Need help Ambient air sensor/pig tail question

[LittleNeckLightning]

So you cut out the old housing and then soldered the wires of the new housing to the already existing wires? Are the colors of the wires the same on the new part?

Just match the white wires. The ford one might be green and whitte, with the negative being green and black. Match white to white and you’ll be good.

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[Darnon]

It should just be a regular thermistor so polarity doesn't matter anyways.

 

[G'sABMav]

Can anyone explain how to access the ambient air temp sensor? I have less than 2 grand for miles on my Mav but my Ford dealer said it’s this sensor. Through Ford Pass they looked it up. I see no spot anywhere to access it. I looked up what the part looks like but can’t find it on the passenger lower side of the grill. Any help appreciated. *Dealer said they can’t get me in until the middle of October!

 

[cclark]

Here's a link to a youtube video showing where it is. Not the best video but should help.

 

[LittleNeckLightning]

Can anyone explain how to access the ambient air temp sensor? I have less than 2 grand for miles on my Mav but my Ford dealer said it’s this sensor. Through Ford Pass they looked it up. I see no spot anywhere to access it. I looked up what the part looks like but can’t find it on the passenger lower side of the grill. Any help appreciated. *Dealer said they can’t get me in until the middle of October!

My guy, scroll this feed. Everything you need to know is in this thread. Lay a blanket down, lay down, reach into your bumper and yank it out. Likely your cable housing is bad, and have to solder in a new terminal, the actual sensors are tough pieces of plastic, but either way, 15 min of work for anyone who can solder and shrink wrap 2 wires, $20 in parts from amazon. Disconnect negative from batter terminal, lay down, yank it out, unplug from cable housing, and pop new one in, or snip and solder in new housing. There’s always a chance the whole cable is bad where it plugs in behind bumper, but unlikely. Reattach negative, turn it over and give it a good 15 min to find itself proper and you should see correct outside temp on display. Good luck!

 

[G'sABMav]

Here's a link to a youtube video showing where it is. Not the best video but should help.

Thanks cclark!
Now that I know exactly where it’s located I’m ready to tackle this.
Really appreciate it.

 

[scotwhoo]

Nearly identical issue as posted by LittleNeckLighting. I followed every suggestion from this thread and purchased the new sensor from the Amazon site posted by ShadowBlack and made sure to connect white to white wires and heat shrinked. It was all very easy to do, though the engine light has not reset and Ive already driven 100 miles. The only thing I noticed this evening was that I didn't position the sensor where the "nipple" was exposed to outside air since part of the old broken sensor was still attached (without wires) to that part. I did fix that tonight and am wondering if that will turn off the check engine light during my drive to work tomorrow and display the outside temperature as it is still showing up as blank. If this doesn't solve the problem, then any ideas before taking to a stealership? I recall someone mentioning the possibility of a harness that it's connected to going bad?

 

[bgn]

Nearly identical issue as posted by LittleNeckLighting. I followed every suggestion from this thread and purchased the new sensor from the Amazon site posted by ShadowBlack and made sure to connect white to white wires and heat shrinked. It was all very easy to do, though the engine light has not reset and Ive already driven 100 miles. The only thing I noticed this evening was that I didn't position the sensor where the "nipple" was exposed to outside air since part of the old broken sensor was still attached (without wires) to that part. I did fix that tonight and am wondering if that will turn off the check engine light during my drive to work tomorrow and display the outside temperature as it is still showing up as blank. If this doesn't solve the problem, then any ideas before taking to a stealership? I recall someone mentioning the possibility of a harness that it's connected to going bad?

Pull the diagnostic code first. Either stop by an auto store or buy your own Bluetooth scanner. They're not too expensive.

There's also this, which you should be able to do with Forscan:

Reset the Outside Air Temperature Sensor
Learned Values
Configuration
1. NOTE: The ambient air temperature sensor is a critical component for correct Air Conditioning
(A/C) and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system operation. Make sure after
the reset is carried out the temperature is displaying correctly in the vehicle.
NOTE: The outside air temperature sensor is also referred to as the ambient air temperature
sensor in this manual.
Using the diagnostic FDRS scan tool, follow the on screen prompts to run and reset the outside
air temperature sensor learned values.

 

[scotwhoo]

Pull the diagnostic code first. Either stop by an auto store or buy your own Bluetooth scanner. They're not too expensive.

I have a scanner and did that already. The codes were and still read p0072/0073 which is related to the external ambient temperature sensor. And I knew for sure that was the problem as the sensor was broken off similar to the photos posted by LittleNeckLighting. Hoping those that were successful with this fix will have additional input as I've done everything the same.

 

[bgn]

I have a scanner and did that already. The codes were and still read p0072/0073 which is related to the external ambient temperature sensor. And I knew for sure that was the problem as the sensor was broken off similar to the photos posted by LittleNeckLighting. Hoping those that were successful with this fix will have additional input as I've done everything the same.

Did you also do the reset procedure via Forscan? Service manual says it's required if the sensor is replaced.

 

[scotwhoo]

Did you also do the reset procedure via Forscan? Service manual says it's required if the sensor is replaced.

No, good information. I'll try that tomorrow. Thank you

 

[Fahrenheit]

Just got my truck back from the dealership where they wanted $670 to replace this part. No surprise, just like everyone on here my sensor and connector are damaged. I am sure the culprit was snow/ice related because there is literally nothing wrong with the front of my truck otherwise.

Why Ford would think it's a good idea to put something fragile so low on the front bumper is beyond my comprehension. I suspect this will not be the first time I replace this part.

 

[LittleNeckLightning]

Just got my truck back from the dealership where they wanted $670 to replace this part. No surprise, just like everyone on here my sensor and connector are damaged. I am sure the culprit was snow/ice related because there is literally nothing wrong with the front of my truck otherwise.

Why Ford would think it's a good idea to put something fragile so low on the front bumper is beyond my comprehension. I suspect this will not be the first time I replace this part.

$670 is better than the $1500 my dealer wanted, but really, next time, have some one splice in the part. Cost me $18 and 20 minutes….

 

[bgn]

Absolute highway robbery. Insane.

 

[Fahrenheit]

$670 is better than the $1500 my dealer wanted, but really, next time, have some one splice in the part. Cost me $18 and 20 minutes….

The part arrives tomorrow, thanks to this thread

But yes, it's robbery. I got home from the diagnosis and was able to pull at the sensor and it crumbled in my hand.

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