I am getting erratic readings on my outside temperature indication. Any idea why?

 

I guess I'll ask the obvious questions; What has changed since the last time it worked properly, anything? What year, model, trim.

 

to the forum refowler!

Can you elaborate a bit more on "erratic"?

 

Have you read about this in the owner's manual?

 

2008 SL
Temp indicator is slow to respond. It will stick on one indication and not change until the temp has significantly changed. Where is it located? Can you clean it?

 

That's the normal way the weird temp ind. works. Don't recall the particulars, but you have to drive somewhere around 6 miles before it will update and be accurate. Some GM engineers brilliant idea(not!)

 

I believe the magic number is 18 minutes of driving for the outside temperature display a revised reading if it has become "frozen" at the last reading. All three of mine tell me how cold it was in the garage overnight for about 1/4 of my drive to the office, then they wake up and sync with the true outside temperature.

 

I concur with 843de. There is a delay in the ambient temperature update when it is obviously warmer when first starting the engine than what it was when it was last turned off. I am not certain, but if it is colder when you start the engine than what it was when you last turned it off, then the ambient temperature will read correctly at start-up.

It must have something to do with the emission control algorithm in the computer.

 

Best potential explanation I've heard yet. You don't want a hot summer parking lot fooling the car into thinking it's fully warmed up. Still, this is annoying, and I posted about it last summer right after I got my car. It works just as they said - it takes a while to properly adjust when the temp is warmer, but then it's fine.

 

My 99 Buick had the same issues. The fix was to replace the temp sensor on the car. Easy fix, a PITA to locate where the sensor was located.