Temperature sensor not reading correctly and affecting HVAC

[Dmat]

This has been going on for a while now. So on the dash screen, my displayed temperature is around 30 deg higher than actually outside. While it doesnt appear to affect how the truck runs. It does cause the HVAC to not work correctly on start. So instead of heated seats or steering wheel turning on, The AC comes on.

I've gone to the dealership once so far where they tried to source the problem but their attempts to fix didnt work yet. So far they have tried to recalibrate it with no success.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

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[ShadowChas]

I believe the temp sensor behind the front bumper cover needs replacing (have you had “bumps” in front?) YouTube has some videos.

 

[24_bob]

This has been going on for a while now. So on the dash screen, my displayed temperature is around 30 deg higher than actually outside. While it doesnt appear to affect how the truck runs. It does cause the HVAC to not work correctly on start. So instead of heated seats or steering wheel turning on, The AC comes on.

I've gone to the dealership once so far where they tried to source the problem but their attempts to fix didnt work yet. So far they have tried to recalibrate it with no success.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/ambient-air-sensor.65052/#post-1086623

had the same issue. see link above.

 

[Tiger Dude]

How hard can it be? It's a sensor and a wire and a controller, one supposes all are covered in the repair manual.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

This has been going on for a while now. So on the dash screen, my displayed temperature is around 30 deg higher than actually outside. While it doesnt appear to affect how the truck runs. It does cause the HVAC to not work correctly on start. So instead of heated seats or steering wheel turning on, The AC comes on.

I've gone to the dealership once so far where they tried to source the problem but their attempts to fix didnt work yet. So far they have tried to recalibrate it with no success.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Yes.
Only when leaving a car wash.
Summertime it can be 110° out. Leaving the car wash will drop the indicated ambient temperature into the 70s that will affect the AC operation, NO Cold air, until the sensor dries off and reaches ambient outside temperature.
On 4th of July 2024 heading to the Grand Canyon. For some unknown reason my temperature display changed to Celsius. I pulled over, turn the truck off, restarted it and the display was back to Fahrenheit.

 

[HeyBales]

Still under warranty?

If reset of sensor calibration no good - need a new sensor.
Several threads on that needing to happen.

Their scanner should allow reading the sensor data - just in case it's a display issue instead.

 

[Dmat]

Still under warranty?

If reset of sensor calibration no good - need a new sensor.
Several threads on that needing to happen.

Their scanner should allow reading the sensor data - just in case it's a display issue instead.

I'm still under warranty. The odd thing is on start up. The infotainment and the dash display 2 different numbers. The dash is obviously wrong but once AA starts, it takes over the infotainment and it displays the wrong temp too.

 

[Dmat]

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/ambient-air-sensor.65052/#post-1086623

had the same issue. see link above.

This makes me wonder if the connector is the 12 pin connector in front of the passenger wheel. I can try checking that and see if there is water build up or something.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I'm still under warranty. The odd thing is on start up. The infotainment and the dash display 2 different numbers. The dash is obviously wrong but once AA starts, it takes over the infotainment and it displays the wrong temp too.

Well you need to get a correct sensor.
But short term run the HVAC manually.

(make sure auto is not selected)

Manually I can have heat coming out of the vents on a 100°F day and I can have air conditioning coming out of the vents on on 35°F day. Driver (human) gets to choose. In my 2022.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

If it makes you feel any better I have no clock in my 2022 unless I'm using CarPlay which then shows the time on the phone.

I just live with it.

I guess I need a new clock sensor.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

This has been going on for a while now. So on the dash screen, my displayed temperature is around 30 deg higher than actually outside. While it doesnt appear to affect how the truck runs. It does cause the HVAC to not work correctly on start. So instead of heated seats or steering wheel turning on, The AC comes on.

I've gone to the dealership once so far where they tried to source the problem but their attempts to fix didnt work yet. So far they have tried to recalibrate it with no success.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Max cool or max heat should work irregardless of temp setting.

 

[24_bob]

This makes me wonder if the connector is the 12 pin connector in front of the passenger wheel. I can try checking that and see if there is water build up or something.

yes, that is the one that I had the problem with. water literally poured out when I disconnected it. The pins were corroded. Cleaned it up, packed it with dielectric grease and no issues since.

 

[HeyBales]

Well - if it's under warranty - and they find signs you messed with it - they could deny the warranty.

Was water in it because of building failure - or owner opened it up and put it back wrong?

Let dealer deal with it.

 

[Dmat]

Well - if it's under warranty - and they find signs you messed with it - they could deny the warranty.

Was water in it because of building failure - or owner opened it up and put it back wrong?

Let dealer deal with it.

I did put a harness for the fog lights at the 12 pin. I can unplug it though and check everything since I dont like to cut wires.

 

[24_bob]

Well - if it's under warranty - and they find signs you messed with it - they could deny the warranty.

Was water in it because of building failure - or owner opened it up and put it back wrong?

Let dealer deal with it.

If they deny warranty, then they must prove why. Don't be afraid to call people out. Anyone can say anything, bluff their way through life, but tell them to put it in writing exactly what you did that voids a warranty repair and watch what happens next.

As for putting it back wrong, this connecter is keyed, if you put it back wrong, you don't deserve to do anything repair wise.

As for letting the dealer deal with it... lets see, schedule a time out of your busy day or week, hope they have competent techs, understand what it is you are telling them, hope the tech can read the "customer states" write up from the service manager's incomplete interpretation, take everything apart, replace a bunch of stuff that is not related, if they have the parts to begin with, put it all back together, misalign panels, forget a clip or 2, damage or scratch something, wait a few days for them to do all of this, only for it to still have the same problem immediately or in a few days because water intrudes into the connector.... yeah, I'll take my chances with looking at this connector, cleaning up the pins, adding a ton of grease on both sides and where the wires go into the connector and fix it myself.

20 minutes is all it took for me. Been working perfectly ever since. Oh and water was in it from the factory install, not from an owner opening it up. Ford is not known for their quality.

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