Ambient Air Temp Accuracy....??

How accurate is your ambient air temp display? I'm thinking that mine might be reading several degrees warmer than the actual temp. The sensor is cheap enough and I might replace it for s&g's......

 

I only have the GPS-enabled weather app on my 2015’s touchscreen. Sometimes it’s dead on, but usually it’s a few degrees off either way.

 

I wouldn't trust the app either. They just skim reporting stations which are not that close together.....

@Crow Horse I've noticed when I park overnight that my SC coolant and trans temps are within a degree of the ambient at startup. Of course the ambient is a slower responding unit; if it weren't it would jump around like crazy driving.

One check could be immersing the sensor in a pan of water with a known good meat thermometer probe and see how they compare.

 

Funny you ask...

My 2020 Tacoma reads about 3-4 degrees high. My 2003 F150 was always spot on. That spoiled me.

 

Same here...... I have an aftermarket rear view with temp, and it is dead on.

 

Don't forget the heat radiating off the pavement may indicate a few degrees higher that the ambient air temperature.

 

Figure its +/- 3-5 degrees.

No need for it to be more accurate. Its not a laboratory instrument.

 

Mines pretty accurate on my 2013. At least within 1-2 degrees.

 

Would moving at a reasonable speed counteract heat radiation from the pavement?

 

It is usually pretty accurate AFTER I am at speeds around 10+mph.
Never close at all on first startup in the summer.
I’ll frequently get 115+ degree temps on first start in summer.
After a few miles down the road it is pretty close. With in a few degrees. (+/-2 degrees?)

I have the over head temp display it makes a difference?

 

Sure, if you’re moving at a reasonable speed off pavement

 

During the heat of summer, I have seen the temperature indication drop a couple degrees F when moving.

 

Update - I replaced the sensor with a new one and it's spot on with the local bank temp display as well as the temp displayed on my pc. The old one was off anywhere from 2-7 degrees.

I keep careful watch on the temps during the winter months. The temps vary considerably only several miles apart and I'm always concerned about black ice. Lost our 09 due to black ice.

 

Where is the sensor located?

 

Behind the grill on a support......

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks! Prob have to take the grill off to access the sensor?

 

I honestly don’t know.
I never looked, I just had mine off to replace the headlights.