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

snowflake by the temp only on older models?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by poodlemaster, Jan 16, 2007.

  1. poodlemaster

    poodlemaster New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2007
    43
    1
    0
    i just purchased a 2007 prius package#2 almost 2 weeks ago and absolutely love it. i read a post where someone asked what the little snoflake was for on his or her car. someone said that the prius has this as a safety feature to alert owners when the roads can be icey and slick. i think it's a great idea, but i've looked everywhere on my dash and on the temp display when the temperature was 28 degrees and still have noticed no snowflake. so basically, i'm just wondering if this is a feature removed for 2007's, but i can't imagine what the justification for that would be. thanks for any feedback..
     
    #1 poodlemaster, Jan 16, 2007
  2. Ken Cooper

    Ken Cooper New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2004
    339
    5
    0
    Actually, from what I've noticed, the snowflake comes on at 37 degrees F to warn you to be careful of Ice even though logic says there shouldn't be any Ice. Don't know to what lower temperature it cuts off. At least that's the way it is on my 2004 model.
     
    #2 Ken Cooper, Jan 16, 2007
  3. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    The snowflake is only on the pre-2006 models. The 2006 and 2007 drop a flag across the top of the MFD under the same conditions.

    Tom
     
    #3 qbee42, Jan 16, 2007
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,831
    16,066
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Funny how the 2006+ owners want it and the 2004-2005 owners hate it haha.

    I don't mind it. It's been on for the past week and it doesn't bother me.

    It comes on at 3°C/37°F and goes off at 4°C/39°F.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Jan 17, 2007
  5. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2004
    1,637
    16
    0
    Location:
    Dallas TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    <_< Hi writergal...

    I have been out and about in my '07 Touring Edition in temperatures well below 37º and have not seen an MFD "pop up" either. Doesn't really bother me, but makes me curious. :huh:
     
    #5 Charles Suitt, Jan 17, 2007
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,831
    16,066
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    So they removed it all together on the 07? lol.

    Ok, let's get it straight. The snowflake we're talking about is the yellow one on the dash that stays lit, not the warning that momentarily pops up on the MFD (which the older models also had) at 37°F.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Jan 17, 2007
  7. Baalphire

    Baalphire New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2007
    11
    0
    0
    I dont know when i start up my 07 anywhere around 36F i get the little snowflake icon for avout 15 seconds next to the temp on the MFD
     
    #7 Baalphire, Jan 17, 2007
  8. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2004
    1,690
    6
    0
    Location:
    Washington DC
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I'm sure they took it out because the 2004/5 owners whined incessantly that it was annoying, distracting and they didn't need the car to be a 'Nanny' for them.

    I've always appreciated it especially when driving long haul through temperature changes and it comes on at about the point when 'bridges and overpasses may freeze'.

    Remember, there can be ice on the ground long before the air temperature hits freezing, especially at night.
     
    #8 Tempus, Jan 17, 2007
  9. daveleeprius

    daveleeprius Heh heh heh you think so?

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2006
    429
    2
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Jan 16 2007, 10:43 PM) [snapback]376622[/snapback]</div>
    Not true. I have a 2007 and I get the snowflake. It only shows up momentarily, you have to be looking at the MFD to catch it. I've never seen a flag across the top of the MFD, do you have a photo of this?

    Dave
     
    #9 daveleeprius, Jan 17, 2007
  10. poodlemaster

    poodlemaster New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2007
    43
    1
    0
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveLeePrius @ Jan 17 2007, 10:56 AM) [snapback]376766[/snapback]</div>
    do you notice it when you start up the car in colder temps? or is it just when you're driving in warmer temps and it drops below a certain degree in temperature?
     
    #10 poodlemaster, Jan 17, 2007
  11. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2004
    1,690
    6
    0
    Location:
    Washington DC
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveLeePrius @ Jan 17 2007, 10:56 AM) [snapback]376766[/snapback]</div>
    The 2004/5 Snowflake is a light on the dash not the MFD.
     
    #11 Tempus, Jan 17, 2007
  12. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2004
    4,333
    7
    0
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Jan 17 2007, 08:54 AM) [snapback]376787[/snapback]</div>
    We get both.

    When the snowflake warning light first comes on the dashboard, it flashes for a few seconds while at the same time a snowflake icon shows up on the MFD immediately to the left of the ambient temperature readout. When the dashboard light becomes steady, the MFD icon goes off.
     
    #12 IsrAmeriPrius, Jan 17, 2007
  13. Renocat

    Renocat Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2006
    363
    11
    0
    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    There is another thread about the snowflake and someone has an '06 that they say has the snowflake. I have an '06 and have never looked for the snowflake because folks here say it isn't there. It is currently 17 degrees at 2:30 pm. I will look for the snowflake when I leave work in a 1/2 hour. I have seen the drop down message on the MFD many times.
     
    #13 Renocat, Jan 17, 2007
  14. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2004
    1,637
    16
    0
    Location:
    Dallas TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    :mellow: My guess: It was less expensive for Toyota to use the wiring for warning lights formerly assigned to the "snowflake" for, say, the TPMS warning light and replace the "snowflake" with a pop-up on the MFD. Seems this substitution could be done in aboard computer programming and a substituted 'symbol' on the panel template.

    As I said... my 'guess.' ;)
     
    #14 Charles Suitt, Jan 17, 2007
  15. Manksgloob

    Manksgloob Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    243
    13
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    But I'd much rather have the dash snowflake AND the MFD flag for ice, and have the MFD come on to tell me which tire(s) has lost pressure, than to just the MFD ice flag and a non-specific low tire pressure icon on the dash.
     
    #15 Manksgloob, Jan 17, 2007
  16. raljen

    raljen New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2006
    7
    0
    0
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveLeePrius @ Jan 17 2007, 08:56 AM) [snapback]376766[/snapback]</div>

    I have a 2007 and I have never had a snowflake or any type of flag warning on my MFD or the dash.
     
    #16 raljen, Jan 17, 2007
  17. mykoleary

    mykoleary Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2006
    14
    0
    0
    I have an 07 with nav and the pop down "flag" appears at the top of my MFD at temp 37F. It is slightly annoying as the motion on the MFD draws my attention when I see it in my peripheral vision.
     
    #17 mykoleary, Jan 19, 2007
  18. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
     
    #18 JimN, Jan 19, 2007
  19. seeh2o

    seeh2o Prius OG

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2004
    447
    15
    0
    Location:
    City of Angels
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    I have a 2004, live in Los Angeles and when I went out to my car parked on the street I actually saw the snowflake on my dash last Saturday when it was 37 degrees. I was so excited I called my parents back in Indiana! Previously, the snowflake had only made two appearances when I was driving through a mountain pass.

    Long live the snowflake!
     
    #19 seeh2o, Jan 20, 2007
  20. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,667
    8,068
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Jan 16 2007, 11:43 PM) [snapback]376622[/snapback]</div>
    Hmmm ... My 2004 (with NEW MFD ... as the original on many were a bit twitchy) has both flag drop AND the snow flake disply. Now I feel special.

    My snowflake / flag drop both occur at 36 degrees ... stay on at minus 17 ... goes off only when it gets back up over 36 degrees
     
    #20 hill, Jan 20, 2007
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)