Outside Temperature Reading Accuracy

Jared · 06-08-2005, 09:53 AM

Today my outside temp reading was 86 degrees when the real temperature from the radio station was 78. Is this due to the car being in strong sun? How accurate are the temperature readings from the car and where is the sensor?

tomdeimos · 06-08-2005, 10:26 AM

Sensor is in front of the radiator. I expect a warm car, or sun could affect it some, when
the car is parked, and the air isn't flowing past it.

Pavement can stay warmer than the ambient air too, so it may be low enough to read a bit high from that too.

Mine generally reads 2-4 degrees higher than my outdoor thermometer when I first start out in the morning.

DaveinOlyWA · 06-08-2005, 11:00 AM

not moving will increase the temp especially if parked on pavement. ive seen my temp at 105º before until i started moving then it drops to down to something reasonable after a minute or two

KathyY · 06-08-2005, 11:59 AM

Maybe it was warmer where you were than where the radio station thermometer is.

Jared · 06-08-2005, 12:03 PM

I just thought the difference between 86 and 78 was pretty high. Also, the car was not parked but was on the highway. Anyway, as long as it goes ...

DanMan32 · 06-08-2005, 12:52 PM

I find it quite accurate, within a degree or two when I am driving it, compared to temperatures displayed on signs. The car's OAT resolution is in 1 degree celcius, converted to farenheit, which is roughly 2 degrees in farenheit.

jeromep · 06-08-2005, 01:08 PM

I'm younger than this particular comedy sketch, but I am familiar with the Hippy Dippy Weatherman done by George Carlin. Well, he refers to the temperature at the airport being xx. And then says something about wondering who lives at the airport. Well, that is the case with the radio station thermometer. Nobody lives at the radio station, and the temp they read on the air is probably not even an actual temp they have gotten at their location, but one provided to them by one of the many commercial or free weather information sources. I'm inclined to believe that the temp you are reading on the MFD while driving is accurate to where you actually are located at that time.

**Tideland Prius** · 06-08-2005, 01:45 PM

The reading will be off if you've parked the car in the sun for a while. After 5 mins or so, it'll show a truer readout

Old n Bold · 06-08-2005, 02:01 PM

I have little faith in the temp reading of radio or tv stations. In my area, the temp may vary greatly around the county. I have a "good" (read expensive) outside thermometer located out of the direct sun and the media temp may vary by ten degrees below or above my local temp.

I also notice that, as I drive around, I see commercial signs that are the same as my car temp indicator and a block or two away, I see another sign that is radically higher or lower.

This was true of my previous car as well as the current Prius. Also, in the previous car, it took ten minutes or so and several miles for the temp to stabilize at a reading. Starting the car hot, it read excessively hot for quite awhile. Haven't notices this trait with the Prious as yet.

So, I take the media temps as only a general reading of temps (almost as good as hot, cold, mild, etc.) and take the car reading as closer (if not also excessively accurate either) to what the temp is immediatly outside of the car only at that moment.

Relax.

8AA · 06-08-2005, 10:52 PM

If the temperature differential really bothers anyone, you can have it adjusted by the dealer with the hand scanner.

06-08-2005, 09:53 AM	#1
Jared Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 149 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Outside Temperature Reading Accuracy Today my outside temp reading was 86 degrees when the real temperature from the radio station was 78. Is this due to the car being in strong sun? How accurate are the temperature readings from the car and where is the sensor?

06-08-2005, 10:26 AM	#2
tomdeimos Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lexington, MA Posts: 995 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Outside Temperature Reading Accuracy Sensor is in front of the radiator. I expect a warm car, or sun could affect it some, when the car is parked, and the air isn't flowing past it. Pavement can stay warmer than the ambient air too, so it may be low enough to read a bit high from that too. Mine generally reads 2-4 degrees higher than my outdoor thermometer when I first start out in the morning.

06-08-2005, 01:08 PM	#7
jeromep Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Eastern Washington State Posts: 821 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Outside Temperature Reading Accuracy I'm younger than this particular comedy sketch, but I am familiar with the Hippy Dippy Weatherman done by George Carlin. Well, he refers to the temperature at the airport being xx. And then says something about wondering who lives at the airport. Well, that is the case with the radio station thermometer. Nobody lives at the radio station, and the temp they read on the air is probably not even an actual temp they have gotten at their location, but one provided to them by one of the many commercial or free weather information sources. I'm inclined to believe that the temp you are reading on the MFD while driving is accurate to where you actually are located at that time. __________________ It has been said: Hybrid drivers come in 3 flavors, greenie, techie and cheapie. Pick any 2. 2005 Prius, Millenium Silver over gray, package 5 (AI)

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06-08-2005, 11:00 AM	#3
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,378 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	not moving will increase the temp especially if parked on pavement. ive seen my temp at 105º before until i started moving then it drops to down to something reasonable after a minute or two

06-08-2005, 11:59 AM	#4
KathyY Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 109 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Maybe it was warmer where you were than where the radio station thermometer is.

06-08-2005, 12:03 PM	#5
Jared Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 149 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	I just thought the difference between 86 and 78 was pretty high. Also, the car was not parked but was on the highway. Anyway, as long as it goes ...

06-08-2005, 12:52 PM	#6
DanMan32 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 3,775 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I find it quite accurate, within a degree or two when I am driving it, compared to temperatures displayed on signs. The car's OAT resolution is in 1 degree celcius, converted to farenheit, which is roughly 2 degrees in farenheit.

06-08-2005, 01:45 PM	#8
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 345 Times in 244 Posts Friends: 23	The reading will be off if you've parked the car in the sun for a while. After 5 mins or so, it'll show a truer readout

06-08-2005, 02:01 PM	#9
Old n Bold Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 79 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I have little faith in the temp reading of radio or tv stations. In my area, the temp may vary greatly around the county. I have a "good" (read expensive) outside thermometer located out of the direct sun and the media temp may vary by ten degrees below or above my local temp. I also notice that, as I drive around, I see commercial signs that are the same as my car temp indicator and a block or two away, I see another sign that is radically higher or lower. This was true of my previous car as well as the current Prius. Also, in the previous car, it took ten minutes or so and several miles for the temp to stabilize at a reading. Starting the car hot, it read excessively hot for quite awhile. Haven't notices this trait with the Prious as yet. So, I take the media temps as only a general reading of temps (almost as good as hot, cold, mild, etc.) and take the car reading as closer (if not also excessively accurate either) to what the temp is immediatly outside of the car only at that moment. Relax.

06-08-2005, 10:52 PM	#10
8AA Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 492 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	If the temperature differential really bothers anyone, you can have it adjusted by the dealer with the hand scanner.