Outside Temp Reading

[beachcomber]

Hi Guys,

All the matrix messages read fine [ surprise, surprise ] on my VSX, but the outside temp reading is at best - tempremental.

Usually a row of underscores, sometimes a reading [ like -29 ! ], occassionally an accurate reading.

Is there a possibility that there's a bad connection on the sender? And where is it??!!

In the past I've found it a very useful warning of possible black ice about, and at this time of year would be a good idea to get it functioning properly,

beachcomber

[dean]

Hi Beachcomber

I know on the mk1 the temp sensor is under the nearside wing mirror, if you feel underneath the casing of the mirror you should feel it, its the shape of a drop of water

Regards Dean

[noz]

Hi Beachcomer,

Your problem more likely lies in the connecting cable as it passes from the door to the car body. This umbilical gets pulled and pushed every time the door is opened. I believe there is a multi-pin plug at this point that usually gives trouble. Worth a look.

Cheers

noz

[xmexclusive]

Hi All

On very early Mk1's the sensor is on the passenger side of the nosecone vents. On later Mk1's as Dean says it is on the underside of the passenger mirror. On Mk2's still on the underside of the passenger mirror but moved closer to the car door body in a black plastic panel that clips into the underside of the mirror hinge bracket. They still moulded sensor holes to the underside of the Mk2 mirror shell so perhaps this list is only correct for UK cars. The sensor was changed/reduced in size with each position change so only the smaller latest type fit in all locations.
The sensor leads (usually 2 black wires) go through to a plug behind the door panel trim. This connection is usually trouble free. The next connector is the door to chassis wiring plug and this is a regular place for contact corrosion/poor contact. Might be worth a look here first. When the sensor fails and is replaced the wires are usually cut before entering the cable duct in the mirror hinge and a new sensor soldered on. This saves taking off the door trim and threading the plug through the mirror hinge/door wiring rubber sleeve. If these joints are present they often give problems from poor soldering/insulation. The locating lugs on the Mk2 black plastic sensor cover usually break when taken out. They can only be purchased as part of a complete mirror shell and not separately so are missing on some cars with the sensor held in place with a cable tie.

Regards

XMexc

[beachcomber]

As ever, top info. Thanx all.

My car's a '96 VSX estate 2ltr turbo / auto with the curved dash top and 4 spoke wheel - Mk2?

The car has just sailed through it's MOT again - advisory on front pads [ replaced anyway ].

Apart from the above mentioned temp reading and the obligitory cold shower after heavy rain [ roof siezed 2 years ago! ], the car's been an absolute gem.

The car's going in to my local friendly sunroof guy, who normally charges £100 to replace the cables and get everything working smoothly again. While he's at it I'll get him to check drain holes and re-seal the radio aerial.

The only other problem I've had is a blow from the exhaust manifold to head gasket, which gradually deteriorated to the point where the noise was driving me mad. So I had that done while the car was in for MOT. Now purrs along - probably another 100K miles at least before anything else needs doing!

beachcomber

[jackyboy]

I have the same problem on my Mk 2.

Is the suspect plug or joint located behind the door panel or is it located inside the car, and where?

[xmexclusive]

Hi Jackyboy

If you open the door and look on the pillar between the hinges you will see a large round plug with a flexible rubber sleeve taking all the wires from the car into the door. The plug has a threaded plastic lock ring around the outside to hold it in place. Some cars have heavy contact corrosion on these plug pins, others have none. Problem seems to be random rather than age or model related.

Regards

XMexc