Update on Overhead console temp hookups

[Bottomlesspit]

I did a search here the other night about wiring up overhead consoles. I found many threads, some dating back to early 2001, all complaining about how the temp readings were always sticking on one temp or another, but not staying with current outside air temps. Someone just had a thread about this the other day too! My temp guage readings were also sticking on one particular reading for hours at a time. I tried a new temp sender, like many others tried, but it did not help.
Seems MOST of the thread starters with this problem followed the same 'Ranger' how-to article that I did. Like everyone else, I left the VSS wire unhooked just like mentioned in the article.
Maybe some vehicles are different..............?
I took my console down, soldered in a wire to the VSS hookup wire, ran the new wire over to the pillar, down behind the kickpanel, and found the infamous GRAY/BLACK stripe wire in a wire bundle just above the parking brake pedal. I scraped off 1/4" insulation, soldered in my new wire, wrapped it up, and stuffed the wire back into the bundle.
Guess what? The temp readings were dead on today, AND CHANGED with the outside air temps!!??!!
The other threads all GUESSED that the VSS wire had something to do with wind chill, idle temp readings, etc. but no actual Ford explanation.
All I can tell you is after 6 months of worthless temp readings, the VSS has some sort of important info to provide MY console. Take it for what it's worth, but I changed nothing else to get it to work.
Good luck to all the 100 guys out there that have asked this question over the past 3 years or so.
Ken

 

[williecume]

all the VSS wires does is adjust the readings the temp sensor gives while the vehicle is driving. i hooked up the wire on both my ranger and my explorer and it works fine.