Ambient Temperature Sensor

My ambient/outdoor temperature sensor has slowly drifted away…unless it was really 120 degrees outside yesterday. I bought another sensor using the P/N I found online. The connector was wrong and it didn’t work.

Anyone know the correct part number?

 

If the sensor is in direct sunlight, it will read high. Drive it for a few miles and it should read correct again

 

Had a similar deal with my 22 sr5. I just spit shined the sensor and banged it around and all was/is good.

 

Thanks, but not the issue. I’ve driven the truck since new in 2017. The outside temperature would adjust and read correctly up until a few months ago. It’s drifted higher and will read ~20degf too high sitting or driving; rain or shine. The sensor has gone out.

anyone know the P/N?

 

Yeah, seems my issue was a 1-off. Mine was bouncing around between 6 and 20 degrees F on a 60 degree Nor-Cal winter day.

 

The random Toyota parts website I chose shows 88790-06020.
https://www.sparksparts.com/oem-par...yMDE5JnQ9dHJkLW9mZi1yb2FkJmU9My01bC12Ni1nYXM=

 

I appreciate the response. Unfortunately, that’s the part I purchased. Now I’m stuck.

 

Is there a part number on the bad sensor? Also double check that you unplugged the correct part and that you are clocking the connector correctly.

 

No part number on the defective sensor. I am definitely looking at the right part - it’s really obvious. The new sensor I bought looks identical except for the connector. Just different.
*sigh*

 

The part depicted in the link above I do not believe is the ambient temp sensor - that would be a problem. No one has yet asked you where the sensor is to verify you are working on the correct part. It is in the center of the grill support in front of the radiator about mid-way down the radiator.

 

That’s exactly what I’m attempting to replace. I will take a picture tomorrow and post if necessary, but I’m 100% sure I’m working with the correct part. I just don’t know the part number to replace it.

 

Let's back up a bit. Why are you wishing to replace the temp sensor? Do you have the -- display of the temperature on the Combo Meter? Or an inaccurate reading?

If you have an Ohm meter you could do a test of the sensor with a hair dryer for a heat source. Some years ago this was gone over in detail with the temperature versus resistance correlation. Perhaps you can find the thread. The resolution to that thread IIRC was a leaky windshield that affected one of the connectors in the driver's kick panel. Do you have a wet driver's side carpet up high under the dash?

EDIT: OK, I found the old thread:
Outside temperature gauge ? 2018 Tacoma | Tacoma World
Post #3 has some attached files and the resistance/temperature ratio is in the one named "Inspection"; all are a good read.
Thanks to @ktbell444