The outside temperature sensor, the digital read out, in the dash is acting weird.

It starts off saying the correct temperature when I first start the car but after driving it reads anywhere between 90 - 130 degrees F, when outside its barely in the 70s.

My car may be running like 5% warmer overall, but I only notice this on track and it is always below 250 while usual engine temperature is just under 200 when driving on the highway.

Does anyone know where the sensor is located, maybe it got dislodged?

I got a GT3RS wing and now I'm paranoid that the engine isn't being cooled enough, even though thats silly since I imagine most of the cooling is coming from the radiators anyway.

 

You just reminded me of a wife story. A few years back my wife comes home and tells me the A/C is not blowing very cold in her car ( 5 Series BMW). I go out and sure enough no cold air and I look and happen to notice the outside temp gauge says it is 30 below. I take it to the dealership and they tell me somehow the front passenger side plastic inner wheel well is gone and the temp sensor went with it. I ask the wife and she says "oh I forgot to tell you I was backing out of a parking lot and backed over a tall curb and got hung up and something fell off the car". I don't know where the sensor is on our cars but I would get it checked out soon because I would think it might be your cooling issue. Good luck.

 

same thing here ,mine started reading 120 degrees sometimes this is on the stereo and the dash for me ,it seems to happen at night when i know it can't be right,something fishy definitely going on.

 

Same thing happened to me, just got it replaced under warranty.

 

Good to know Im not the only one, too lazy to head to the dealer to get it done. I guess I'll make an appointment when I can have them do some other stuff too.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

same problem, took to the dealer, they say that they replaced the sensor twice but it still gives the wrong reading! i gives me 15-20C degrees below the real temp.!

 

don't know if you've located the sensor yet...I have a 996 and it's located in the front bumper grill, passenger side. looks like a christmas tree light bulb.

 

just ran into this problem last night. basically the faster i go (RPM+) the higher the temp reads. If I slow down or complete stop temp goes down but still +20 inaccurate. called the dealer a few moments ago and they said they've seen the problem before and the sensor probably is loose (its in the front bumper driver side area).

I don't have time or care to take it in as of yet since the dealer is an hour away but sounds like a easy fixer.

 

The sensor can get dislodged and end up near the front radiator. That will cause erratic and high temperature readings. Im sure this can be fixed on warranty although I had an independent shop fasten my sensor back in place when it happened to me.

 

^^this. I had my thermostat read 130F at one point. It's hot in the desert, but not that hot
If the sensor gets dislodged, it can contact the radiator which can get extremely hot.

 

So called the dealer and they told me to look at the grill on the passenger side to see if the sensors is okay. Took a look and WTF a additional hole was next to the hole inwhich the sensor went in. Lifted the car and found the sensor hanging there also found the damn rock sitting in the grille area At least it didn't puncture my radiator so less costly fix

Here are some iphone pics for those that like pics:

 

Holy crap. That thing is a boulder!

 

My outside air temp is reading excessively high, I might try replacing the sensor to correct the issue.

 

I'd venture to say it's not secure in the lower grill. It'll push back into the car and hang down.