Snowflake symbol on dashboard...whatzit mean?

ProudDUB · 02-12-2012 3:52am #1

I drive a 2007 Ford Focus. Tonight, a snowflake symbol lit up on my dashboard while I was driving. I am pretty sure that I have driven in cold temps like these in the past month or so, but this is the first time I have seen the snowflake symbol. What does it mean? Is it telling me that it is effing freezing outside (well duh !!! :rolleyes: ) and to be aware of icy roads? Or is it telling me something specific about the car, such as I am low on anti freeze or something? My car (only bought it 6 months ago) did not come with an owners manual, so I can't look up what the snowflake may mean. Ta !

CianRyan · 02-12-2012 3:57am

The snowflake comes on at 3/4 degrees. Can't remember which one. It's in the owners manual if you got it with the car.

meoklmrk91 · 02-12-2012 4:04am

As Cian said it comes on at 4c and below, I assume it was Amber? Because it will glow red at 0c and below. Basically just to warn that it is really cold and there is a possibility of ice.

ProudDUB · 02-12-2012 4:08am

Groovy. Thanks guys. Last car I owned, I was living in Florida, so I am not exactly the world greatest living expert on driving in cold weather.

m4r10 · 02-12-2012 4:18am

ProudDUB wrote: »

What does it mean? Is it telling me that it is effing freezing outside (well duh !!! :rolleyes: )?

Yeah, stay inside the car. I ignored the warning and it's really effing freezing there

NIMAN · 02-12-2012 4:59am

afaik it comes on at 4C because road temps can be 4C lower than air temps, which means that when the light comes on the road could be at freezing, and you may hit ice.

So if its RED, the road may be -4C.

dahamsta · 02-12-2012 5:34am

Every car I've owned has been 3 degrees.

Jhcx · 02-12-2012 6:35am

The Jetta has that. first time i heard it it let off an alarm signal. Thought the car was breaking down on me. But comes on at 4 degrees flashes on screen for bout 4 seconds and then just stays there. bit annoying when it bings then temp rises then falls and bings again. could go off bout 4 or 5 times on a wired night or day.

Where To · 02-12-2012 6:42am

I hate them.

People automatically start driving at 30kph as soon as they come on, and braking around every turn as they go.

Car manafacturers should teach people about winter driving instead of filling the cockpit with falderydolls like that

RandomAccess · 02-12-2012 10:49am

Where To wrote: »

I hate them.

People automatically start driving at 30kph as soon as they come on, and braking around every turn as they go.

Car manafacturers should teach people about winter driving instead of filling the cockpit with falderydolls like that

Can't say I've seen any evidence of that. They are a valuable tool I find, particularly when driving long distance at night with mountainous roads, the temperature can plummet drastically between when you depart and arrive.

pred racer · 02-12-2012 10:51am

NIMAN wrote: »

afaik it comes on at 4C because road temps can be 4C lower than air temps, which means that when the light comes on the road could be at freezing, and you may hit ice.

So if its RED, the road may be -4C.

It comes on at 4c because thats the temp that water begins to freeze!

tossy · 02-12-2012 11:07am

It lights up on the 1st of December to tell you it's Christmas,i drive an Audi though so everyday is Christmas so my snowflake stays lit all year round

ballooba · 02-12-2012 11:18am

RandomAccess wrote: »

Can't say I've seen any evidence of that. They are a valuable tool I find, particularly when driving long distance at night with mountainous roads, the temperature can plummet drastically between when you depart and arrive.

It seems like most of the congestion in Dublin city in the last week has been because of this.

corktina · 02-12-2012 11:31am

tossy wrote: »

It lights up on the 1st of December to tell you it's Christmas,i drive an Audi though so everyday is Christmas so my snowflake stays lit all year round

yeah, you'd need something to cheer you up, driving an Audi...

Marcin_diy · 02-12-2012 11:50am

pred racer wrote: »

It comes on at 4c because thats the temp that water begins to freeze!

in 4 degrees water has the highest density.
It doesn't mean it starts to freeze ?

bijapos · 02-12-2012 12:08pm

Where To wrote: »

I hate them.

People automatically start driving at 30kph as soon as they come on, and braking around every turn as they go.

Car manafacturers should teach people about winter driving instead of filling the cockpit with falderydolls like that

No, people should educate themselves first on the various functions in the car that they are driving and they should educate themselves on how to drive properly in winter. Better still the state should do this during the driving exam. It's not up the car manufacturers to teach people how to drive, you should be competent to drive before you get behind the wheeel of one of their cars on your own.

Marcin_diy wrote: »

in 4 degrees water has the highest density.
It doesn't mean it starts to freeze ?

Black ice starts to form at around 3 deg. air temperature especially in the vicinity of bridges crossing rivers and near water. Can't remember the exact scientific explanation for the process but anyone on the weather forum should be able to tell you.

Most European countries educate their drivers during training that black ice can form at this temperature and people should drive with due care and attention.

I think those alarms are good, admittedly some of the noises they make are annoying but in general I'm in favour of them.

tossy · 02-12-2012 12:49pm

corktina wrote: »

yeah, you'd need something to cheer you up, driving an Audi...

Yeah that sense of self satisfaction can be a real downer

theoneeyedman · 02-12-2012 1:21pm

Was in England a few years ago with a work colleague. We rented out a focus from Manchester airport and were hitting across the Penines towards Barnsley late that night when this light came on. We hadn't a clue what it was but yer wan started to worry about an engine fault and started saying rosarys/novenas in case the car blew up

Needless to say the light was gone the following day..

aujopimur · 02-12-2012 1:48pm

theoneeyedman wrote: »

Was in England a few years ago with a work colleague. We rented out a focus from Manchester airport and were hitting across the Penines towards Barnsley late that night when this light came on. We hadn't a clue what it was but yer wan started to worry about an engine fault and started saying rosarys/novenas in case the car blew up Needless to say the light was gone the following day..

You can't beat an ould pray, it always works.

AugustusMinimus · 02-12-2012 2:01pm

pred racer wrote: »

It comes on at 4c because thats the temp that water begins to freeze!

Complete fallacy.

Water can only start to freeze at 0 degrees (given average atmospheric pressure). Even at 0 it may not freeze at all but to explain this, it involves a lot of science. Read up on supercooled water.

In fact, 0 degrees is technically not the freezing point of water (there is no such thing). It is the melting point of water.

The reason the sign comes on in the car, is because even though the air temperature is above 0 degrees, the road surface may not be and hence, ice may form on the road. There is also the issue that at between 0 to 4 degrees, ice may have previously formed which has not melted away yet.

CiniO · 02-12-2012 2:06pm

I had them in Mondeo.
Amber snowflake if temp goes below 4 degrees, and red snowflake if temp goes below 0.

I though it was confusing, as generally in most car makes amber dash lights are meant to warn us about something (rear fog-light, rear window heating, engine management problem, etc), while red lights usually mean that there is problem with car and you should stop and avoid further driving until fixed.
That red snowflake was exception, and I hated to drive all winter with red dashlight on.

MugMugs · 02-12-2012 2:08pm

CiniO wrote: »

I had them in Mondeo.
Amber snowflake if temp goes below 4 degrees, and red snowflake if temp goes below 0.

I though it was confusing, as generally in most car makes amber dash lights are meant to warn us about something (rear fog-light, rear window heating, engine management problem, etc), while red lights usually mean that there is problem with car and you should stop and avoid further driving until fixed.
That red snowflake was exception, and I hated to drive all winter with red dashlight on.

Black sticky tape

Where To · 02-12-2012 2:16pm

RandomAccess wrote: »

Can't say I've seen any evidence of that. They are a valuable tool I find, particularly when driving long distance at night with mountainous roads, the temperature can plummet drastically between when you depart and arrive.

A wee orange light can't tell the difference between perfect driving conditions at -10C and atrocious conditions at +10C.

A driver should be able to tell the difference.

dieselbug · 02-12-2012 3:11pm

In fact, 0 degrees is technically not the freezing point of water (there is no such thing). It is the melting point of water.

"melting point of water" !!!!!!

AugustusMinimus · 02-12-2012 3:18pm

dieselbug wrote: »

In fact, 0 degrees is technically not the freezing point of water (there is no such thing). It is the melting point of water.

"melting point of water" !!!!!!

Water can refer both to

1. The compound H2O irrespective of it's physical state or
2. H2O when in liquid form.

Max Power1 · 02-12-2012 3:57pm

DiHydrogen Monoxide you mean?

corktina · 02-12-2012 4:10pm

best thing to do with ice, i to drop it into some whiskey as that lowers the freezing point, or raises it, (who cares?) :-)

galwaytt · 02-12-2012 7:59pm

Where To wrote: »

A wee orange light can't tell the difference between perfect driving conditions at -10C and atrocious conditions at +10C.

A driver should be able to tell the difference.

He can. If you strap him to the bonnet and drive at 80kph. When you stop he'll know exactly what temp it is. And what windchill factor is too.

We don't all drive Model T's......

Snowflake symbol on dashboard...whatzit mean?

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