Outside Temperature readings
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 39
From: South Central PA
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Outside Temperature readings
Has anyone had an issue with you outside temperature readings being wrong? i just bought a car and was told after it was tuned the ext. temp was always 69 degrees. and if you wanted a/c you had to set the temp. to below 69 and above 69 for heat. that worked fine, but today the ext. temp slowly dropped until it reached -38 degrees. so now there is no way turn the A/C on. could this be fixed with another tune? or is the senor maybe bad or blocked? how would i check that? has anyone else seen this?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
Posted by trussme
Could be A faulty outside air temp sensor
The sensor is located on the right (passenger) side of the car, on the outside of the frame rail in the very front by the headlight.
It is held onto the mounting hole on the frame by a plastic push-in clip.
Just pull the clip out of the hole on the frame, release the plug for the wire (the plug has a release clip, pry up on the clip and the plug will release).
Then just put in the new one and you will be in business - it takes a few minutes of driving for the sensor to start reading the outside temp - you have to be moving.
GM Part # 10248414 is aprox. $10 from the dealer and just plugs in.
The sensors are either resistance temperature detectors (RTD's) or Thermistors. The resistance of the sensor changes with the temperature.
If you have any corrosion in any of the associated connectors it will increase the resistance that the climate controls is reading.
The resistance across the two sensor wires could be almost infinity,
in that case your display would read a low temp.
Once the old sensor is removed, the HVAC defaults to 69* and will let the AC cool.
Could be A faulty outside air temp sensor
The sensor is located on the right (passenger) side of the car, on the outside of the frame rail in the very front by the headlight.
It is held onto the mounting hole on the frame by a plastic push-in clip.
Just pull the clip out of the hole on the frame, release the plug for the wire (the plug has a release clip, pry up on the clip and the plug will release).
Then just put in the new one and you will be in business - it takes a few minutes of driving for the sensor to start reading the outside temp - you have to be moving.
GM Part # 10248414 is aprox. $10 from the dealer and just plugs in.
The sensors are either resistance temperature detectors (RTD's) or Thermistors. The resistance of the sensor changes with the temperature.
If you have any corrosion in any of the associated connectors it will increase the resistance that the climate controls is reading.
The resistance across the two sensor wires could be almost infinity,
in that case your display would read a low temp.
Once the old sensor is removed, the HVAC defaults to 69* and will let the AC cool.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 4
From: Warrenville Il
Last edited by MG RED 99; Jun 9, 2010 at 04:40 PM.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 39
From: South Central PA
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
i tried looking and i found a cable that's not even plugged in. but i can't find the sensor. tomorrow i'm going to try to stop by my mechanics place and see if he can look at it for me. i wish i could have found it. would have been nice to get that fixed now.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 4
From: Warrenville Il
See yellow circle, thats the temp sensor tip.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 40
From: Orangevale California
St. Jude Donor '10
Be certain that the unplugged cable isn't for your underhood lamp, which is also in that general vicinity. If your hood lamp is working then obviously thats not it. Is the unplugged cable near the frame below the passenger side headlight, if so thats it. Should have two wires.
See yellow circle, thats the temp sensor tip.
See yellow circle, thats the temp sensor tip.
Great pic and outstanding info. Good job!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 39
From: South Central PA
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
looks like i don't have one. the previous owner had a Vararam installed and the plastic you have circled isn't there on my car. i guess i'll have to order one and find a place to install it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 39
From: South Central PA
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
i don't know. it was done professionally, but i don't think it was done the best. i have to get the car up on a lift and look at it from the bottom. i don't think there is anything wrong, but it just isn't the way i would have done it.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 4
From: Warrenville Il
Be sure you install it as the factory did. You need to make sure the sensor tip is in the incoming air stream for proper readings. I believe all you need is a plastic pushpin to hold the sensor in its original location. You can get the pushpin at any parts store. Good luck and let us know if this fixes the problem.
Last edited by MG RED 99; Jun 13, 2010 at 05:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 39
From: South Central PA
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
I just picked up a sensor at my local dealership (most expensive place i looked 
, but when you factor in shipping costs, it was about the same and i didn't have to wait). i hooked it up and everything works perfect! now i just have to figure out how to mount it permanently. i'm thinking maybe a zip-tie. kind of ghetto, but it should work and you wouldn't notice it. and i have those laying around. i don't have an extra screw and bolt that size.
, but when you factor in shipping costs, it was about the same and i didn't have to wait). i hooked it up and everything works perfect! now i just have to figure out how to mount it permanently. i'm thinking maybe a zip-tie. kind of ghetto, but it should work and you wouldn't notice it. and i have those laying around. i don't have an extra screw and bolt that size.