Rear Mirror Temp & Radio Questions

Snaggle · Dec 7, 2003

Needless to say I'm realitively new to this site. First off - Maryland received it's first snow of the season and my ZR1 handled great in or out of 4WD

. However my question is this: Though the temp. has dropped below freezing several times according to my smurfy mirror, it had never flashed an ice warning. Just yesterday, my wife pointed out that the word "ICE" was posting just under the direction

. I'm not sure but, wouldn't the mirror need to be wired to the transmission, so when the temp. was below freezing and the wheels spin it just assumes ice. The owners book says nothing.

Secondly, what is up with the Radio?
Sometimes the radio Displays just "TRAF"

Sometimes the Radio Displays "<TRAF>"

& Somtimes the Radio Displays "< >"

Needless to say, all three do the same, nothing.

Finally, what does the "INFO" display on the radio do?

The only time that it has lit up was when the station I was listening to was taken a respite from music. When I pressed the button "INFO" it told me the stations call number & slogan. I was already aware of this because this station uses (I believe) the RDS format and posts its info streamingly. In other words, this button told me nothing more than what the RDS format has already been telling me. In addition, this "INFO" Display has only displayed on stations with RDS format. Perhaps it's me but that button and display doesn't do anything.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my AVy

, I love my ride

, I just can't stand when passengers have questions about the excessive gingerbread which I can't answer.

Ghost · Dec 7, 2003

Don't know about the radio part, but the mirror will give you the "ice" warning when the temp drops... Your manual will explain it better than I. It doesn't know there's ice, it just assumes it.....

AVid · Dec 7, 2003

Welcome to the club. The temp sensor for the mirror is behind the front bumper. When the outside temp gets down to about 35 it starts going back and forth between the temp and "ICE".

As far as your radio goes, I can't help you there 'cause mine is different. The owners manual does a good job of explaining, if you don't have one there is one available on this site under Resources.

HTH
John

danlwil · Dec 7, 2003

the "ice" warning feature activates @ 37 deg F... just a simple reminder.

The word "info" shows when a participating station sends a message. This could be a Slogan, Song title and Artist or a call in phone #.... Push the "info" button to receive the message.

The <traffic > indicator comes on when traffic info is available... if the current station does not have a traffic report in progress... it will seek one out... if it can't find a station it will display "no traffic"

hopefully this helps answer SOME of your questions... There is an online owners manual in the resources area of this site... here's the link to the 03 2003 owners manual

OldVMer · Dec 8, 2003

Snaggle said:
Though the temp. has dropped below freezing several times according to my smurfy mirror, it had never flashed an ice warning. Just yesterday, my wife pointed out that the word "ICE" was posting just under the direction . I'm not sure but, wouldn't the mirror need to be wired to the transmission, so when the temp. was below freezing and the wheels spin it just assumes ice. The owners book says nothing.

I'm with you on this one. Although I've seen the mirror showing temps in the range of 31-35 frequently, I've only ever seen it flash the ice message once. Like you, I wondered what triggered it. It was the first time that I was driving on an icy surface, so perhaps it does have some interface with the feedback from the wheels.

Snaggle said:
Secondly, what is up with the Radio?
Sometimes the radio Displays just "TRAF"
Sometimes the Radio Displays "<TRAF>"

According to the owner's manual you press the TRAF button to cause the radio to seek a station that broadcasts traffic announcements. When it is on (or finds) a station that advertises traffic announcements, the angled brackets appear around TRAF to indicate that it will play a traffic announcement when that radio station broadcast one. By implication, when no brackets are displayed around TRAF, you are on a station that advertises traffic announcements, but have not requested the radio to play them. I don't drive in a high traffic area much, so have never actually heard a traffice announcement other than what is included in the standard broadcast material (e.g. DJ chatter).

Snaggle said:
& Somtimes the Radio Displays "< >"

I've not seen this one.

Snaggle said:
Finally, what does the "INFO" display on the radio do? The only time that it has lit up was when the station I was listening to was taken a respite from music. When I pressed the button "INFO" it told me the stations call number & slogan. I was already aware of this because this station uses (I believe) the RDS format and posts its info streamingly. In other words, this button told me nothing more than what the RDS format has already been telling me. In addition, this "INFO" Display has only displayed on stations with RDS format. Perhaps it's me but that button and display doesn't do anything.

This is supposed to indicate that the station you are listening to is broadcasting an RDS message with information (e.g. song title, artist). Press the INFO button to have the display cycle through the informational message being broadcast on the RDS system. Most stations don't seem to broadcast more than repeated information about call sign, and music class in my experience.

Snaggle said:
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my AVy , I love my ride , I just can't stand when passengers have questions about the excessive gingerbread which I can't answer.

Exactly!!

--VM

Snaggle · Dec 9, 2003

Thanks for the input guys. Today I got in my AVy about 5:30am & the temp. started off @ 13 degs. - I drove about an hour to work in "Auto 4WD" just in case there was black ice in spots. I returned from work this afternoon and the temp. ranged from 36-39 degs. and I was in 2WD. Early this evening my wife and I caught a show and the temp ranged between 27 & 30 degs.
During the 4 Hours of driving today the mirror never flashed "ICE". I even deliberately spun the wheels to loose traction to initiate the 4WD when applicable. Still no warning. (Since I'm not sure how to quote, - I'll do it the old fashion way). According to "OldVMer" his warning has only flashed once like mine - unlike "Ghost's", "Danlwil's" or "Avid's" whos flash back & fourth. I have a 2003 AV. The only time I saw the "ICE" warning was Saturday when it snowed in MD. The only condition which I could not replicate while at these low temps was "Humidity". I can't believe that this device would be that sophisticated but I'm beginning to believe that there is a built in humidistat with the thermometer. Therefore, is it possible that when the temp. goes below a certain point (37 Degs.?) and the humidstat reaches a certain percent of saturation (100%?) the message appears.

Not only is this truck incredible but it's beginning to scare me - it's like it has a sole of it's own >:D

- a machine which thinks for it's self - Am I a driver or just a mir passenger?

OldVMer · Dec 10, 2003

OldVMer said:
I'm with you on this one. Although I've seen the mirror showing temps in the range of 31-35 frequently, I've only ever seen it flash the ice message once. Like you, I wondered what triggered it. It was the first time that I was driving on an icy surface, so perhaps it does have some interface with the feedback from the wheels.

I had the AV in to the dealers this week, so I asked the service manager about what triggered the ICE warning. He was clueless.

BUT, with temps hovering in the low to mid 30's the other morning, and drizzle in the air, I never saw it display the ICE message. If it were temp/humidity dependant, I would have expected it to. OTO, when I pulled into the drive (which was snow packed down to ice) yesterday afternoon while it was not precipitating), it DID flash the ICE message alternating with the 35 degree temperature.

Shapeshifter's analysis of the wiring diagram for the 2002 AVs indicates that the 2002 system has only the sensor at the front, the wiring and the mirror itself -- no connection to the drive system or computer. I'm starting to wonder if the 2003 is different.

Inquiring minds want to know!

--VM

Thomast · Dec 10, 2003

We have a Station here in Cleveland WGAR and they just started using the RDS on the radio and now it tells you who the artist is and what the song is that is playing.. Pretty cool...

I only get the ICE when its around 32 degrees.. its flashes ICE..

AVA_Grandpa · Dec 10, 2003

Fratt said:
I only get the ICE when its around 32 degrees.. its flashes ICE..

Mine works precisely the same as Fratt suggests. I don't believe it flashes till around 33, maybe 34, degrees.

OldVMer · Dec 11, 2003

AVA_Grandpa said:
Mine works precisely the same as Fratt suggests. I don't believe it flashes till around 33, maybe 34, degrees.

Does it ALWAYS flash ICE when the temp reaches 32?

Mine doesn't.

--VM

OldVMer · Dec 11, 2003

Fratt said:
We have a Station here in Cleveland WGAR and they just started using the RDS on the radio and now it tells you who the artist is and what the song is that is playing.. Pretty cool...

I only get the ICE when its around 32 degrees.. its flashes ICE..

I'll have to check it out. WGAR is 99.5 on the dial.

--VM

Snaggle · Dec 11, 2003

That's why I was curious about the ICE warning - mine does not always flash it @ a certain temp?

Tree_Hugger · Dec 12, 2003

I believe the logic of the ICE warning is that it only displays when the temperature is between 29 and 35 degrees.
The intent is to remind you about the possibility of ice, at temperatures when it isn't obvious. Above 35 degrees it's not likely at all, and below 29 degrees you shouldn't need reminding it's damn cold.

OldVMer · Dec 13, 2003

Well, this morning I started up the AV in the garage and the mirror was flashing ICE and 32F before I even put it in gear. Guess that proves that it has nothing to do with wheel slippage. Still, it doesn't always flash ICE at those temperatures.

I'm starting to believe in magic. You know what they say, "technology that is sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from magic."

--VM

Snaggle · Dec 14, 2003

Ever since I saw the "ICE" flash once it has never done it again. That is why I posted the question. Today it is a wintery mix here in MD. and the temperatures ranged from 38 to 30 degrees during the times I traveled today. I had 100% humidity

, I had it in 2WD, 4WD and Auto 4WD

, I watched the temperature rise and fall

, but still nothing :E:

. Perhaps the d*mn thing is broke after one flash :0:

. Perhaps my is an old sylvania flash cube :0:

(1 Time use). I'm sorry I ever noticed it! Now I drive down the road paying more attention to the mirror waiting for it to flash then watching beyond the mirror.

AVid · Dec 14, 2003

The temp has to be 37f or lower at startup. It only flashes "ICE" for a minute or so and then stops. If you turn off the truck, it is likely that heat from the engine compartment will warm up the sensor to above 37 degrees. Therefore it won't flash again, even if it drops below 37 or so as you drive. At least thats my experience with mine.

HTH

OldVMer · Dec 14, 2003

AVid said:
The temp has to be 37f or lower at startup. It only flashes "ICE" for a minute or so and then stops. If you turn off the truck, it is likely that heat from the engine compartment will warm up the sensor to above 37 degrees. Therefore it won't flash again, even if it drops below 37 or so as you drive. At least thats my experience with mine.

I am quickly reaching the same conclusion. If I start the car and it is about 35-36 or below, the mirror flashes ICE for a brief period then stops. Only other time I saw it was when the temp was falling and fell into the ICE range (again around 35-36).

So, it's a bit more complicated than saying that it displays ICE when the temp is under the threshold temperature. It also has to either just have fallen to that temp or just have been started up when it is that cold. Other times you'll see the temp at 32-36 without any sign of the ICE warning.

By jove, I think we've got it.

--VM

Snaggle · Dec 14, 2003

Posted by: AVid Posted on: Today at 03:17 PM
The temp has to be 37f or lower at startup. It only flashes "ICE" for a minute or so and then stops. If you turn off the truck, it is likely that heat from the engine compartment will warm up the sensor to above 37 degrees. Therefore it won't flash again, even if it drops below 37 or so as you drive. At least thats my experience with mine.

This could be the pot off gold at the end of the Rainbow.
Since I have a Remote Starter, I am never in the AVehicle for the first 10 minutes or so. Therefore I would miss this warning. Perhaps the only time that I did see it was as AVid said and I was driving and the temperature crossed below the threshold point. I believe that I will need to brave the cold and manually start my AVehicle like (you know) regular people

so I can witness this great happening with my own 2 eyes.

I hope that this is the case and nothing is wrong with my AVy. I will be able to sleep better knowing the mystery of my mirror.

bonedog · Dec 15, 2003

AVid is correct. It happens on start up when temp is below 37 and only for a moment then everything is normal again. I really don't pay attention to that thing though. Ive sat in traffic and watched the thing rise 15-20 degrees from radiant heat even in the winter. I belive the weatherman before I would belive my mirror.

My .02

Bonedog