Where is the outside air temperature sensor?

[Andy Seibel]

Hey guys, I'd like to tap into the collective knowledge of the group. Can someone tell me (or show with a picture) of where the temp sensor is for the outside air?

 

I need to figure out how to not block the wind getting to it when I'm driving with the plow on. I tried all the way up, down low, straight, angled, and nothing seemed to make much difference. The best I could get was down low to the ground and the temp reading on the center screen was telling me 60 degrees F, while the local weatherman told me it was about 0 F.

 

on Saturday when it was a bit warmer out, the reading actually hit over 100 degrees. then my heater switched to blowing cool air. That doesn't help me much when trying to melt snow off the windshield.

 

So, long story short, where is the sensor, and if anyone has tips on how to maintain airflow to it while plowing, that would be great. I am open to moving it right now.

[newdude]

Passenger side of the truck. If you look at the angled cross bar on that side that goes from the center of the truck towards the headlight, it should be snapped in a bracket right there.

[cbrsilv15]

It's right through the grille on the 1500's. You can look right through and see it. 2500's have it underneath the pass side mirror.

[Andy Seibel]

thanks for the fast response. I went out and looked at it over lunch. So it looks like there would be a little slack in the wire if i unsnapped it, i could try to zip-tie it higher in the grille cavity. but I don't know if that will solve it, or if that entire area will yield the same results due to the plow blocking it.

anybody have success moving the sensor to a different location?

 

I'm not going to experiment today, this weather just results in broken plastic parts. But soon, I'd like to temporarily move it to see if it works any better.

[NoProblem]

I have found that driving with the blade about 2 inches off the ground and angled to the right works perfect.

[newdude]

It's right through the grille on the 1500's. You can look right through and see it. 2500's have it underneath the pass side mirror.

 

Only diesel HD truck use that sensor location however. Gas HD is still up front. All the mirror kit mirrors come with it for use on gas and diesel trucks however.

 

 

Outside Air Temperature (2500/3500 series)

 

The Ambient Air Temperature Sensor is located behind the grille and varies it’s resistance with temperature. The Instrument Cluster reads the resistance value to determine temperature. The time of and rate of the temperature update is based on an algorithm in the Instrument Cluster software.

 

Factors such as, last reading, current reading, length of time vehicle is been off/on, power mode, vehicle speed, driven distance, and sensor location are all considered by the Instrument Cluster to know when to update the displayed temperature on the Info Display Module. For example, if the sensor is located near the engine compartment, and the vehicle has been turned off for only 10 minutes then restarted, the Instrument Cluster will wait until the vehicle is driven to get more accurate air flow across the sensor before it updates the display.

 

On vehicles with diesel engines and RPO AVF, there is an additional Ambient Air Temperature Sensor in the Passenger Outside Rearview Mirror. The Engine Control Module (ECM) reads the resistance value of this sensor to determine outside temperature. This temperature reading is only used for powertrain purposes and is not used for the displayed temperature on the Info Display Module.

 

[newdude]

thanks for the fast response. I went out and looked at it over lunch. So it looks like there would be a little slack in the wire if i unsnapped it, i could try to zip-tie it higher in the grille cavity. but I don't know if that will solve it, or if that entire area will yield the same results due to the plow blocking it.

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anybody have success moving the sensor to a different location?

 

I'm not going to experiment today, this weather just results in broken plastic parts. But soon, I'd like to temporarily move it to see if it works any better.

 

 

Couple plowers that come in to work all have it relocated (gas HD). They tie it top passenger side of the grille. Seems to do the trick.

[Andy Seibel]

I have found that driving with the blade about 2 inches off the ground and angled to the right works perfect.

 

yea, I have to agree that it seems to screw up the temp the least when the blade is as low as possible. I just hate banging it on the ground whenever I hit a bump. I don't want to drive down the road with it much less than 4" off the ground. That's what I was doing yesterday when I got the reading "down" to 60 degrees.

and if I angle it at all, the one corner only gets lower. I don't know what to think, is there an actual solution to this, or do i just have to live with it and turn the heat up to MAX when I need warm air?

[Andy Seibel]

Couple plowers that come in to work all have it relocated (gas HD). They tie it top passenger side of the grille. Seems to do the trick.

 

Ok, thanks. I'll give it a shot. Can't be worse than what I have now.

[cbrsilv15]

Just bought some dl3 mirrors from a gasser 2500 and they have the sensor on the pass mirror.

[newdude]

Just bought some dl3 mirrors from a gasser 2500 and they have the sensor on the pass mirror.

 

That may be but it does not function on gas trucks.

 

EDIT: Just walked the lot. Not a single gas HD had a sensor, be it DL3, DL8, DPN or DQS mirrors. The diesels had them though.

[cbrsilv15]

I know. I was just confirming the location.

[NoProblem]

 

yea, I have to agree that it seems to screw up the temp the least when the blade is as low as possible. I just hate banging it on the ground whenever I hit a bump. I don't want to drive down the road with it much less than 4" off the ground. That's what I was doing yesterday when I got the reading "down" to 60 degrees.

and if I angle it at all, the one corner only gets lower. I don't know what to think, is there an actual solution to this, or do i just have to live with it and turn the heat up to MAX when I need warm air?

 

I can't tell if you've had your truck leveled or not, but after I had mine leveled, those 2 inches definitely made a difference. It must have lifted the temperature sensor just enough because I have had zero issues after the level, whereas before the level, my engine temp would get up to around 230 and outside temp would get over 90 degrees when it was 10 below zero out.

 

 

[Andy Seibel]

 

I can't tell if you've had your truck leveled or not, but after I had mine leveled, those 2 inches definitely made a difference.

 

No level for me. I have front timbrens, which lifted the front maybe 1/2" from stock, but that's it.

[Britt Lifsey]

Funny...being In Georgia, if it's cold enough to need a snow plow, I know it's tooooo cold.