My outside temperature gauge is off by a like 6 degrees and i was wondering if anyone knows how to change it to the correct temperature? I think i did something to it when i was resetting the check engine light after an oil change, but i couldnt figure out what i did. thanks

 

Is it consistently off by that much? It will read high when it's been in the sun for a while.

Let it cool in the shade and see if it's still off.

 

Those same two buttons do control the temp reading also. I remember it was almost the same as resetting the CEL. I remember one you have the ignition on when you press the two and the other you don't. Its tricky setting it. It jumps at 3 degree intervals.

 

my 01 has a 5 degree up and down range iirc in 1 increments
The intent of temp guage is so you know when ice on the road is likely- within 5f of 32
and to remind you its 110 outside and the ac is working hard to keep 68 for you

to set perfectly- look in front of radiator for a metal probe in a clip
pull it from the clip and place in container of water and ice- mixed
so its approx 32f in the container
turn key ON- dash lights ON but not car start
press both trip buttons- it goes into adjust mode, set as needed

or - a known good temp in shade reading from other guage or sign- after you have been moving for 10 minutes or more so the temp is stable where the sensor is
When the car sits after running it gets hot there
So when view a known reading -- set car to match


for oil minder reset-starts flashing after ~6500miles since reset
its left hand thru steering wheel to push and hold both buttons- then turn key to on, wait for `mait req` light to flash several times then stop
turn key off and remove arms

 

to reset the ECU to clear a CEL-
remove, wait a minute and reinsert the clock fuse from passenger side end dash fuses-
thats the secret backup power for ecu and forces a master reboot and self test

 

Ooops did I say CEL? I meant the reminder light!

 

mine is about 5 degrees higher too I'll try that reset method

 

an 03 only have like a total range of 6 degrees though plus 3 and minus 3

and btw the correct way to set it (per service manual), is to put the sensor in a cup of ice water, then set it off of that

 

thats right- and not everyone is willing to do that-
so the alternative is go off the local electronic signs..and set to them
for summer use its close enough

for winter- exact calibration can be a lifesaver

 

exact calibration, but even if it reads like 36 degrees, you should be expecting to possible be seeing ice though, especially depending on if the road is shady or not though

 

and iirc, those mirrors that read outside temp, alot of them will say ice or something along those lines once it does hit like 36 degrees or something

 

wow I dont have that mirror feature

I have to use my brain and know that 5 degrees F either side of 32 and you can expect ice on the road if moisture has been present
On bridges or overpass where the road gets extra chill from below, be extra careful as they are more likely to have black ice- hidden death, and hold ice at higher ambient temp- the road temp is cold
Areas in shadow are even worse, dont get dried out surface and layers can build up with slush in between

Seems odd to talk about this in may ,,but once again its snowing in Lake Tahoe Ca for memorial day weekend- they even opened 2 ski resorts at the top of the mountain--that had closed a few weeks ago thinking snow season was finished

 

mirror feature, i mean like other cars for it, but yeah still always helpful though

but yeah all you really need to know is if it anywhere near freezing and to slow your ass down and possibly expect ice, cause the temp sensor only reads the air temp outside and not what the actual surface temps are

and about may, we had snow at like the beginning of may here, so no worries about that lol (and the mountains are still getting the occasional snow also), but now we got hail instead :S, i still would prefer snow though, especially considering some of the size of the hail we have been getting

 

btw try this and sorry it only provides that ice warning for like a minute then goes back to reading the temp
http://www.mitocorp.com/auto-dimming...s.html#Outside