1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

meaning of the orange snowflake light?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Claire0099, May 12, 2010.

  1. Claire0099

    Claire0099 New Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2010
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    canberra
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Last night was cold, when I started the car this morning, the orange snowflake light is on. What does it mean? If I still drive, whether will harm the car? how I can remove it?

    Your reply is appreciated.
     
    #1 Claire0099, May 12, 2010
  2. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    It means that it is cold outside. You can remove it by moving your Prius to a warmer location. Other than that, it doesn't mean anything.

    Tom
     
    #2 qbee42, May 12, 2010
  3. MJFrog

    MJFrog Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2009
    780
    266
    0
    Location:
    NE Oklahoma
    Vehicle:
    2018 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    N/A
    The light comes on when the outside air temp (OAT) drops to 37F or lower. It goes off above 39F. It means it's COLD outside and you should watch out for possible snow and ice on the roads
     
    #3 MJFrog, May 12, 2010
  4. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,496
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    We have speculated that 37ºF (2.7ºC) was selected because potentially dangerous conditions could exist on overpasses and similar bridge-type structures.

    As Tom suggested, the best way to clear that light is to remove your Prius from such cold conditions and move it to warmer climes.
     
    #4 TonyPSchaefer, May 12, 2010
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    On newer Gen II Prius the snowflake light has been replaced by a banner pop up on the MFD which states that the outside air temperature is 39°F. It seems kind of silly, so my wife an I always make a big deal out of it when it pops up. Where we live, we see it quite a bit in the warmer months, but not much in the winter because it never gets that warm.

    Tom
     
    #5 qbee42, May 12, 2010
  6. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2009
    971
    208
    0
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    I believe the newer alert is still at 37 degF.

    Or maybe, since the computer is really thinking in degC, the threshold is somewhere in the middle of 37 and 39...
     
    #6 Politburo, May 12, 2010
  7. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2007
    1,826
    515
    6
    Location:
    Pleasanton, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I guess we should be thankful they chose an orange snowflake vs yellow.....
     
    #7 Codyroo, May 12, 2010
    xpcman likes this.
  8. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    It was yellow in previous models but people were confusing that with "don't eat yellow snow" and not taking it seriously.
     
    #8 spiderman, May 12, 2010
  9. mhmercer

    mhmercer New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2009
    44
    3
    0
    Location:
    Alameda, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    The orange snow flake is a "black-ice" warning device. Some BMW motorcycles have this alarm in the form of a chime.

    Marshal
     
    #9 mhmercer, May 12, 2010
  10. sakai

    sakai New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2009
    39
    1
    0
    Location:
    Charleston, SC
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    and here I thought that it never EVER got that cold in Australia except for perhaps at night in the outback... you learn something new everyday... but yes, don't worry about the alarm - just watch those road conditions
     
    #10 sakai, May 12, 2010
  11. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    7,512
    1,185
    0
    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I have only seen the banner one time because it rarely gets that cold in Sacramento. :D
     
    #11 dogfriend, May 12, 2010
  12. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

    Joined:
    May 21, 2007
    6,038
    707
    0
    Location:
    Tumwater, WA USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That's the "Behold, Eck!" alert.

    It was an Outer Limits episode, starring Eck, a life form that was two-dimensional. The 37F alert looks just like him, so naturally, we call out "Behold, Eck!" whenever we see it.
     
    #12 Rae Vynn, May 12, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  13. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,496
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    The Black Ice indicator works a little differently in the Prius. After you have hit black ice, spun out of control and slid into the ditch, a message comes up on the MFD reading "there was black ice back there. Be careful."

    Just kidding.
     
    #13 TonyPSchaefer, May 12, 2010
  14. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    I believe you are correct. They picked such a weird temperature for the warning that I can never remember exactly what it is.

    Tom
     
    #14 qbee42, May 12, 2010
  15. defrankond

    defrankond Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2010
    217
    23
    0
    Location:
    North Dakota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    i have a 2007 mine has not notified me by the snowflake or on the MFD but mine has a dealer installed auto dimming mirror with compass that says ICE briefly before going back to temp. idk i miss the little snow flake that my 04 had.
     
    #15 defrankond, Oct 28, 2013
  16. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2004
    1,509
    493
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    I added a piece of electrical tape some years back. Now Eck stays in his house.
     
    #16 kenmce, Oct 29, 2013
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)