I own a 2013 Titanium. The problem I am experiencing is my external temperature reading is high. Below 70 degrees the readings are correct but for some reason temperatures above 72 are 6-8 degrees higher then actual air temperature. This error remains regardless is the car is stationary or driving at highway speeds. Both the dashboard and MyFordTouch readings are the same. Anyone have the same problem?
External temperature reading wrong
1 reading
JohnnyB54
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Will warranty cover replacement of the AAT sensor?
I traded in my 2012 Focus for a 2016 Escape, mostly because my older legs were needing a higher seat. But that said . . .
The temp gauge in the Focus was perfect. I always knew that it would read higher if I'd parked in the sun, but would cool down as soon as I'd driven a few miles. Similarly, it would read lower in my garage in the morning, and then heat up one I was out driving in the warm air.
Now I'm wondering what's going on, because the temp readout for the new Escape seems all over the place. Just this morning, it started out at 63 in my garage. As soon as I was out and had driven a couple miles, it rose a whole degree and showed 64. This, while I had both passenger side windows open at 45 mph to cool down the interior!
I shopped for approximately half an hour and came out into air that I'm sure was at least 70 degrees F. I got in the car, and now the temp was reading lower...61 degrees F! It read 61 for another 2-3 miles (5-6 minutes) when I stopped again and parked for about 5 minutes. I came out and it still read 61 degrees in the bright sun while I knew the air was at least 70. After another stop a a few more miles, it finally rose to 66, which I figured was about as close as I was gonna get to reality.
Why would the temperature gauge in one car be fairly reliable and the other be so erratic?
I traded in my 2012 Focus for a 2016 Escape, mostly because my older legs were needing a higher seat. But that said . . .
The temp gauge in the Focus was perfect. I always knew that it would read higher if I'd parked in the sun, but would cool down as soon as I'd driven a few miles. Similarly, it would read lower in my garage in the morning, and then heat up one I was out driving in the warm air.
Now I'm wondering what's going on, because the temp readout for the new Escape seems all over the place. Just this morning, it started out at 63 in my garage. As soon as I was out and had driven a couple miles, it rose a whole degree and showed 64. This, while I had both passenger side windows open at 45 mph to cool down the interior!
I shopped for approximately half an hour and came out into air that I'm sure was at least 70 degrees F. I got in the car, and now the temp was reading lower...61 degrees F! It read 61 for another 2-3 miles (5-6 minutes) when I stopped again and parked for about 5 minutes. I came out and it still read 61 degrees in the bright sun while I knew the air was at least 70. After another stop a a few more miles, it finally rose to 66, which I figured was about as close as I was gonna get to reality.
Why would the temperature gauge in one car be fairly reliable and the other be so erratic?
Wrong reference
It's the exterior thermometer that seems erratic.
Sometimes it responds within a minute or two to a change in temperature, but other times it seems "stuck" on a temperature and does not move, as I described above.
It seems to do better when the outdoor air is warmer (66 and above) than when it's lower (like the 61 it was stuck on the day I knew the temp was actually more like 70).
It's the exterior thermometer that seems erratic.
Sometimes it responds within a minute or two to a change in temperature, but other times it seems "stuck" on a temperature and does not move, as I described above.
It seems to do better when the outdoor air is warmer (66 and above) than when it's lower (like the 61 it was stuck on the day I knew the temp was actually more like 70).
This is symptomatic of either a ambient air temp sensor that's bad or has a dirty/loose connection.
The part is a Motorcraft DY1160 and according to the manual you'll find it clipped to the radiator support around the back left side of the bumper cover.
Rockauto shows them for less than $8.00 USD.
The part is a Motorcraft DY1160 and according to the manual you'll find it clipped to the radiator support around the back left side of the bumper cover.
Rockauto shows them for less than $8.00 USD.
I would simply buy a new one and install. $10 is not worth the hassle of a dealer appointment IMO.
According to my phone's weather app, it is 96 degrees outside right now (bit of a heat wave in the northeast right now). I got in my Escape this afternoon after it was parked in my garage overnight last night and the screen was telling me that it's 77 degrees outside, which was probably the temp inside my garage. I drove for about 10 mins and then parked for 5 mins to run an errand and it only went up to 79 on the screen. I then went to the gym and the Escape was parked in direct sunlight for 1.5 hours; I came out and it was still telling me 79 degrees. I drove home (about 10 mins) and in the last minute right before I got home, it jumped from 79 to 82 to 84 to 88 to 90 to 91, all within 30 seconds.
Any ideas why it got stuck 20 degrees lower than the outside temp all afternoon?
(Note sure if this is relevant, but I'll mention anyway: 2 weeks ago I had my Escape at the dealership and they replaced the passenger side front strut bearing. I doubt they disconnected the battery in order to perform that work, but when I picked up my Escape from them, I got in it and the radio was on playing music on the USB thumbdrive that I keep plugged in the Escape, but it *should have* tuned to the last FM station I listened to. Just wondering if maybe the dealership unplugged the battery or reset the computer or something that caused the radio to default back to a different setting or something... Perhaps this is affecting the temp sensor too...?)
Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!
Any ideas why it got stuck 20 degrees lower than the outside temp all afternoon?
(Note sure if this is relevant, but I'll mention anyway: 2 weeks ago I had my Escape at the dealership and they replaced the passenger side front strut bearing. I doubt they disconnected the battery in order to perform that work, but when I picked up my Escape from them, I got in it and the radio was on playing music on the USB thumbdrive that I keep plugged in the Escape, but it *should have* tuned to the last FM station I listened to. Just wondering if maybe the dealership unplugged the battery or reset the computer or something that caused the radio to default back to a different setting or something... Perhaps this is affecting the temp sensor too...?)
Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!
Don't compare the temp with an app. Use a thermometer known to be accurate. The temp seems to jump in 2 degree increments at times. The refresh rate is also very slow. If it's more than 5 degrees off and it wasn't parked, there may be an issue with the sensor. These are just not great systems also.
That's a fair point.
I know these things aren't the most accurate and aren't the quickest to update/refresh, but I've never seen it be so inaccurate or respond so slowly in the the 3 years I've owned the vehicle. My factory warranty still has 6 weeks left on it, so I'll keep an eye on it for now. I also looked up the part on RockAuto and bookmarked it - Frankly, if it's easy to swap out, it may be worth the $7.58 to replace it and forget about it.
Joined
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1,325 Posts
outside temperature sensor (ambient)
outside down low on front bumper cover in front of radiator
Part number 12A647 cheap $12.00
outside down low on front bumper cover in front of radiator
Part number 12A647 cheap $12.00
On the drivers side? It's this (see attachments), right?
If so, how exactly are you supposed to access it to remove/replace it?
Attachments
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140 Posts
Mine seems to have just played up. 40+ degrees celsius here in Adelaide, oZ and my temp display is showing 28. Can't wait to get home tonight after work to unplug and plug back I need the sensor to see if that is the problem or whether I have to buy a replacement part.
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8 Posts
2013 Escape SEL 2.0L EcoBoost. The part number on the sensor I extracted is AU5 12A647 A. The only ones I can find online are with the suffix "B" instead of A. Is that a problem?
Have a look on www.tascaparts.com and see what it says is the correct part number.
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