Outside Air Temperature Indicator Stuck
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 662
Likes: 111
From: Carmel, NY & Bradenton, FL
Outside Air Temperature Indicator Stuck
Yesterday morning I noticed that the temperature displayed on the Heater/AC display was stuck at 56°F even though it was about 70° outside. I made a few trips but it never budged.
Later in the afternoon it was back to normal. Any idea what’s going on? Normally I would expect either the max or minimum reading if something was failing. Was it reporting the minimum overnight temp? BTW, this was the first time the car has sat outside overnight.
Later in the afternoon it was back to normal. Any idea what’s going on? Normally I would expect either the max or minimum reading if something was failing. Was it reporting the minimum overnight temp? BTW, this was the first time the car has sat outside overnight.
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mine did that and it wouldn't budge...I disconnected battery for 5 minutes and it has been fine since...alternatively you may have a sensor going bad...
Racer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 254
Likes: 1
From: Midland TX
Another thing you may try to to press the button combination to manually reset the temp. Reading. On the hvac controls press the two on the far right and the fan increase button simultaneously and it should instantly reset to the current temp. If it doesn't work than the temperature sensor could be bad.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,351
Likes: 2,445
From: Eastern
Another thing you may try to to press the button combination to manually reset the temp. Reading. On the hvac controls press the two on the far right and the fan increase button simultaneously and it should instantly reset to the current temp. If it doesn't work than the temperature sensor could be bad.
When the Front Defrost, Rear Defog and fan up buttons are pressed simultaneously.Updates temperature display instantly.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 662
Likes: 111
From: Carmel, NY & Bradenton, FL
Another thing you may try to to press the button combination to manually reset the temp. Reading. On the hvac controls press the two on the far right and the fan increase button simultaneously and it should instantly reset to the current temp. If it doesn't work than the temperature sensor could be bad.
Thank you for those tips. I'll be ready for it next time the Mercury gets stuck.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Just remember there are some restrictions to when the outside temp. display will update.
Here's what the 2006 owner's manual says on page 3-29.
Here's what the 2006 owner's manual says on page 3-29.
If the outside temperature goes up, the displayed
temperature will not change until:
• The vehicle’s speed is above 10 mph (16 km/h) for
five minutes.
• The vehicle’s speed is above 32 mph (52 km/h) for
two and a half minutes.
These delays prevent false readings. If the temperature
goes down, the outside temperature will be shown
when you start the vehicle. If it has been turned off for
less than three hours, the temperature will be recalled
from the previous vehicle operation.
temperature will not change until:
• The vehicle’s speed is above 10 mph (16 km/h) for
five minutes.
• The vehicle’s speed is above 32 mph (52 km/h) for
two and a half minutes.
These delays prevent false readings. If the temperature
goes down, the outside temperature will be shown
when you start the vehicle. If it has been turned off for
less than three hours, the temperature will be recalled
from the previous vehicle operation.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 662
Likes: 111
From: Carmel, NY & Bradenton, FL
Just remember there are some restrictions to when the outside temp. display will update.
Here's what the 2006 owner's manual says on page 3-29.
If the outside temperature goes up, the displayed
temperature will not change until:
• The vehicle’s speed is above 10 mph (16 km/h) for
five minutes.
• The vehicle’s speed is above 32 mph (52 km/h) for
two and a half minutes.
These delays prevent false readings. If the temperature
goes down, the outside temperature will be shown
when you start the vehicle. If it has been turned off for
less than three hours, the temperature will be recalled
from the previous vehicle operation.
Here's what the 2006 owner's manual says on page 3-29.
If the outside temperature goes up, the displayed
temperature will not change until:
• The vehicle’s speed is above 10 mph (16 km/h) for
five minutes.
• The vehicle’s speed is above 32 mph (52 km/h) for
two and a half minutes.
These delays prevent false readings. If the temperature
goes down, the outside temperature will be shown
when you start the vehicle. If it has been turned off for
less than three hours, the temperature will be recalled
from the previous vehicle operation.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2001
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From: Guelph, Ontario
I'm glad I found this thread, as today when I left work the outside temperature was reading 51 degrees, even though I knew it was closer to 70. After about ten minutes of driving it started creeping up until it settled at 71 degrees. Later in the evening when I drove it, it was stuck at 71 for a while, and then after driving it for a bit it started updating more frequently. It's never done this before, it's always updated itself instantly, so I was puzzled by this behavior. I thought it might be related to another issue I'm having with the climate control head unit. The display will often blink on me, so I know I'm going to need to replace that pretty soon 
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
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From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
It helps that I've had a C6 for all of the last 9 years, except for 8 months with a Camaro. And those 9 years have been with several different model years, so I downloaded the owner's manual for every C6 model year off the GM web site.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
My wife's got her own car and we only have 1 vehicle each at a time.
Having an electronic coy of the owner's manual sure makes it easier to find things.