Outside Ambient Temperature Reading Incorrectly

[URLUZN]

Has anyone had problems with the outside ambient temperature guage not reading correctly? This is the ambient temperature reading in the center of the A/C panel. My 08 Z06 is about 6 months old now and this is the first problem I had with the car. Minor yes, but gee it's annoying. The temperature will read the same for a long period of time until either the rough ride jars something or it's my wiggling the mass of wires behind the mirror. I can't find the loose connectionl. Where is the temperature sensor? Can someone help? Thanks, Mike

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
Depending on temperature when the car was shut down, vs movement of the air around the sensor vs any modifications will create changes in how it functions.
The key to remember is that the sensor, even if the temperature changes radically, will take a while to correct.
This is not because the sensor doesnt see it, but because the control module IS BUFFERING THE SIGNAL and will not change it unless it sees the change consistant over period of time.
Allthebest, c4c5

[8850]

The sensor is located on the passenger side in the lower portion of the radiator shroud.

[URLUZN]

Appeciate the replies. Notice the problem a couple of days ago. I was riding around and notice the temperature reading was 59 degrees. I had the windows down and sure it was pleasant but not that cool. My 2003 Tahoe has the temperature read out in the rear-a-view mirror. So, I thought,heck maybe the sensor is somewhere on the windshield and I wiggled the plug in the back of the mirror. Shortly, the temperature rose to 69 degrees. Had the same problem yesterday. It started at 54 degrees but it was about 65 degrees. Now, knowing the sensor is located under the hood, I am not convinced wiggling the plug behind the mirror is the problem area.

[Tony1Leo]

I have an 07. I drive almost every morning to the gym at the same time. Pull out of the garage...some mornings, it will start to adjust to the correct temp within a few seconds and other mornings it will wait 5 or 10 minutes before it does anything. I had the same problem with my 97. It's just not a good system. My Ford adjusts constantly, even if the car is parked for a while. It is annoying, especially when you know there is a big difference in the reading. You just keep staring at it wondering when is it going to change.
Tony

[URLUZN]

Thanks for your reply Tony. I have now come to that same conclusion. My 03 Tahoe works great, just like your Ford. But the vette, very disappointing. I guess we ought to be glad it's just the ambient temperature and not something of more importance. Later, Mike

[GerryLP]

it happens with other car brands as well. My Misubishi Diamante has the feature as well, and it can be reading on the OAT gage "32 Deg F", but one cannot take it as gospel until approximately 2 minutes have gone by. Once it confirms that it is "32 Deg F", then it will beep to let one know that the road may be icy.

It probably would not make sense to have a very sesitive probe telling one how much cooler or hotter was the air every split second, since pockets of air are a natural phenomenon.

[Norseman]

My Subaru STi temp gage is spot on it was reading -11 last Friday and I think the wind chill was -42. Chicago is a fun place to be, huh.

[Victory Red C6]

Has anyone had problems with the outside ambient temperature guage not reading correctly?

The following information was copied from the 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Owners Manual on pages 181 -182. It is amazing the amount of information that this books contains regarding your Corvette.

There is also a sensor located behind the front
bumper. This sensor reads the outside air
temperature and helps to maintain the temperature
inside the vehicle. Any cover on the front of the
vehicle could give a false reading in the
temperature.
If the outside temperature goes up, the displayed
temperature will not change until:
• The vehicle’s speed is above 12 mph (19 km/h)
for five minutes.
• The vehicle’s speed is above 32 mph (52 km/h)
for two and a half minutes.

These delays prevent false readings. If the
temperature goes down, the outside temperature
will be shown when you start the vehicle. If it
has been turned off for less than three hours, the
temperature will be recalled from the previous
vehicle operation.

Hopefully the information above will help explain the issue that you are seeing. I don't understand the reasoning behind it. It obviously it give a false reading until the conditions above are meet. My 2000 Monte Carlo and 2002 Silverado update the temperature immediately after the vehicle is started and in a matter of a few minutes the temperature is accurate.