Weird Icon in Climate Control Solved

Discussion in 'Gen III 2010+ Prius Main Forum' started by Tideland Prius, Mar 3, 2009.

  1. Offline
    • Moderator

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North

    Member Since:
    Oct 2, 2004
    Message Count:
    27,008
    Likes Received:
    1,175
    Location:
    Canada
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Alright so I did some digging around to find that Lexus feature on the new Prius' climate control system. It's the icon with the "head" mode with an arrow going through a set of dots and lines that look like a filter.


    From the Lexus IS manual:

    Outside air mode switches to
    (recirculated air) mode. Pollen
    is removed from the air and the
    air flows to the upper part of the
    body.

    To stop the operation, press
    again.




    Ok it's not very descriptive. It also begs the question: "Isn't the cabin filter always there? What makes this mode so special?" Note that it isn't in the ES350 or the LS460, just the IS and GS (I don't know if it's in the SUVs). This mode also takes the climate control out of AUTO.
    Tideland Prius, Mar 3, 2009
    Like Reply Share #1
  2. Offline

    svendiesel Guy with the Trailblazer SS

    Member Since:
    Mar 3, 2009
    Message Count:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Northern NJ
    Your Vehicle Year:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Recirculating the air is useful for quickly eliminating strange in-cabin odors that may have entered the car as well as it can help recycle whatever air is already in the car, thus no need for the engine to heat or cool incoming outside air. It just takes whats already in the cabin and reuses it. It should only be used for brief periods of time though, 10 mins or less.
    svendiesel, Mar 3, 2009
    Like Reply Share #2
  3. Offline

    spwolf New Member

    Member Since:
    Sep 16, 2005
    Message Count:
    2,230
    Likes Received:
    156
    Location:
    Eastern Europe
    no, it doesnt go through carbon filter always, it goes through normal one... when you click on icon, it goes through carbon filter that "cleans" the air better...

    its feature usually found on more expensive vehicles.... before carbon filters were standard but that caused them to be spent too soon, and some people didnt like replacement costs so now it is done differently...

    old Prius just had normal pollen filter.
    spwolf, Mar 3, 2009
    Like Reply Share #3
  4. Offline

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Member Since:
    Sep 22, 2004
    Message Count:
    9,659
    Likes Received:
    1,270
    Location:
    Queens, NY
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2006 Prius
    It is to remove odor for those with smelly foot. :D Well, you don't want the fresh air blowing down there.
    usbseawolf2000, Mar 3, 2009
    Like Reply Share #4
  5. Offline
    • Moderator

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North

    Member Since:
    Oct 2, 2004
    Message Count:
    27,008
    Likes Received:
    1,175
    Location:
    Canada
    Your Vehicle Year:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Ohh... is it activated or just a normal carbon filter? So there's two filters? and Plasmacluster? Isn't that a bit of an overload?

    That is true but I just find it odd that it removes the pollen (so says the manual) in recirc mode. Guess it's after you discover the smell and you have to recirculate and thus it'll help remove the odor much quicker than normally recirculating it without the filter.

    It also takes it out of AUTO though so I guess it's not gonna be used very often?
    Tideland Prius, Mar 3, 2009
    Like Reply Share #5

Share This Page