The outside temp is not accurate. It is showing hotter than it is. Has anyone experienced this problem?
Thanks

 

In both my old TL and my current 4Runner, it seems the guage is hotter by about 20 degrees on a hot day, and then slowly settles to the proper temperature (in about 5 minutes). I dont know where the senser is, but it seems it could be located someplace better. I can't tell you about the 04 till I get mine.

 

When the car's been standing, it can pick up false temp readings. I don't know if it's from the road surface or parts of the car, but my 2000TL would max out after sitting in the sun (or shade for that matter in the summer). It would start at 113, then after a few minutes it would settle down again. Of course, in June and July 113 isn't high enough here in Vegas!

 

I did ONCE falsly believe I had a bad reading... I was driving out of Palm Springs at the very end of June. It was like 11am, and the dash said 110F. No way! It's not tha-- oh.. I passed a bank sign that said the same thing. Roll down the windows and yowza. Nice AC in the 02TL.

 

Isn't the search feature working again? I just saw another similar topic thread today or yesterday...


I have some old threads to share...


http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66492

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67481 by RavenHwk

 

In the summer, the local weather guys list "carmometer" readings, which are the temps inside an unshaded car. They regularly list over 130 degrees. You CAN bake cookies (takes all afternoon). I had to have all 4 interiror door handles replaced because they melted over 3 summers. The AC was good, but dark green was very hot, so I'd try to find shade where I could. Pine trees were my friends

If I remember correctly, all our cars read high at startup. And you can't always believe the weather reports or bank signs, 'cos it depends on where they are based or how the thermostats are callibrated.

 

I've noticed that problem once but haven't seen it after that.

 

I know my temp gauge reads hot also. I adjusted it down by 3 degrees, but it's still reading approx. 2-3 degrees too hot. You can't judge the temperature when the car is sitting still because the sensor will pick up engine or road heat unless the car is moving fast down the road and then will only approximate the actual temperature. I check mine when the car has cooled all night, and is in the garage before the engine has heated up and it's not in the sun. It always reads too hot, but it's not something that bothers me that much. Next visit to the service department(my first actually) I'll have them calibrate it properly.

 

There's an easy way to fix this by adjusting the temperature sensitivity levels, but I'm not going to tell you how to do it.

BJ

 

Mine was definitely reading 3 degrees too high. When I brought my TL to the dealership I had them adjust it.

 

I have not found the TL to read high at startup, although I agree most cars do so. My '01 CL read very high at startup, usually over 100 degrees F. But even after sitting in the sun all day, when the inside of the car is an oven, my TL's outside temp gauge starts off with very close to the correct outside temperature as soon as I crank her up. Sort of surprises me, especially since the gauge isn't that accurate overall! Anyone else notice this?

 

Use search, the adjustment method is in a previous thread.

 

This was the thread, thanks to rets for digging it up in another thread:

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67481

 

And also supplied above, with another pertinent thread, in reply #5 by rets

 

In both my new TL and my 03 Tundra the temp gauge reads high after the car has been sitting in the sun for a while. It takes a few miles of driving for it to adjust to the proper temp. You can watch it slowly move to the proper temp. Mine have been very accurate once I give them time to settle.

 

I thought my outdoor thermometer was reading several degrees high. Stuck a digital thermometer outside the open sunroof while moving and found the temp to be within 1 degree on three trials.

-r

 

I don't know, I never had any problems with the outside temperature on my 99 TL.

I was always amazed at how acurate it is. I could have change locations, since 99, but I doubt it. Mine is located behind the front bumper.

 

behind the front bumper in front of the radiator. (about the exact same place for most cars)
if the car has been sitting awhile it will pick up temp from the radiator, ground ect... give it 5 min or so once you start moving and it will read accurate