Glowing Climate icon

[jakimo]

I’m noticing something different in the Tesla iOS app. It’s about 35°, if that’s helpful

My MY is parked and resting, and the Climate button (fan icon) is pulsing on my app

Has anyone seen this before? Has this been documented?

 

[jcanoe]

So that fits with my previous comment. The app might just be indicating that it's running the fan to dry the ac system.

The Tesla vehicle will only run the HVAC fan to dry the evaporator coil in warm weather. The AC does not run often in cold weather, just enough to reduce moisture from inside the cabin. Mold and mildew can only start to grow when the temperature is at least 70F (21C.) This will not be the case in winter.

 

[jakimo]

Perhaps the pulsing climate also can refer to cooling the battery? It must have to do with temperature control of some sort, since it's a Climate icon after all..

I reached out to someone at Tesla, and they're pretty sure (though not 100%) that it has to do with cooling or warming functions to keep the Tesla at better stand-by temperatures. I'll keep prodding though, for a final answer

 

[edgecrusher]

Data point. After sitting at -20C overnight and asleep, the climate symbol was glowing. Couldn’t tell if it was pulling any current to keep the battery from freezing, as it is plugged in using the MC.

 

[morsecp]

So that fits with my previous comment. The app might just be indicating that it's running the fan to dry the ac system.

Why would it be drying the AC in sub-zero temps? I see this in VT in January. It's -5° F.

 

[GtiMart]

AC is used to dry the air even when you heat, otherwise your windows would all fog up. It's not used "always on full" because some parts would freeze, but it gets used somewhat. All other cars do that too. Most don't show it, the AC light stays off in that mode, but it's on nonetheless.

 

[binaryOpeartor]

Clue! Haven’t seen it again since it started to get warmer where I live. Seems like it only does it when it’s around freezing temperatures

 

[binaryOpeartor]

Nvm. It happened again today after I stayed in the car for an hour in camp mode. It’s like 50 out today so it doesn’t have anything to do with freezing temp

 

[username123]

I think it means that it is slightly heating up the cabin. I haven’t used the car in 4 hours so there’s no reason for it not to be at the same temperature as the exterior. Also, a couple of hours ago the interior was at -9 while the exterior was -12 so it somehow heated up

 

[Baseckler]

I haven't seen that either and I precondition my car (manually) pretty much every day.

How do you manually precondition your battery for charging?

 

[Benito1283]

I’ve seen this glowing climate icon before. When I force close my app and reopen it, it goes away. That shouldn’t actually change any climate settings in the car. Could just be a bug. Or, it’s doing something it needs to like many other functions we’re unaware of, and this one just happens to have an indicator.

 

[jcanoe]

How do you manually precondition your battery for charging?

You don't do anything specific to precondition the battery. The Tesla Model Y's battery management system will warm the battery as needed during the climate control preconditioning period, prior to charging (if the battery is too cold to start charging.) if you see the red icon next to the battery icon on the Tesla app that looks like a heating grid with three heating elements (or strips of bacon) then the battery is being warmed. The Tesla Model Y does not have to be plugged in while preconditioning but a typical preconditioning period will use 1 or 2% of the battery, even up to 3% in cold weather.

 

[Jwats5]

I've seen the glowing climate button. No idea what it represents.

 

[BigKahuna77]

Has anyone else out there seen the pulse of 2022?

Yes, I've noticed it before but never really paid attention to it till tonight. It's pulsing while charging and temps read 69 interior, 66 exterior. I do have Sentry active so I wonder if that means the camera heater is on to keep the glass clear? There's definitely no documentation on this that I'm aware of.

 

[jakimo]

I've got the glow today, and it's ~80ºF here in Colorado Springs! So it's not just when it's cold outside, that's certain.. (Sentry is not on)

 

[fiehlsport]

This is turning into the Mount Chiliad mystery of the Tesla world - all we've got are guesses and theories, but nothing concrete from the creators.

 

[HellsKitchen]

Has anyone ever checked the air quality forecast when the icon is doing this? Definitely a wild guess here, but maybe it's a nudge to throw on the HEPA.

 

[jcanoe]

Has anyone ever checked the air quality forecast when the icon is doing this? Definitely a wild guess here, but maybe it's a nudge to throw on the HEPA.

Happens in some Model Y that do not have the BWD.

 

[jakimo]

I may go to Tesla service to have them ramp the question up to some engineer contacts

If I do end up doing so, I'll report back the findings certainly!

 

[jakimo]

I may go to Tesla service

None of their service center knew what the pulsing glowing Climate icon indicates, and their lead told me they don't have direct contact to Tesla engineering (shrug)

I'll have to reach out to my tech circles to find someone on the inside, it seems, to figure this one out! No one seems to know, nor has the resources to find out

 

[OxBrew]

Are we sure someone didn't just photoshop this, and then others copy/pasted the image, and it's all a fun prank?

This is so baffling to me, definitely have my popcorn, following along at home.

Have not seen this ever, and I've been looking for it.