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Prius Prime External Temperature Display/Gauge Inaccurate

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by EK2017, Aug 25, 2019.

  1. EK2017

    EK2017 Junior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I have a 2017 Prius Prime. Has anyone noticed that their external temperature display is inaccurate? The outdoor temperature that is displayed on the dashboard generally ranges between 5 and 10 degrees off of what the actual temperature is outside (usually the displayed temperature is above the actual temperature).

    I was told that the reason the displayed temperature is not correct is because the gauge is on the bottom of the car and is taking the temperature of the ground. In the summer, this can be ten degrees hotter than the air temperature.

    Do you have this problem too?
     
    Prius from Dad likes this.
  2. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    I have a 2017 also and I don't have that problem. Mine seems to be very close to local weather from a few different sources.
     
    vvillovv and Raytheeagle like this.
  3. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    I don't have a problem with it, but I have seen the gauge be off by 5 to 10 degrees from what the weather app on the MID shows and also the temp gauge in my older hybrid. I noticed it in the winter during sub freezing temps. I've also noticed that the gauge will usually get closer to the actual temp as I'm driving, especially on longer trips (more than 10 miles or so to pick a semi random number). It usually gets real close to actual or right on (well right on, as far as I know what the actual temp outside really is).
     
    davecook89t and jerrymildred like this.
  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I tend to suspect that the "official" temperature isn't taken with a sensor placed a foot or two above hot asphalt. Mine reads crazy high as I start out, but comes down closer to actual after a few miles.
     
    davecook89t likes this.
  5. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    2018 Prius Prime
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    Prime Premium
    Mine will lag the outdoor temperature for a long period of time. Park car in garage at 82F, when outside temp is 98F. Drive the car in EV 4 miles out, park, 4 miles back, reading maybe 85F. I haven't experimented, but it appears that when the grill louvers are closed or ICE is not running, there isn't much airflow over the temperature sensor.
     
  6. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    Prime Plus
    I think mine reads high. I'm not sure where the sensor is, but maybe because of its location it's not reading true ambient temperature.
     
  7. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    The sensor can be adjusted + or - 2 or 3 degrees using an OBD reader such as Carista, or by the dealer for a small (HA!) fee. However, I haven't seen any real reason to adjust mine.
     
  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Parked in the sun on the asphalt parking lot all day, it always reads higher than the official local temperature which is read in a shade 3-4 feet above the ground. As soon as I start driving away, it seems to adjust. Parked overnight, the temperature is always very close to what the ambient temperature outside of the car or inside of the cabin.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  9. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    jerrymildred likes this.