Is your ambient temp reading off by 10-15F?

[Ctech-Review]

I have noticed this since I got the truck, but never gave it much thought...figured truck in shade, or other things. Then I heard of some people on a facebook page getting check engine lights and potentially tied to the ambient temp sensor being 10-15F hotter than actual temps and was wondering if you guys had noticed this with your trucks?

Dealer provided me with this as the PN to use on our trucks... let me know if this works https://amzn.to/3Hsbcny

 

[rhinonow]

Yes it’s always 10°F hotter and is pretty much completely useless because of that.

 

[MattH89]

Same

 

[eltaco]

Same here - 10-15deg high and doesn’t seem to settle into correct temp over driving duration either.

As a note - I had this same issue with my 2020 Laramie, which was eventually resolved with a new Body Control Module. Before they figured that out, they’d ripped apart my door multiple times, exchanged new sensors, and put in a brand new door panel after breaking clips in the investigation work. I’d like to understand if this is a unique issue we’re facing, or a consistent issue with all of them before I go through all of the hassle of getting this looked at by a dealer.

 

[Ctech-Review]

wow so this must be a well known issue for 25s...my buddies 25 Ram 1500 big horn is saying 10-15f hotter also.

 

[Raptor2RHO]

Yep

 

[Ctech-Review]

The good thing about this is this is clearly a trend and we are all seeing same thing

 

[Silver RHO]

Talking about outside temperature? Mine is useless it will be 50 degrees and it thinks it’s 70 even after driving around for a while.

 

[Ctech-Review]

Talking about outside temperature? Mine is useless it will be 50 degrees and it thinks it’s 70 even after driving around for a while.

thats the one we are talking about!

 

[cannon4178]

Same here.

 

[RDRHINO]

From what I've seen with vehicles over the years that show ambient outside temps, though....this is pretty common. They usually tend to mount the temp sensor in the engine bay of all places so higher than normal readings are sort of the norm...at least in my experience. Had the same issues in RAMs (2014, 2016, 2019), 2016 Tahoe, 2021 Sierra AT4, 2022 Yukon, 2024 Sierra AT4X.....

Not to say it isn't causing some issues with check engine lights or anything though. I'm sure that possible. There was a post on here a day or so ago talking about the infotainment shutting down because it was "too hot". Wonder if that's ambient temp sensor related?

 

[eltaco]

I believe the sensor is located in the drivers side mirror as it was in my 2020 Ram. Here’s a picture of the sensor port on my RHO for reference.

 

[Scottie2Hottie]

Mine reads 10 degrees exactly over what weather app shows for ambient.

 

[Banger]

Yep. Same here. My 2020 Rebel did the same. It makes sense if the sensor is in the cabin, as it reads way hotter on sunny days when the cabin gets hot from the sun, not so much on cloudy days.

 

[Ctech-Review]

would be interesting to find out if the engine uses this for any purposes or does this strictly only show ambient temp on dash. Its a bummer it is off so much makes it pretty much useless.

 

[Deange2001]

Mine is normally pretty off, not sure by how much. That said, the other day I hopped in my truck and drove around to run some errands and the temperature was reading spot on - . I think when it bakes in the sun it def messes things up but if the truck is in the shade (or on a cloudy day) it seems to read more accurately.

 

[Scottie2Hottie]

It appears the temp sensor is indeed on the drivers side mirror (if that picture is correct). It’s metal probe. I have tow mirrors for reference.

 

[eltaco]

would be interesting to find out if the engine uses this for any purposes or does this strictly only show ambient temp on dash. It’s a bummer it is off so much makes it pretty much useless.

I don’t know about engine or other ways the sensor might be used by the vehicle.

However, that temperature does control when to activate the automatic heated and cooled seats, so being off 10-15deg does influence that feature.

Probably my biggest issue with it being off, however, is when temps near freezing. I do use this ambient temp gauge to understand when rain might turn to ice on the road surface.

 

[Faze]

mine reads ok when driving, yesterday I was washing the car and let it run for like 30 minutes and when got into cleaning the interior the outside temperature was 16F higher

 

[MattH89]

mine reads ok when driving, yesterday I was washing the car and let it run for like 30 minutes and when got into cleaning the interior the outside temperature was 16F higher

My man, premium is like $4 a gallon.