Outside Temperature sensor

rockmon1! · 08-07-2006, 01:54 PM

What could be the root of this issue with the MFD reading 82 outside when it's 115? Prius was parked in a terribly hot asphault parking lot this weekend and after about an hour or so, we got in to take off and the outside temp indicated a reading of 82 degrees.
Allthough it was a nice mind game, I'd like to know if this is something I should have the dealer address?

Anyone?

Sufferin' Prius Envy · 08-07-2006, 02:02 PM

Did the sensor somehow get wet? Did you hose off the car? Maybe a lawn sprinkler, etc?

After washing my car, a low reading on the outside temperature gage is very common . . . and can last for several hours, depending on the relative humidity outside.

tumbleweed · 08-07-2006, 02:08 PM

Mine is quite slow to react but I've never seen it that far off. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to address it if your car is still under warranty, I assume it must be. They could replace whatever kind of temperature sensor it uses (I don't even know where it is). Let us know if you have it fixed I might take mine in also.

tripp · 08-07-2006, 02:23 PM

maybe it wrapped around and it thought that it was actually 1082 outside! :P

I've never seen it off by that much. Mine is usually about 2 degs off on the hot side.

**Tideland Prius** · 08-07-2006, 04:53 PM

wow... that's odd. It usually reads on the high side for me when I start, then start dropping back to the actual temp. That is unless it actually goes UP (which it did on several occasions this summer but only by 1°C) then I know the original reading was probably accurate.

ekpolk · 08-07-2006, 07:10 PM

Perhaps Toyota has finally included enough brainpower in an ECU that it's going to start showing signs of having actual emotions. Your car just has a happy, optimistic outlook, despite being left out in the heat without a bowl of water. . .

PriusRos · 08-07-2006, 07:30 PM

This is slightly off-track, but isn't the relevant measurement (really) the inside temperature?

Sometimes, I get in the car and it must be about 100 degrees, but it's reading 85 degrees outside temp. I don't really care when I'm inside what the outside air temp is, but the inside.

But I digress. I do agree that the temperature readings of the outside temp seems to be lower than reality.

Ron Dupuy · 08-07-2006, 07:51 PM

Mine will read around 80 when it actually 90+ according to an independent reading, in the shade, in the immediate area.

viking31 · 08-07-2006, 09:05 PM

Where is the outside temperature sensor actually located?

Rick
2006 #4

galaxee · 08-07-2006, 09:13 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(viking31 @ Aug 7 2006, 09:05 PM) [snapback]299358[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Where is the outside temperature sensor actually located?

Rick
2006 #4 [/b]

http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&showtopi...ndpost&p=277796

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08-07-2006, 01:54 PM	#1
rockmon1! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: kansas city Posts: 40 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	What could be the root of this issue with the MFD reading 82 outside when it's 115? Prius was parked in a terribly hot asphault parking lot this weekend and after about an hour or so, we got in to take off and the outside temp indicated a reading of 82 degrees. Allthough it was a nice mind game, I'd like to know if this is something I should have the dealer address? Anyone?

08-07-2006, 02:02 PM	#2
Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: USA Posts: 4,012 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 15 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 0	Did the sensor somehow get wet? Did you hose off the car? Maybe a lawn sprinkler, etc? After washing my car, a low reading on the outside temperature gage is very common . . . and can last for several hours, depending on the relative humidity outside.

08-07-2006, 02:08 PM	#3
tumbleweed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 1,006 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Mine is quite slow to react but I've never seen it that far off. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to address it if your car is still under warranty, I assume it must be. They could replace whatever kind of temperature sensor it uses (I don't even know where it is). Let us know if you have it fixed I might take mine in also.

08-07-2006, 02:23 PM	#4
tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it? Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 3,773 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	maybe it wrapped around and it thought that it was actually 1082 outside! :P I've never seen it off by that much. Mine is usually about 2 degs off on the hot side.

08-07-2006, 04:53 PM	#5
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,920 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	wow... that's odd. It usually reads on the high side for me when I start, then start dropping back to the actual temp. That is unless it actually goes UP (which it did on several occasions this summer but only by 1°C) then I know the original reading was probably accurate.

08-07-2006, 07:10 PM	#6
ekpolk The Regenerator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pensacola FL Posts: 363 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Perhaps Toyota has finally included enough brainpower in an ECU that it's going to start showing signs of having actual emotions. Your car just has a happy, optimistic outlook, despite being left out in the heat without a bowl of water. . .

08-07-2006, 07:30 PM	#7
PriusRos Not-THAT-Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Rockville, MD Posts: 535 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	This is slightly off-track, but isn't the relevant measurement (really) the inside temperature? Sometimes, I get in the car and it must be about 100 degrees, but it's reading 85 degrees outside temp. I don't really care when I'm inside what the outside air temp is, but the inside. But I digress. I do agree that the temperature readings of the outside temp seems to be lower than reality.

08-07-2006, 07:51 PM	#8
Ron Dupuy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fortuna, CA Posts: 101 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Mine will read around 80 when it actually 90+ according to an independent reading, in the shade, in the immediate area.

08-07-2006, 09:05 PM	#9
viking31 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Central Florida Posts: 457 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Where is the outside temperature sensor actually located? Rick 2006 #4