Ambient Temperature Thermometer Issue

[BroSpo]

Does anyone know exactly where the external ambient temperature sensor is located? I took some minor front-end damage in a collision with a deer last night...

So far, the only real evidence of the encounter is a bit of fur on the bumper, a slight gap issue with the front passenger fender, one broken vertical slat, and the loss of my external temperature sensor readings. I don't know if the system attempts to infer other conditions (like AC fan speed or related) but if that's the worst of it, I'm grateful. I noticed a very brief yellow (!) style icon in place of the numeric value field, but mostly it just reads "--o" now (lower case "O" chosen instead of a zero because that is how it appears to me).

On a related note, I have found it to be quite accurate and am pretty fond of having it around. While I could live without it, I prefer to fix/replace it. I have no idea if it was shorn off or just damaged (or hopefully just disconnected!). I'm going to poke around again now that I have the light but figured I'd ask here too.

If anyone has insight, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.

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[BroSpo]

Quick update: The external ambient temperature sensor is in the grill about midway between the "R" and "O" in the open slats.

Seems the impact broke the retaining clips loose but it otherwise works. I have a zip-tie on it for now.

*Note: That generates P0073 DTC. I was able to clear it and it has not returned...

 

[BroSpo]

Quick update: The external ambient temperature sensor is in the grill about midway between the "R" and "O" in the open slats.

Seems the impact broke the retaining clips loose but it otherwise works. I have a zip-tie on it for now.

*Note: That generates P0073 DTC. I was able to clear it and it has not returned...

One other observation here is that the system "assumes the worst" from a logic perspective. When the sensor goes offline it registers as exceeding whatever the maximum ambient temperature threshold is (unknown to me). That makes sense from a safety perspective.

As a consequence, this could affect radiator fan speed and other systems (e.g., cooling related, and probably yanks out timing and other performance attributes). I didn't have it offline long enough to say for sure, but this leads me to believe it is more critical than you might expect.

If anyone else has experience here, I'd appreciate the feedback.

 

[Meanderthal]

There could be other damage behind what you can see. Everything you can see is plastic, so it can bend and bounce back. There‘s a lot of sheet metal behind all that plastic that bends but won’t bounce back.

 

[BroSpo]

There could be other damage behind what you can see. Everything you can see is plastic, so it can bend and bounce back. There‘s a lot of sheet metal behind all that plastic that bends but won’t bounce back.

Oh definitely! :/ I'm still poking around and generally being mindful of that...hoping that's the limit of my damage...

 

[Dude]

@BroSpo is the external ambient temperature sensor visible when looking into the grill (about midway between the "R" and "O" in the open slats)? Or is the sensor hidden?

 

[BroSpo]

It is visible once you know what you're looking for... It's a small black cylindrical nub in the rectangular portion formed by the thin slats. It is in the airflow path of the heat exchanger.

Try to get lower and look up towards the grill. Hope that helps!

 

[BroSpo]

It is visible once you know what you're looking for... It's a small black cylindrical nub in the rectangular portion formed by the thin slats. It is in the airflow path of the heat exchanger.

Try to get lower and look up towards the grill. Hope that helps!

Here's a shot -- don't judge my dirty ride!

 

[Dude]

Here's a shot -- don't judge my dirty ride!

View attachment 38478

Thanks!!

 

[NMhunter]

But what was the damage to the deer?

 

[BroSpo]

But what was the damage to the deer?

Hard to say -- it was the kind of event where it spun around and kept running. Maybe it will be fine, or it might make it a little while before succumbing to its injuries. I've seen variations of both.

Were you wondering why I didn't talk about salvaging it? That is something you can do here legally...

 

[Barry S.]

Does anyone know exactly where the external ambient temperature sensor is located? I took some minor front-end damage in a collision with a deer last night...

So far, the only real evidence of the encounter is a bit of fur on the bumper, a slight gap issue with the front passenger fender, one broken vertical slat, and the loss of my external temperature sensor readings. I don't know if the system attempts to infer other conditions (like AC fan speed or related) but if that's the worst of it, I'm grateful. I noticed a very brief yellow (!) style icon in place of the numeric value field, but mostly it just reads "--o" now (lower case "O" chosen instead of a zero because that is how it appears to me).

On a related note, I have found it to be quite accurate and am pretty fond of having it around. While I could live without it, I prefer to fix/replace it. I have no idea if it was shorn off or just damaged (or hopefully just disconnected!). I'm going to poke around again now that I have the light but figured I'd ask here too.

If anyone has insight, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.

Don't remove that bit of fur. It enables your insurance adjuster to verify the accident was an animal encounter. My insurance company is GEICO and they don't raise rates for hitting an animal.

 

[BroSpo]

Don't remove that bit of fur. It enables your insurance adjuster to verify the accident was an animal encounter. My insurance company is GEICO and they don't raise rates for hitting an animal.

Thanks, I appreciate that. I'm with USAA and imagine they'd take my word for it...

Speaking of that, I'm on the fence about a claim and dealing with all the hassle. What remains as obvious damage is a slight seam alignment issue. I initially thought it was the fender, but now more clear it is the hood.

With all the curves and creases, can't say where...but the driver's side is perfectly fine. The fenders measure the same too...so there must be a bulge in the hood with enough change to cause it to sit differently on the passenger side.

 

[Barry S.]

Thanks, I appreciate that. I'm with USAA and imagine they'd take my word for it...

Speaking of that, I'm on the fence about a claim and dealing with all the hassle. What remains as obvious damage is a slight seam alignment issue. I initially thought it was the fender, but now more clear it is the hood.

With all the curves and creases, can't say where...but the driver's side is perfectly fine. The fenders measure the same too...so there must be a bulge in the hood with enough change to cause it to sit differently on the passenger side.

Go for it. That's why you pay that insurance premium. Don't know about your insurance company, but mine never hastles and has always been helpful on those few occasions when I've needed them.

 

[BroSpo]

Go for it. That's why you pay that insurance premium. Don't know about your insurance company, but mine never hastles and has always been helpful on those few occasions when I've needed them.

That is a good point, but I still find the whole thing dreadful.

I've had good luck with paintless dent removal in the past. That got me thinking about whether they could see/address the issue. Again, assuming only the hood is tweaked.

...and surprisingly, I've even had good luck with small touch-up paint from those guys. The good ones really have an eye for that. No paint damage here though.

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