Toyota Prius: BATTERY COLD LIGHT

"Asa" <net> wrote in message
news:googlegroups.com... 

It's an indicator that your available power will be reduced, so you don't
pull out too close in front of the gravel truck and get in trouble. Adjust
your driving accordingly and all will be well.

Mike

In article <googlegroups.com>,
"Asa" <net> wrote:
 

The "battery caution light"? You mean, in addition to the yellow
snowflake-plus-exclamation-point that comes on when the outside temp
goes below 37 degrees?

Asa wrote: 

This is the first that I've heard of a 2005 Prius (NHW20) having a
"battery caution light" coming on due to cold weather...

On a Classic Prius (2001-2003) NHW11, there are 2 engine coolant lights
on the dash. They both look like a thermometer on wavy "water" lines.
Blue = cold coolant, red = hot coolant.

I have not heard of the red hot coolant light coming on (other than the
brief time at startup when all the other lights come on and off in
self-check), even on cars driven through Death Valley. If this is the
light coming on, you should visit your dealer.

However, the blue cold coolant light is perfectly normal to come on and
stay on when you first start the car, and stay on for the first 5-15min
of driving (depending on the outside temperature). The light says that
the engine coolant isn't up to proper operating temperature (the engine
coolant is cold, to be expected if the car has been sitting undriven
for a while), so the engine will probably be running (and not at its
most efficient state) to warm the coolant up (among other
engine/emissions components). Don't expect your MPG to be much higher
than about 30MPG for the first 5min segment of your driving, as the
engine will be running (and not going into electric). It is perfectly
safe/fine to drive with the blue cold coolant light on, but just try
not to overly stress the engine (floor the accelerator, go up a very
steep/long hill, etc...)

Some 2001 Prius may even show the orange turtle light on some very
cold/windy days, indicating that the hybrid battery is too cold and
will not be providing much/any power. (Acceleration will be a little
sluggish (but still driveable - I didn't really notice the difference
until after the turtle light went out), which is OK as you shouldn't be
stressing the engine with the turtle light anyways...) Keep the heater
on (and the back window shelf clear, where the battery vents are), and
drive gently, and the light will go out in about 20min of travel (in my
experience using backroads with my 2001, anyways; I don't know timing
for pure highway driving).

On the 2004-current Prius NHW20, the blue cold coolant light has been
removed from the dashboard, as has the Turtle light. (On North
American models, the Prius also now has the Coolant Heat Storage System
(CHSS), a pump and a specially-designed thermos-like container that
stores some of the warm coolant when you turn off the car, and then
returns the warm coolant when you start the car, to help shorten the
car's warmup period.) However, there is a new icon - an orange/yellow
snowflake on a perspective road symbol, which indicates that the
outside temperature is below 3C/37F (that roads may start to freeze/ice
over). This flashes on the MFD and then stays next to the outside
temperature reading. On the 2004-2005 models, it also appears on the
dashboard and stays there (scaring many new owners when the weather
gets cold), but was removed from the dash starting in 2006. This icon,
sometimes called "Flakey" by owners, is even listed as a safety feature
in some countries...

Richard,

I was referring to the small "snow flake" looking symbol. Your
explaination makes a lot of sense. Thanks all!

Asa

richard schumacher wrote: 

net wrote: 
OK, so what is "Flakey" trying to tell me to do? It showed up during my
trip to Yellowstone National Park and we couldn't figure out from the
owner's manual what to do in response.

NeoPhyte_Rep wrote:
 

I think it's just warning you that the roads may be icy. Poeple don't
always think about the possibility of black ice etc when they set off
for work on a cold morning, so it's not a bad idea to remind them that
they may need to moderate their driving style when it's close to
freezing outside.

Paul

NeoPhyte_Rep wrote: 

The yellow snowflake is telling you that it is colder than 3C/37F
outside. At this temperature, black ice may start forming on the
roads, particularly bridges/overpasses or some shady areas by the side
of the road. (Ever see "bridge freezes before road" signs before?)
"Flakey" is just there to remind you to drive cautiously as it is cold
enough outside for ice to start forming on the roads.

net wrote: 
So why doesn't every Toyota, or for that matter every car on the road,
have this new indicator light. They all suffer the same control
problems on black ice, don't they? Is there not something unique about
the Prius that instigated the creation of this indicator?