I installed an overhead console a year ago, and the guy I got it from didn't send the temp sensor with the wiring harness, so I had to pick up one from the junkyard. It's always read between 30 and 40 degrees too low (gets a good laugh from people when it's about a million degrees outside and the thing starts flashing "ICE"). It will change with the temperature, and if you remove the sensor it will read "-40," but it's just always really low. I finally ordered a new sensor (just the plug part of it, not the part that ataches to the wiring harness) from Torrie, and it still reads low.

Now, I remember reading that there are two different sensors depending on what year the truck is and what kind of console you have (there were two different ones, right?). Did I just get the wrong sensor from the junkyard? My console has green backlighting, so I think that means it came from a later model Explorer, right? Or was it an earlier one? I don't remember which ones had the green display and which had the blue display. Can anyone tell me the right part I need? Or did I just get a bad console?

peace

Mike

Can you calibrate it so that it shows 40 degrees warmer?
I know you can adjust it a few degrees up or down but ive never tried more than 3 degrees

You can calibrate it? How do you do that? I thought you could only calibrate the compass.

peace

Mike

Here's a ouple of links regarding the overhead console install:

http://www.biline.com/explorer/overheadinstall/

http://208.38.138.31/forums/showthread.php?threadid=26844&highlight=overhead

I believe this one is dead, but their site says they are rebuilding so it might come back from the dead:

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/tech/explorer_console.shtml

The dead site had a block diagram of the wiring and the colors of each wire. I think I printed it out. I will try and find it, scan it, then post it if you'd like.

From what I have read about the temp reading, the sensor has a wire that goes to the computer to sense the speed of the vehicle. The speed compensates for a wind chill factor. This might be what you are missing. If the input is left open, the sensor might think you are always going 300+ MPH's sitting still. Or the opposite, you are going 300+ MPH's backwards.

The temp sensor will work fine without the vehicle speed sensor wire connected (mine does). It sounds to me like you are having a compatibility problem between the sensor and the console (I had the same problem). The console I have is from a '96 truck, but the temp sensor I hade was from a '99. My display showed ICE all the time. So I found a sensor from a 96 truck and now my console reads the right temperature.

Do you know what year truck your console came from? If so, try to find a sensor from a truck close to that year and change yours. I'm pretty sure this will solve your problem. Good luck.

Thanks for the links Jim. Looks like mine is out of a 97+, since it has a green display. I'm pretty sure the junkyard got the sensor from a 98 or 99 Explorer, so I think it's the right one. I did have the vehicle speed sensor wire connected, but disconnected it thinking it may have been the source of the problem. No change.

The thing is, it reads fine, adjusts with the temp, but is always 40 degrees too low! It's the strangest thing. So ok89, how do I calibrate this stupid thing?

peace

Mike

I was viewing this thread lookin for a totally different topic, but mike does it work now? you resolve the problems?

Hey Jason

Yeah, I fixed it. Turned out the sensor I got was probably from an Expedition or something: it looked right, but the wires were the wrong colors. I got a new sensor out of a 2001 and with a little screwing around with it (long story - I'll give you the details if you want), I got it to work. The hardest part was finding a wrecking yard that would just sell me the sensor assembly and not the whole wiring harness.

peace

Mike

really? i am having a problem now with my engine temp being way WAY too high, im gonna swap out a 98 one and see if that does the trick

Engine temp? That's something totally different. In this thread I was referring to the temp sensor for the overhead console - the one which reads the outside air temp.

You're having a problem with your new gauges, right? I'd say it's a compatability problem between the sender on your 96 and the new gauges, not the sensor itself. I'd try that out first.

peace

Mike