Strange change in outside temperature reading

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by CaliforniaBear, Sep 13, 2014.

  1. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    This was after a car wash and it "appears" to be recovering. It was 20 minutes after the wash so that complicates matters. However, it reads about 10 degrees (F) low and now the word "Outside" is displayed above the temperature. It used to only show the numerical value. Any ideas?
     
    #1 CaliforniaBear, Sep 13, 2014
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    How old is your 12v auxiliary battery? Maybe this unusual behavior is a warning your battery is starting to get low.

    If your battery is Ok, you can always disconnect the battery for a while to reset everything.

    SCH-I535
     
    #2 xliderider, Sep 13, 2014
  3. Tickwood

    Tickwood Active Member

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    Mine does the same thing. I think water gets on the sensor. It will be fine as soon as it dries out.
     
    #3 Tickwood, Sep 13, 2014
  4. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    Battery is good. Temp reading seems okay now. Must have been the water.
     
    #4 CaliforniaBear, Sep 13, 2014
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    why does it even have the ability to display 'outside'? does that mean it is used in another vehicle with more features?
     
    #5 bisco, Sep 13, 2014
  6. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    I have a new Avalon. When I run it through the car wash my outside temperature reading changes and is not correct until the sensor dries 20 minutes or so later.
     
    #6 Okinawa, Sep 13, 2014
  7. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    I've been though car washes before with the PiP. I guess the latest on just did a better job :)
     
    #7 CaliforniaBear, Sep 13, 2014
  8. Squirt

    Squirt Member

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    My PiP has always said "outside" for the outside temp.

    The outside temperature is used by the vehicle to determine whether heat and/or A/C is required (as opposed to just fresh exterior air) to reach the target interior temperature. The exterior temp information is also displayed as a convenience to the driver. This has been the case on every vehicle I've owned for the last 10+ years.
     
    #8 Squirt, Sep 15, 2014
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    apologies, i meant the word 'outside'. mine doesn't have that. it only displays outside temp.
     
    #9 bisco, Sep 15, 2014
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    and my reading of the o/p was that the word 'outside' was an anomaly for him, but i'm probably wrong about that.
     
    #10 bisco, Sep 15, 2014
  11. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    Well at my age it wouldn't be unusual to not remember the Outside always being there since I often can't remember what I was planning doing when I leave my room and walk to the kitchen. However, I'm pretty sure that the word Outside wasn't always there but is now shown in all caps. In any case it does now seem to be giving a reasonable temperature reading.
     
    #11 CaliforniaBear, Sep 15, 2014
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    LOL, mine doesn't say 'outside', although, i've always assumed that's what it was. maybe i should get a car wash for the full feature of the display.
     
    #12 bisco, Sep 15, 2014
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