Anyone know where it is located?

I noticed today that it was reading 81, when the actual outside temperature was about 95.

I was wondering whether it was staying wet after washing the car over an hour earlier. Didn't look at the temp before the washing.

After washing, I drove several miles, went into a mall, came out and drove 4 miles home, and on the drive home it just stayed at 81.

BTW, 2004 AT sedan.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

It's behind the grill, to the left if you're looking at it head-on.

There's a green/orange wire that leads to it from the firewall, around the back of the engine, and up the left side of the engine bay. It may be green/white or orange/white, but it stands out. It's been a couple years since I had to mess with it.

G

 

Don't see how I could have got that area wet washing, and even if I did, it would have been less than driving in the rai.

Still showing 81, even after over an hour in a garage that is 104 degrees.

I still have over a year on my warranty, and under 17000 miles on the car. I can have it looked at the next time I'm at the dealer.

 

I'd take it to the dealer, it may just be bad. If the connection were broken, the car would read something like -10, and it would be blasting hot air-- be thankful that's not the case.

G

 

I figured that the sensor for the outside display is different than the inside sensor that determines whether air conditioning or heat is needed.

Historically, once I've driven a few miles, it seems to be a pretty accurate reading.

 

I had the problem earlier this year where the blending door in my truck broke, and the vent stuck in the heat position. With the air on full, it was just hot. With air off, it was unbearable. Cost $600 to fix a $30 part, since the dash had to be taken out

If I didn't have air, I would have to do the trip to the dealer in the evening, as well as use the moon roof.

 

If the outside temp reads an incredibly low temperature, like in the -10 range, it'll just start pumping heat into the car on a cold start, even if your inside temp is set to 60. No matter what you do, you'll get constant hot air. It sucks. I had it happen two summers ago. When I replaced the wire for the sensor, everything went back to normal.

G

 

I'll keep that in mind. Seems odd, since I'm sure there is another temp sensor on the inside to regulate inside temperature.

If there is a problem, I wonder if they can fix it on a Saturday. I'm 200 miles from my normal dealership (I'm a little upset at the one 100 miles away. I actually test drove a car there twice, but when I was ready to buy, and wanted to have the saleman check for the car I wanted, he promised to call back later that afternoon. 2 weeks later I called the other dealership, and they found one for less than I expected to pay).

But since I'm headed near the dealership anyway, maybe they can squeeze me in.

 

Just had the same problem. Temp guage said high 70's or low 80's, but the actual outside temp was 10-15 degrees higher. You need to perform a HVAC software reset, and it will be fixed. It's pretty easy, I found the steps necessary on this forum. I'll save you the searching:


1) Turn the ignition key off and then on again.
2) Immediately press and hold the A/C system's OFF button for 5 seconds.
3) Use the Temp control **** to change to code 51.
4) Press the DEF button once to view the external temp sensor's reading.
5) Press the DEF button a second time to view the internal temp sensor's reading.
6) Press the DEF button a third time to view the intake temp sensor's reading.
7) Turn the ignition off to exit diagnostic mode.


It worked for me. We'll see for how long.

 

Seems to have cleared it up. Now reads 101, and the gauge on the wall reads 99.

Guess this means I can't try to get a loaner 2005 for a few hours

 

Whoa... What else can be seen using this view? Intake temp? Cool! (or not)

...Very good find.

 

Too bad the inside temp can't be shown while driving. But the turning off the car as part of it seems to kill that idea

 

Just a clarification - that would be the HVAC system's air intake temperature, not the engine's air intake temperature. While I bet the two tend to go up and down similarly much more often than they go up and down differently, they are definitely not one and the same sensor.

Jim

 

Man you just crushed my dreams and all that is right in the world.

 

FWIW, it was off again today. During lunch, showing 84 when it was closer to 100. I did what I remembered of the steps, thorugh the reset part, but not the temp part, and after turning it off and on, it showed 99.