External Air Temperature Sensor - several questions

[bepnewt]

Hello, guys ( and gals )!

I'll admit right up front, We don't own an Explorer, Ranger, Mountaineer, or Navajo.

We do own a '04 T-Bird and just traded in the '03 100th Anniv. Focus on an '07 Escape so we're in the Ford family, even if we're only your cousins.

Here's my situation:
My wife loves her new Escape ( pic ) but it doesn't have an overhead console. I ordered one from an '01 Explorer from a guy on eBay with the Compass and Outside Temperature display on it. They guy I bought it from agreed to go back and try to get the External Air Temp. Sensor for me from the truck.

I need to be able to explain to the guy what I need off of the truck. I found this on the forums here "The Sensor should look like this. It should be right above the Driverside airbag sensor above the frame rail, behind the grill." ( there was a pic ) and I saw the pics in the gallery. The guy isn't real familiar with the Exsplorer so can someone give me more detailed instructions on where to find the sensor?

Also, can someone please describe what I should be telling the guy to pull for me, please? I was only able to tell him "I want the sensor and as much wiring as possible". Is that good enough or is there anything else I should tell him?

I have someone who is going to help me with wiring it all up correctly, so once I get the correct pieces, I should be good.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
-BEP

 

[bepnewt]

How about schematics? Is there a place online to look at schematics for the '01 Explorer?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Autozone has schematics on their website, but not for every year. Are you referring to the air charge temperature sensor (ACT) which is screwed into the top of the intake manifold? Check this link for more information: http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=29.

 

[studd469]

i think he is talking about temp sensor infront of the rad. Sorry I dont have any info on this

 

[aldive]

i think he is talking about temp sensor infront of the rad.

Yes, he is referring to the exterior temperature sensor.

 

[Rogers-Explorer]

bepnewt,

The temperature sensor is located on the driver's side behind the front grille.

I've pm'd you because I can't post pics, etc here, so contact me for additional info.

Cheers, Roger

EDIT...I've sent you the file...good luck. Let me know if there is anything else you need.

 

[bepnewt]

Thanks for the help, all. Thanks BIG TIME to R-E for supplying that file. It should come in handy.

 

[Rogers-Explorer]

Thanks for the help, all. Thanks BIG TIME to R-E for supplying that file. It should come in handy.

Let us know how you make out.

Cheers, Roger

 

[sidneyhop]

Id like more info on this external temperature sensor. My display works fine but the temp reading is way off. Any insight as to weather this might be causing this and how to fix it?
Thanks

 

[bisjoe]

Id like more info on this external temperature sensor. My display works fine but the temp reading is way off. Any insight as to weather this might be causing this and how to fix it?
Thanks

Those are connected to the speed sensor, so that you won't get false high readings when idling at a stoplight or in traffic jams. It's normal for it to become "stuck" when you stop for a while but should then resume accuracy when you start moving again.

 

[rwenzing]

Id like more info on this external temperature sensor. My display works fine but the temp reading is way off. Any insight as to weather this might be causing this and how to fix it?
Thanks

Here are few possibilities:

1) Be sure that you have selected the Fahrenheit scale, not Celsius.

2) As Bisjoe said above, the console uses the VSS to freeze the reading during periods when the vehicle is stopped or nearly stopped. If the VSS input is missing, the console may update slowly or not at all. Since the console in your EB probably is a factory installation, this is possible but not likely.

3) High end Explorers have the overhead console and EATC climate control. Each of these have independent temp sensors up front, console on the left, EATC on the right. They have different impedance values and the shape of the connectors and sensors may be different for different year ranges.

The bad news is that, in some cases, the sensors with different specs are physically interchangeable in the connectors. If the temperature updates regularly while driving but the console is displaying a temp that is proportionately way off, it could have the Ex EATC sensor or some other vehicle's sensor in the overhead console connector.

4) Of course, you could just have a bad sensor or a poor connection between the sensor and console.

 

[sidneyhop]

3) High end Explorers have the overhead console and EATC climate control. Each of these have independent temp sensors up front, console on the left, EATC on the right. They have different impedance values and the shape of the connectors and sensors may be different for different year ranges.

The bad news is that, in some cases, the sensors with different specs are physically interchangeable in the connectors. If the temperature updates regularly while driving but the console is displaying a temp that is proportionately way off, it could have the Ex EATC sensor or some other vehicle's sensor in the overhead console connector.

4) Of course, you could just have a bad sensor or a poor connection between the sensor and console.

Ok...thanks for all that info! My temp updates regularly but reads about 20* cooler than it actually is. According to what youre saying it appears as if one of the sensors is indeed the wrong one and giving input with different perameters...does this sound right?

I looked up along the front grill on the drivers side as someone said it was located earlier but wasnt exactly sure what I was looking for. Can you/someone give some exact locations as to where I can find these sensors and a general description of what they look like? Are they something I can just pick up at Autozone and switch out without too much expense or are they dealer only items?

Also what does EATC refer to?

Thanks!

 

[rwenzing]

EATC = Electronic Automatic Temperature Control. It is the climate control system that you probably have in your EB. Lower trim levels will likely have manual heat/air conditioning instead.

EATC:

Using the higher impedance EATC sensor in the console sensor circuit will make the console display read lower than actual.

The EATC connector has red/orange and pink/black wires; the console sensor has blue/white and blue/yellow. The sensors look like the ones below. These two happen to be console sensors from different years but the EATC sensors look the same.

 

[sidneyhop]

Thanks a million for posting those pics and info! Are the drivers and passenger console sensors located in the lower or upper console area? Whats the best way to access them? I didnt put it together until now but my AC/Heat control has been giving me trouble to. They dont respond to any setting other than high and Im wondering if the previous owner might have done some "maintance" on these items and got things switched around.

 

[rwenzing]

Are the drivers and passenger console sensors located in the lower or upper console area? Whats the best way to access them?

I have heard that the console sensor is behind the grille on the DS. I found a picture that shows the EATC sensor in the same general area but the exact location is unclear. I don't know for sure because I have a Ranger.

 

[haynes1975]

My overhead console air temperature stopped working.