Outside temp sensor is stuck, can you reset it?
03-16-2009, 08:40 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Outside temp sensor is stuck, can you reset it?
Started the car for the first time in a week and noticed that the outside temp reading on the heater/ac control panel was bouncing around 103F and after a few seconds it went to 75F and has been frozen at that temp for the last few days. I've put around 100 miles on the car since this happened but it still is reading 75F and I know the temp outside was lower then that when I drove the car.
I located the sensor but I was wondering if there is a way to reprogram it?
I located the sensor but I was wondering if there is a way to reprogram it?
03-16-2009, 08:45 PM
#3
Team Owner
Started the car for the first time in a week and noticed that the outside temp reading on the heater/ac control panel was bouncing around 103F and after a few seconds it went to 75F and has been frozen at that temp for the last few days. I've put around 100 miles on the car since this happened but it still is reading 75F and I know the temp outside was lower then that when I drove the car.
I located the sensor but I was wondering if there is a way to reprogram it?
I located the sensor but I was wondering if there is a way to reprogram it?
03-16-2009, 08:45 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Dec 2006
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St. Jude Donor '13
I would unplug it and re-seat the temp sensor connector.
The sensor would have been unplugged in the front kit install so it may not be plugged in all the way or it is damaged.
Ben
The sensor would have been unplugged in the front kit install so it may not be plugged in all the way or it is damaged.
Ben
03-16-2009, 09:32 PM
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
I don't think it was ever unplugged when they did the front end work.
I unplugged it and snapped it back in but it still is stuck on 75F.
Talon90 said that if it's reading 75F it's broken.
I guess I will get a new one.
03-16-2009, 09:50 PM
#9
Pro
Member Since: Aug 2008
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Why don't you try to disconnect the positive cable on the battery. This should reset the onboard computer. Let me know if it works. Leave it disconnected for at least 20 minutes.
03-16-2009, 10:41 PM
#10
Drifting
Thread Starter
I'll let you know if it works.
03-16-2009, 11:02 PM
#12
03-16-2009, 11:31 PM
#13
Team Owner
03-16-2009, 11:47 PM
#14
Safety Car
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I and member GlennHL have noticed another temp sensor oddity.
We both drag race and we cant figure out why that temperature reading in the hvac window locks up everytime I go to the strip.
Ie: If its 43* upon entering the track and after making a few runs, it locks up on 43*. I might leave a few hours later when the ambient temps are 55* and yet it still reads 43*. Once I leave the track, about 5-10 minutes later the temp slowly climbs back up to 55* and then works normally.
We both drag race and we cant figure out why that temperature reading in the hvac window locks up everytime I go to the strip.
Ie: If its 43* upon entering the track and after making a few runs, it locks up on 43*. I might leave a few hours later when the ambient temps are 55* and yet it still reads 43*. Once I leave the track, about 5-10 minutes later the temp slowly climbs back up to 55* and then works normally.
Last edited by siffert; 03-16-2009 at 11:49 PM.
03-17-2009, 01:10 AM
#15
Drifting
Thread Starter
You can see the sensor and the plug when you look down near the bottom of that hole.
It's about 6 inches below the air bag sensor.
The probe goes thru the plastic shroud and protrudes into the air space behind the grille.
03-17-2009, 01:11 AM
#16
Drifting
Thread Starter
I and member GlennHL have noticed another temp sensor oddity.
We both drag race and we cant figure out why that temperature reading in the hvac window locks up everytime I go to the strip.
Ie: If its 43* upon entering the track and after making a few runs, it locks up on 43*. I might leave a few hours later when the ambient temps are 55* and yet it still reads 43*. Once I leave the track, about 5-10 minutes later the temp slowly climbs back up to 55* and then works normally.
We both drag race and we cant figure out why that temperature reading in the hvac window locks up everytime I go to the strip.
Ie: If its 43* upon entering the track and after making a few runs, it locks up on 43*. I might leave a few hours later when the ambient temps are 55* and yet it still reads 43*. Once I leave the track, about 5-10 minutes later the temp slowly climbs back up to 55* and then works normally.
03-17-2009, 01:19 AM
#17
Melting Slicks
I and member GlennHL have noticed another temp sensor oddity.
We both drag race and we cant figure out why that temperature reading in the hvac window locks up everytime I go to the strip.
Ie: If its 43* upon entering the track and after making a few runs, it locks up on 43*. I might leave a few hours later when the ambient temps are 55* and yet it still reads 43*. Once I leave the track, about 5-10 minutes later the temp slowly climbs back up to 55* and then works normally.
We both drag race and we cant figure out why that temperature reading in the hvac window locks up everytime I go to the strip.
Ie: If its 43* upon entering the track and after making a few runs, it locks up on 43*. I might leave a few hours later when the ambient temps are 55* and yet it still reads 43*. Once I leave the track, about 5-10 minutes later the temp slowly climbs back up to 55* and then works normally.
03-17-2009, 12:08 PM
#18
Instructor
Member Since: Aug 2007
Location: Costa Mesa Ca
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Mine went out about a year back.
It would say 114 degrees most of the time. Even when it was like 70.
It was replaced under warranty, but if you don't have a warranty it is pretty easy to get at and change yourself.
It would say 114 degrees most of the time. Even when it was like 70.
It was replaced under warranty, but if you don't have a warranty it is pretty easy to get at and change yourself.
03-17-2009, 02:20 PM
#19
Team Owner
The sensor is down in the side panel of the radiator shroud on the passengers side of the rad.
You can see the sensor and the plug when you look down near the bottom of that hole.
It's about 6 inches below the air bag sensor.
The probe goes thru the plastic shroud and protrudes into the air space behind the grille.
You can see the sensor and the plug when you look down near the bottom of that hole.
It's about 6 inches below the air bag sensor.
The probe goes thru the plastic shroud and protrudes into the air space behind the grille.
I didn't realize it went through the shroud sideways..in other words, horizontally.
And the temperature displayed is a damped reading; in other words, its
not always real time. There are rules about displaying the previous reading before the car was turned off...and also how long the car must be driven before it displays the real time temp. I'm not sure of the exact rules, but I gather the reason is that the sensor will be bathed in heat if the car is started warm..because the radiator is right there, and it will stay hotter than the outside temp until airflow begins to lower the temp in front of the radiator. So the computer will let the airflow begin and get the temp of the sensor more in line with the real outside temp before it starts displaying it. Until then, it shows the last good reading from when there WAS airflow across it.
03-17-2009, 03:56 PM
#20
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jun 1999
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Thanks for the info!
I didn't realize it went through the shroud sideways..in other words, horizontally.
And the temperature displayed is a damped reading; in other words, its
not always real time. There are rules about displaying the previous reading before the car was turned off...and also how long the car must be driven before it displays the real time temp. I'm not sure of the exact rules, but I gather the reason is that the sensor will be bathed in heat if the car is started warm..because the radiator is right there, and it will stay hotter than the outside temp until airflow begins to lower the temp in front of the radiator. So the computer will let the airflow begin and get the temp of the sensor more in line with the real outside temp before it starts displaying it. Until then, it shows the last good reading from when there WAS airflow across it.
I didn't realize it went through the shroud sideways..in other words, horizontally.
And the temperature displayed is a damped reading; in other words, its
not always real time. There are rules about displaying the previous reading before the car was turned off...and also how long the car must be driven before it displays the real time temp. I'm not sure of the exact rules, but I gather the reason is that the sensor will be bathed in heat if the car is started warm..because the radiator is right there, and it will stay hotter than the outside temp until airflow begins to lower the temp in front of the radiator. So the computer will let the airflow begin and get the temp of the sensor more in line with the real outside temp before it starts displaying it. Until then, it shows the last good reading from when there WAS airflow across it.
