Started to relocate the ambient temp sensor in the grill on my 2001. SURPRISE!
Someone cut the wires and removed it entirely.
Anyone know the impact of doing this? Does my ECM now see a very hot ambient or a very cold ambient? What is the range of resistance values of the sensor? Can I just put in a resistor to tell the car that the ambient is 90 degrees?
LOL, so I'm guessing your AutoStop didn't work when you're climate control was in ECON and you couldn't figure out why. That is the only real issue, also the car doesn't know when it is really cold out to start your car using the 12V battery instead of the IMA battery.
So you can get a resistor from Radio Shack and put it between the two cut off wires and it will work, I did that for a couple of years until I got a used sensor from Jeff. Here are some basic numbers for resistance to temp:
LOL, so I'm guessing your AutoStop didn't work when you're climate control was in ECON and you couldn't figure out why. That is the only real issue, also the car doesn't know when it is really cold out to start your car using the 12V battery instead of the IMA battery.
So you can get a resistor from Radio Shack and put it between the two cut off wires and it will work, I did that for a couple of years until I got a used sensor from Jeff. Here are some basic numbers for resistance to temp:
Yeah I was LOL when I found it - not. And, you are right, the car will not autostop if even the climate control fan is on. That was a mystery. I'll just put a 1.4kohm resistor in that baby Maybe I'll gain a bit more fuel economy.
look real hard in the bottom of the bumper. Id bet the sensor is laying down there. At some point. the plastic clip on mine broke and it somehow dangled and the wires got cut clean off. I only noticed it because id never get auto stop with econ.
I cant speak for the gen 1, but on the gen 2 its on the outter most cross memebr off to one side. It looks like an air bag sensor, however those are bright yellow and the front has 2, one on each side vs the bumper. With my grill blockage mines reads around 54 degrees in the winter.
Not sure about auto stop, however it plays a role if you use the heater settings in regards to how much it moves the mix flap.
What IS the story with all these cars with cut outside temp sensor wires? Mine were cut when I first got my car, one of the first issues I dealt with. I had read a lot of posts about people with cut wires, but never found the reason. Seems like it must've been in a service bulletin or something, a 'fix' to something...
LOL, so I'm guessing your AutoStop didn't work when you're climate control was in ECON and you couldn't figure out why. That is the only real issue, also the car doesn't know when it is really cold out to start your car using the 12V battery instead of the IMA battery.
So you can get a resistor from Radio Shack and put it between the two cut off wires and it will work, I did that for a couple of years until I got a used sensor from Jeff. Here are some basic numbers for resistance to temp:
Tell me gilbert, where did you get these resistance values?
Looks like, according to this table, a cut wire would set the resistance to infinity who signal the ECM that the ambient temperature was 0 degrees Kelvin, or something close
Why they are cut I can't fathom. Maybe they spread the word here. I'm gonna do a search. Maybe someone thinks infinite resistance is the fix to the cold weather ambient problem. For all I know, it might be Relocation makes a lot more sense to me.
There is a temp to resistance chart in the HVAC service manual. Couldn't figure out how to post the picture from the manual so just broke it out that way every 10 degrees F. The chart shows it in C also for all of our Canadian and UK friends.
Outside air temp sensor chart is located on page 34 of 182 in HVAC manual. Be careful because there are about 4 different temp sensors in the HVAC sysetm and some of the charts are diffenent.
What IS the story with all these cars with cut outside temp sensor wires? Mine were cut when I first got my car, one of the first issues I dealt with. I had read a lot of posts about people with cut wires, but never found the reason. Seems like it must've been in a service bulletin or something, a 'fix' to something...
More likely the front bumper was removed during servicing or repair. Refitting the bodywork is the kind of job shops typically give to the least experienced mechanic, who doesn't spot the dangling sensor or its locating bracket. In my case, I knew from the forum to check it, and I recommend everyone who hasn't done so to check that it is located (on its bracket) behind the bumper and not dangling, ready to fall off when the wires eventually snap...
__________________
Marian & Per
Citrus 2000 MT UK spec VIN#000032
So you can get a resistor from Radio Shack and put it between the two cut off wires and it will work, I did that for a couple of years until I got a used sensor from Jeff. Here are some basic numbers for resistance to temp:
Well that didn't work. I put in a 1.0K ohm resistor and the car still won't autostop when the climate control fan is on. Maybe this the way it's supposed to work
I also didn't see any improvement in autostop initiation during cold early morning driving.
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Relocating the Ambient Temp Sensor
Maybe I'll gain a bit more fuel economy.
Relocation makes a lot more sense to me.
