Outside temperature gauge ? 2018 Tacoma

Ok I’m back. . Issue has reappeared. Auto shop ran the scan says ambient temperature sensor. My question is I can put the part on but do I need to do anything to clear that error so it works properly or will new part cancel that. Thanks

 

That's too bad.

I believe after a certain number of drive cycles with everything working properly just about every temporary code clears on these vehicles (mine have), plus since yours was coming and going away before I very much suspect the code will cease displaying, perhaps still in the computer for history sake but gone to you.. Consult the information supplied above by @ktbell444 there maybe an answer there. I would verify the resistance of the sensor to be sure it is bad before purchasing/replacing, that info was definitely in the info above as I recall. If you don't have a VOM, I'd bet a friend does. Computer scanning is no substitute for actual troubleshooting and verification.

Just for clarifications: Do you have the same type and degree of problems with the display displaying a value outside the capabilities of the sensor, or has something changed? Have you disconnected the battery once again?

VOM = Volt, Ohm, Meter

Edit:
On further thought, YES the code will clear as mine did as I had to refresh my mind as I disconnected my own sensor and drove with it not working and then plugged it back in with no delirious effects.

 

Yes the same issue. I’m in the ohio area. Outside Temperature in the state has been consistently changing . While it was warmer last week , upper 50s low 60s, the outside temperature gauge was all over the place as far as readings starts out fine then as I drive it drops to -34 then just 2 dash lines appear. I did try disconnecting the battery again but no luck…Yesterday and today it’s cold here low 30s and the damn thing looks fine. Auto shop I go to said the computer showed error on ambient sensor.

 

Have you been in rain or washing your truck? Had the window changed recently?

I had my temp display go wonky last fall, it would show colder than normal until it maxed out and showed --.

Investigations on here and climbing around under the dash led me to find water leaking behind the drivers kickpanel and around the interior fuse panels.

Had the windshield removed and re-sealed, contact cleaner all the connections, sealed back up and it's been perfect all winter and spring.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/leaking-onto-interior-electrics-behind-drivers-kickplate.744761/

 

Window not changed. I usually wash at least once a week. And I’m in Ohio so it’s usually raining, or snowing . Lol
Computer scan says ambient temperature sensor. As soon as it warms up here I plan on changing it hoping that solves a problem

 

Just for fun I substituted in a few resistors in place of the sensor and the results are:

2.2K ohm 68F matches perfectly with the info @ktbell444 posted above in the file "inspection.pdf"
4.7K ohm 38F
5.6K ohm 32F
10K ohm 13F
22K ohm -11F
47K ohm -34F
100K ohm --F

I did not test other resistance values between the 47K and 100K values as the 47K would give -32, -34 and the --F at times.

 

My truck just started doing this today. The outside gauge started dropping and when it got to around 10 degrees the AC cut out. Temp went all the way down to -35 then went to two dash lines. I stopped for a bit to pick up some groceries and when I started up again it was normal for about 10 seconds then the same thing... temp started dropping... then AC quit. It did storm last night but this hasn't happened with any other storms.

Although the last time it stormed I had a whole lot of error alerts pop up regarding auto high beams, cruise control malfunction, and other annoying alarms that went away after a few hours.

I do have a new windshield but that was installed back in early January. But I may have a leak somewhere

 

yeah next time it's acting up take off the drivers foot kick panel and feel those connections - mine were dripping wet and caused the temp issue as well as my fob range went down to zero.

 

I did and you were right. Soaking wet up in there.

 

Perhaps the OP should take a look at this area as well.

 

Take it back to the glass shop. Mine pulled the window and resealed it, gave me a line about Toyotas having a tough seal.. I think it just got a Friday job the first time.

 

Oh I will I just have to wait until my next week off which is a week from now. Also I learned that the AC will in fact turn on if I put it on recirc.

 

Just for fun, go into the vehicles center display while engine is running and select Menu-Setup-arrow down and select Vehicle-Vehicle Customizations-Climate Settings-toggle Auto AC to Off by pressing the ON. This possibly will turn the AC system to non-Auto mode and the AC ECU will not care what the temp display says. I tried this on my 2021 OR.

 

My truck doesn't have the climate option. It just has lights and door locks.

 

Just a little update. The glass shop found a pinhole in the seal on the driver side so they resealed that half the windshield. Hopefully that fixes the issue. I'll know next time it rains or I wash the truck.

 

For those that had the temp sensor issue and also had water ingress from the windshield, did everything return to normal once things dried out? Or did you need to replace anything?

I've now got the same temperature sensor issue, and just pulled the drivers side kick panel and discovered it is damp in there, and wet on the floor before. I had my windshield replaced a few months ago and just had the first real rain since it was replaced.

I'm going to call the glass shop on Monday, but am curious if I also need to go see about replacing and other parts

 

I didn't replace anything and all is well after the leak in the new windshield was repaired

 

I had the glass shop pull the windshield and re-seal it last winter after this issue happened. Also went through and used contact cleaner on all of the wet harnesses and connections I could get at. That was a year ago and zero issue since.

Although now I’ve got a chip and crack on the windshield again - I’m going to wait for the spring to have it replaced.

 

Just took mine in yesterday for this same issue. They're telling me they think it's the AC amplifier. So I picked the truck up last night and will use it while we're waiting on the part to come in.

Unfortunately, while it was in the shop it picked up a small dent in the side of the bed, and now I have to go complain about that.