Outside Temperature Display: Adjustments
Outside Air Temperature Indicator Calibration
Description
The outside temperature sensor is located behind the center of the front bumper. The gauge assembly uses measurements from this sensor to display the outside air temperature.
Because of the location of the sensor, it may be affected by heat reflection from the road, engine and radiator heat, or hot exhaust from surrounding traffic.
These conditions can heat soak the outside air temperature sensor and cause inaccurate readings. Logic has been written into the gauge assembly to help prevent abnormal of fluctuating outside air temperature indicator readings.
Outside Air Temperature Indicator Logic
Initial outside air temperature indication after the ignition switch is turned to ON (II):
- If the engine coolant temperature is 140 °F (60 °C) or higher the outside air temperature will be indicated the last reading before the ignition switch is turned to LOCK (0) regardless of the current temperature measured by the outside air temperature sensor.
- If the engine coolant temperature is 139 °F (59 °C) or lower the current temperature measured by the outside air temperature sensor is indicated.
Update to the outside air temperature indicator while driving
If the temperature measured by the outside air temperature sensor is greater than the temperature on the outside air temperature indicator, the outside temperature indicator will increase 1 °F (1 °C) each minute the vehicle speed is greater than 19 mph (30 km/h) for more than 30 seconds. It will continue to increase until the current outside air temperature is indicated. So, the first change to the outside air temperature indicator is 34 seconds (1 minute) after the vehicle speed is greater than 19 mph (30 km/h). If the vehicle speed drops below 19 mph (30 km/h), the indicator will not update again until the vehicle speed is increased to 19 mph (30 km/h) or more for more than 30 seconds again.
If the outside air temperature is less than 140 °F (60 °C), the temperature increases 1 °F (1 °C) every 2 seconds until the current outside air temperature is displayed.
If the outside air temperature is less than the indicated temperature, the temperature will decrease 1 °F (1 °C) every 2 seconds until the current outside air temperature is indicated regardless of vehicle speed.
Troubleshooting
If the indicator displays "---" for more than 2 seconds after selecting the outside air temperature display mode, check the outside air temperature sensor , or do the gauge assembly self-diagnosis. Initial Inspection and Diagnostic Overview
Calibration
The outside air temperature indicator's displayed temperature can be recalibrated ±5 °F (or ±3 °C) to meet the customer's expectations.
1. Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
2. Select the outside air temperature display.
3. Press and hold the trip button for 10 seconds. While you continue to hold the button, the display scrolls through temperature settings from +5 °F to -5 °F (or +3 °C to -3 °C) as shown.
4. When the desired correction value appears on the display, release the button, and the recalibrated outside air temperature is displayed.
Example:
NOTE: The recalibration temperature is not the value the sensor sees. Therefore the temperature can only be adjusted ±5 degrees from the sensor.
NOTE: To recalibrate the display to the true temperature, remove the outside air temperature sensor (A), but leave it connected. Submerge the sensor and a thermometer (B) in a container of ice water (C). Select the calibration mode as described above, then recalibrate the display to the true temperature.
