What's the step-by-step on adjusting the external temp readout? I want to dial mine down a few clicks.

Thanks in advance

 

All i know is that you have to hold the select and reset buttons down at the same time.. you'll see the plus and minus once you get into the setup.

 

Upon start up or after it's on?

 

put the ignition to on postion. no need to start up the car. It is in the manual.

 

Sorry for bringing a post back from the , but I looked through my Owner's Manual today after I adjusted my external temp and couldn't find it anywhere in there, so I am posting this for people who don't know. I know that I was on a thread before where nobody knew what to do to fix it...
I actually did a search to see if there was a thread for the people who didn't know and found this one, so I am posting...



So, anyways, after having my car for almost two years and my temperature reading always being off, today I was trying to reset my maintenance light and stumbled across this fix.

All you have to do to adjust your external temperature readout in the 2nd Gens is turn your key to the On (II) position and after it is on for a second, press and hold the RESET and SELECT buttons at the same time. If you do not put the key in the On (II) position BEFORE holding in the buttons, you will just be resetting your maintenance light and it won't change your temperature (that I know of). After about ten seconds of holding the buttons in, it will start beeping and you will notice that the numbers on the gauge start cycling through a loop. The loop goes from -3 to +3. Just hold the buttons in until you get to the one you choose. The temperature that you see normally (if this was never done before) will be the default "0" and you just need to adjust accordingly to correct the reading. i.e.- if your temp reading is 3 degrees warmer, then you want to hold the buttons until it says "-3" and then release the buttons and you will see the change on your display. The same thing goes if your reading is below correct outside temperature, just you would use the "+" numbers.

You may have to do this a few times at first to get used to it and it may not be exact, but at least it will be closer to actual outside temperature.

 

good stuff

 

it's in the CL info section...

take a look at all the stuff that's posted there u'll be amazed.

 

Ok, quick question? What if you are not getting any readout at all? What could be the problem? I know the sensor is good because i tested it with a volt meter. What else could it be?

 

Does the new temp readout become the default "0", or is the maximum amount of change +/-3 degrees?

 

I read the FAQ's, CL info thread, and searched.

Is -3 all you can get? Mines still 6 degrees too high, and I can't get it to go any lower that -3 offset. I tried taking the key out to restart the process and try to get another -3, no dice.

Is the readout limited to +-3 from the base only? If so:

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How are you trying to calibrate that? Are you placing a thermometer in the same place as the car's sensor and comparing? If the car is sitting still but hot from running, the temp up there by the radiator where the sensor is located is going to be pretty warm as well...

 

You can calibrate it by placing a digital thermometer in water with the temp sensor. Just don't submerge the whole thing. The sensor is in front of the radiator.

 

Calibrating while the car is stone cold outside. Going by online weather by the minute temps. Is that not a good idea? After calibrating and driving it got down to 47 on the reader, I wanted it at 42.

Original question was if there was anyway to keep doing -3's, or if +-3 is all we get period.

 

Online weather isn't a great source. The temp where they are miles away can vary plenty, even 10 degrees or more. Additionally temps will vary depending on where their instruments are (on the ground or higher on a building). Lots of other factors play in there too.

Really, a couple degrees shouldn't be a big deal. Built-in temp gauges like that are never overly accurate.

 

Awesome! Almost as good as online forum car diagnosis...

 

The temp sensor is accurate. But it deviates when u are not driving constantly cause the engine bay is heating up that area where the sensor is. So by offsetting it you can compensate for your normal driving conditions so you are getting an accurate reading (theoretically).

It's a stupid place for the sensor.. It should really be in the back of the car where there is no heat generated and where wind can pass by the sensor to get the correct ambient temperature. Then u can argue the ground will give it an inaccurate reading I guess so there really is no tru place that u get an uncompromised reading...




Oh well

 

Great info, thanks!

 

What if your temp is not off, but sometimes displays ( - - - ). but 99 percent of the time after turning off and starting the car back, it would show the right temp, and then ( - - - ),