uses around 0.8kWh for the first full preheat at 0C, then another 0.4kWh for the second. You can do up to 2.

You do really need a preheat these days because it's the only way to demist windows from a cold start. I tend to set it 5 mins before leaving work (no plugin then), it'll use around 0.5kWh and I'll set it to 'HOLD' or 'MM' straight away as I need to burn a bit or petrol to make my commute anyway, so might as well get the 'free heat'.

 

It uses a lot of energy from the battery to precondition the car so yes it needs to be plugged in. There's no settings to cause it to happen automatically, you have to manually start it going in the morning when you get up using the key fob.

 

Doesn't need to be plugged in, I frequently use it going to the car in a public car park for example just to take the edge off getting into it. Great range on the fob

 

Just to my experience if the EML light is on for any reason ... the precondition will not work, or start.

For me there is no need to press and hold the lock button.
Just press lock on the remote (indicators flash) and then within 5 seconds just press and hold the remote start button (indicators flast and the side lights will light up (front and rear)) now release the precondition button.
According to the manual is will run up to 10mins like this and then it will stop unless manually interupted.
The side lights remain lit up for the whole duration while the precodition is running.

One more thing I noticed is that it will remember the Climate settings from the last time you used the car (ECO-MIN-MAX mode), so it you want it to warm up nicely ..then leave to the MAX the night before. Well this is what the manual says at least.

As many said best to use it with the car plugged in to electicity point.

Enjoy

 

Ahh sussed it thanks chaps. I obviously wasn't trying hard enough! I probably didn't hold the button down until side lights come on.

I can charge at work and range isn't a problem so I'm not fussed about keeping it plugged in at home. I'm looking forward to a nice toasty drive tomorrow morning!

Cheers,
Jim

 

The sidelights come on if you had DRLs set at the last power off.

I tend to leave sidelights ON when powering down (the sidelights then go out). This turns DRL OFF and disables the sidelights when preconditioning. (You might not want to draw attention to your car when it is in this state.)

 

The manual has all sorts of useful information in it, you know - might be worth a read

 

I took a few attempts to realise it remembered the climate setting, off eco max. I expected the car to use Max when in pre conditioning mode, as it would be plugged in, but it doesn't. It would be nice if it did in case you forget the night before.

 

It's taking me a while to get through all the climate/info-tainment settings, despite reading the manual (briefly!)

Yesterday I discovered a Take That album on the HardDrive and I promise you, I did not put it there!

Cheers,
Jim

 

Lol! A likely story

 

Can this be used in reverse to cool car

 

Yes.
Just the same as heating, set the temperature, leave in eco or max mode.

The windows will open if you hold the unlock button on the keyfob. Handy to let hot air out as you approach in summer. The fob has quite a range 👌

 

The preheating is a great feature. Mine works from the third floor up in my flat with the car in a concrete garage at ground level. I just hold the fob out of the window, press the button and it warms up while I have breackfast. The only disadvantage is the beep it makes when you press the button means all my neighbours know I have an early start. I wish the been could be quietened down but apparently it can't be.