What are the symptoms of a faulty car outdoor temperature sensor?
2 Answers
Most vehicles will display abnormal temperature readings on the dashboard when the outdoor temperature sensor malfunctions. This may cause the engine's air-fuel ratio to become distorted and can lead to improper operation or failure of the air conditioning system. Relevant details are as follows: 1. Function: The car outdoor temperature sensor detects the ambient air temperature and transmits the detected temperature to the engine's ECU, converting it into an electrical signal. This determines the automatic air conditioning temperature setting without manual intervention, adjusting the air conditioning to the most suitable temperature. 2. Normal temperature resistance: The outdoor temperature sensor, also known as the ambient temperature sensor, is usually installed near the front bumper or grille. Its detection element uses a negative temperature coefficient thermistor. The detection method for the outdoor temperature sensor is the same as that for the coolant temperature sensor. Its resistance can be measured using the resistance range of a multimeter. The normal resistance should be 1.6 to 1.8 KΩ, with higher resistance at lower temperatures. If the resistance value exceeds the specified range, it indicates an open circuit in the sensor wiring harness or poor contact in the connector, which will affect the normal operation of the vehicle's air conditioning system. Further inspection or replacement is necessary.
I just had this issue recently—my car suddenly became dumb. The AC was blowing hot air randomly, freezing me to death in the middle of summer; the temperature display on the dashboard was stuck at -20°C and wouldn’t budge; the automatic wipers refused to work in the rain, acting like they were blind. The most annoying part was the constant warnings from the onboard computer, with the dashboard’s yellow lights flashing like crazy, making me nervous. Once, when the temperature dropped, I thought it was actually that cold and almost put on a heavy down jacket, only to step out and realize it was just normal autumn weather. Broken electronic parts like this really can’t be ignored—driving felt like losing a pair of eyes. In the end, I spent 200 bucks at the auto repair shop to replace the sensor.
