Hi Gang: just had a cold snap here in MN [oh what a surprise??hahaha] the "Low Indicator Light" came on and stayed on during the ride to work... anyway to turn it off? or can I count on burning it out after 8-9 months of being on here in MN?? did toyato think we couldn't tell it was cold out? or does it have a purpose?? thanks
It'll turn off next spring. After a while, you'll learn to ignore it and you don't even see it anymore. And no, no way to turn it off. You might try electrician tape over it. It's a warning that the roads could be icy - not really just that is cold out, and I think it turns on when temp drops below 37 or so. Not useful if you already know it's cold, but on a longer drive if the temp falls it can be useful.
Actually, once when I drove from Southern Indiana to Chicago a cold front had moved through in addition to the fact that it's often just colder up here. So as I was driving along, the "low temp" light came on. With the front came clouds and the chance of cold rain mixed with snow. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I felt a little more prepared driving along the interstate with the knowledge that from this point on the overpasses might have freezing conditions.
The cold temp light will stay on as long as your coolant temperature stays below 50C.. The engine will continue to run and not shut off for stealth until the coolant temperature gets to at least 70F. If the cold temp light does not go out within 10 minutes, either you're not actually in Minnesota, but have been transported via warp vortex to Antarctica where it's -50 outside, or there's something wrong with either your thermostat (stuck open perhaps) or the temperature sensor..
Wrong car and wrong light. 1G had the 'turtle' when things were too cold. The 'cold temp' light mentioned by the OP is the little snow flake. It comes out of it's summer hibernation whenever the outside air temp is below 38 degrees F. It will stay on as long as that OAT stays below 38 degrees. I'd prefer Chinese water torture...but that's just me!
You guys talking about the cold temp light, and I'd be sitting here seeing a 'hot temp' light if it had one, indicating that the AC will be working harder.
Just got back from a trip to Tahoe and at about 6500 feet up in the Sierra's this indicator light snapped on and seeing as I've only had the car about a month I was unaware of what it was and what it was telling me. Any other surprises out there I should know about? I almost pulled over but since I didn't hear any real problems I kept on going. It stayed on all the way into Lake Tahoe. Hats off to Toyota Customer care - got the answer in about three minutes and it did ease my mind. The representative said it affected my MPG - but seeing as I was getting about 49 MPG I was alright with that. Marty
The MFD has an outside temperature display. We all know that water freezes at 32 degrees and black ice can form a little above that. We don't need a stupid snowflake to tell us it is cold outside along with the outside temperature. They could make the outside temperature number be blue instead of white if they want. But the temp light indicator is annoying, unneeded, and appears as if something is wrong with the car. I get sick of people asking me what is wrong with the car when they ride in it.
oh, God, that's funny. Stupid snowflake indeeed! I'd owned the car for a week when this indicator went on (Toronto, say no more) freaked, and had to pull over and read the manual to find out what it was. To find out that it registers cold below 3C was laughable. (and what a relief!)
does this "cold temp light' only apply to outside temp or the temp of coolant?? mine seems to stay on if it's below 37 degrees outside, even after the engine has "warmed up"....do I possibly have engine problems/therastat?? thanks
Outside temp. Not coolant temp. I have seen it once but it will be back not as often as Minnesota but too often. For Dantheman the freeze bomb is in the mail. The jet stream will drop below Cuba and the Canada air mass will visit you and it will snow. You will know the pain of the upper latitudes. You will feel our pain.
berkley - at least it's warmed up a bit in MN right now - a few more days to be snowflake free. Are you in the Cities?? - saw a '05 Silver Prius this last Sat. at my church! first one I've seen that hasn't been driftwood pearl color.
"Just got back from a trip to Tahoe and at about 6500 feet up in the Sierra's this indicator light snapped on and seeing as I've only had the car about a month I was unaware of what it was and what it was telling me." You were in Tahoe? It is the "park and go skiing now!" indicator.
The whole "low outside temp" light is a pretty common item in most cars with some outside temp display system. In Ford products when the temp goes below 37 degrees the temp display will flash for a minute or so alternating between the outside temperature and "ICE" on the display. When you see the yellow low temp light flash on the display, quickly look over to the MFD. The outside temp indicator will be highlighted and the yellow snowflake will be there also, at least until the dash light stops flashing. This has been an uncommonly cold November so far up here with high humidity. So, with high humidity and cold nights we have perfect conditions not necessarily for black ice, but for slick roads. The humid air is condensing on the pavement and then freezing. It isn't slick to walk on asphalt in this condition, but lots of tires spin slightly on it. In short the weather conditions we have had the past few days prove how useful this light is.
jeromep - I'm glad it's useful for someone. I just think it's annoying and now that I've seen it "live" WHY didn't they make it the calming blue color instead of the amber. Designers must not be from cold climes. :angry:
I just noticed that, while the light does come on at 37 degrees F, it doesn't turn off until the temp climbs up to 39 or 40 degrees. Anyone elso notice this?
I think they should have a sideway's palm tree light, for us florida folks, when the hurricanes get close
hey i might just see that light twice this winter. it's a warning of HUGE TRAFFIC JAMS because people here don't know how to drive in snow. [citing the 18 hour traffic jams that occurred last january when people tried all leaving early due to snowfall and driving from durham to raleigh (30 miles), and how so many people stayed in hotels until the hotels filled up, and people were taking coffee and other warm drinks from strangers while trying to WALK home, and kids ended up sleeping at school, and.... and... ugh.] i'm from wisconsin, folks. i nearly died laughing once the whole thing was over and everyone was home safe.
