Notices
2004 - 2008 F150 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 Ford F150's with 5.4 V8, 4.6 V8 engine
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Temperature in Dash Message Center

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 15, 2005 | 05:34 PM
  #1  
Dazz's Avatar
Dazz
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Temperature in Dash Message Center

I have searched my Owners Manual, my really thick Helms, and this Board. I found no reference.

I was suspect my Temprerature shown in my dashboard message center (lower right) was off. I placed an accurate thermometer in the cab and the comparison was that the message center tempreature was much lower than the cab tempreture.

Where to I adjust the message center temprerature guage?
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2005 | 05:52 PM
  #2  
mneblett's Avatar
mneblett
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Dazz
I have searched my Owners Manual, my really thick Helms, and this Board. I found no reference.

I was suspect my Temprerature shown in my dashboard message center (lower right) was off. I placed an accurate thermometer in the cab and the comparison was that the message center tempreature was much lower than the cab tempreture.

Where to I adjust the message center temprerature guage?
Um, that's the *outside* temperature reading -- the sensor is up by the front bumper. No relationship to the cab temp.
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2005 | 06:05 PM
  #3  
Dazz's Avatar
Dazz
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mneblett
Um, that's the *outside* temperature reading -- the sensor is up by the front bumper. No relationship to the cab temp.
OK, I shall move my test thermometer up front and see what happens.

In case anyone else wishes to reply to this, where is the outside sensor in the bumper area? Yes I have looked, both from under and with the hood up.

The test thermometer still shows a difference of 13º difference in the reading, with the message center reading the lower figure. i.e. 77º/90º.
 

Last edited by Dazz; Jun 15, 2005 at 06:17 PM. Reason: Addition
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2005 | 06:38 PM
  #4  
MJEmerson's Avatar
MJEmerson
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Mililani, Hawaii
the sensor is right in front of the radiator i believe...mine is accurate while i am driving...but if it bakes in the sun it reads a lot higher. it may be more of a novelty than anything...i mean i wouldnt use the figure to report the nightly news...or decide whether it was safe to leave a kid in the car.
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2005 | 06:59 PM
  #5  
DonsFx4's Avatar
DonsFx4
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
From: Marple Township, PA
MJ is correct...it's in front of the radiator in the center, just under the hood catch. There are 2 sensors; the top one is the temp sensor, and the bottom one (rectangular-shaped) is the front impact sensor for the airbag sensor.
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2005 | 07:08 PM
  #6  
osbornk's Avatar
osbornk
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,511
Likes: 0
From: Marion, VA
Mine is also off several degrees and is slow to respond to any changes in temperature. Previous threads have indicated it may be the sender and sometimes a reflash corrects the problem. Mine is supposed to be looked at next Tuesday.
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2005 | 07:38 PM
  #7  
Dazz's Avatar
Dazz
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Many thanks guys.

I live in Agriculture country which also means citrus. In the winter many citrus vehicles have a little probe sticking out the front grill. This is to allow the driver to travel through citrus orchards during "frost patrol" to see where the freeze is lying while reading the tempretures while still seated in the cab Very simple device, quite inexpensive.

OK, I have found my temp sensor. And I did find a variance in the true temp and the message center temp while my rig was parked in the garage. After a few blocks of driving I believe the truer temp showed up on in the message center.

Appreciate your help.
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2005 | 08:30 PM
  #8  
kapoho's Avatar
kapoho
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
FYI,

My ambient temp gauge was always way off until I drove a couple of miles. The dealer reflashed my computer and it is dead accurate at all times now. For some odd reason, this also fixed my warm ac problem.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

 Brett Foote
story-2

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-7

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 15, 2005 | 10:02 PM
  #9  
bigtexan99's Avatar
bigtexan99
Laughing Gas
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 790
Likes: 35
From: Austin
I read on someone elses post that the climate control system used the outside tempature gauge as a input to decide on how hard to cool the interior. So, if you AC thought it was a cooler outside, it may not adjust itself to the proper cooling mixture. Of course that only would apply to the fancy control systems with the temp setting. My XLT has the old school 'twist a ****' fuction.


Don't know if thats true or not, just something I remember reading awile back.
 
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2005 | 01:40 PM
  #10  
timhood's Avatar
timhood
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
They're made that way

Originally Posted by osbornk
Mine is also off several degrees and is slow to respond to any changes in temperature. Previous threads have indicated it may be the sender and sometimes a reflash corrects the problem. Mine is supposed to be looked at next Tuesday.
I've had outside temp sensors in my vehicles going back to '89. You need to understand how they work. They will be fooled by heat coming off the pavement or from an idling engine. (In reality, they're not being fooled, they're just recording the much-higher temps generated from those conditions). The most accurate reading is one that comes while the vehicle is underway. Keep in mind that the temp above the street is still hotter than in other areas, as the asphalt/concrete absorb and radiate the sun's heat. (Ever notice how much cooler the air is when you drive by a large field/park?) Finally, you've got to realize that these sensors are programmed specifically to adjust the temps only about every 10-15 seconds, and then by no more than one degree at a time. So, from being parked in the hot sun, it can take a couple of minutes before the guage gets to an accurate reading. BTW, the reason for this is to normalize what you see in the dash. If you saw the temp change from 95 to 82, you'd be thinking "What the heck?". Also, the gauge would appear "jumpy" as you passed by fields, etc: 85, 81, 85... Customers would complain it wasn't working properly, expecting some kind of warranty treatment.
 
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2005 | 01:43 PM
  #11  
timhood's Avatar
timhood
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Yep, it's true

Originally Posted by bigtexan99
I read on someone elses post that the climate control system used the outside tempature gauge as a input to decide on how hard to cool the interior...

Don't know if thats true or not, just something I remember reading awile back.
Yes, the computer-controlled climate systems found in some cars/trucks do use both the exterior and interior temp sensors to determine the need for heat, A/C, fan speed, etc.

In my car, the system is smart enough in cold temps to not turn on the heater blower until warm air would come out. No sense in blasting cold air on an already-cold person!
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2005 | 11:35 AM
  #12  
jfstevens's Avatar
jfstevens
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Wink My Experience

I have a 04 F-150 Lariat manufactured on 17 July 2003. Once I got the PCM reflash done the Temperature Display was more accurate, responded to changes much faster and the AC works much better.

Only problem I ever had with the truck!
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2005 | 04:29 PM
  #13  
HotLap's Avatar
HotLap
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: 1000 Oaks, CA
WOW!! Thanks guys - I never would have two and two together in regards to the Climate control taking input from the outside temp sensor....my '05 Lairat's message center temp reading is always on the low side - even when underway and the AC has never blown as cold as I think it should!!! Wonder if that's the issue with my AC as well!! Kind of scary that Ford relies on such a potentially "inaccurate" sensor for the AC.....good thing the ECU doesn't rely on this sensor's input for engine parameter adjustments!
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2005 | 06:15 PM
  #14  
ChrisAdams's Avatar
ChrisAdams
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 2
My F-150 has the manual controls, but I have had several cars (12-20) with climate control. On all of them, putting it to max cooling bypassed all the sensors and put the system in maximum loop cooling.
On those with dials, setting it to 60 or 65 or whatever the lowest blue temp was again, put it in full cool.
You might try that and see. If it's temp sendor related, that would 'fool' it.
Chris
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2005 | 02:53 PM
  #15  
Dazz's Avatar
Dazz
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
I kept reading in posts about the temperature guage located at center radiator having a controlling influense on the Air Conditioning temperature within the cab of our pickups. After reading my Owners Manual, my 11"X11" F-150 Brochure, and my Helms I have concluded I was not mixed up.

From the F-150 Brochure I read that only the Lariat comes with the "Air Conditioning - Electronic Automatic Temperature Control". With all other F-150's the EATC is "not available", but "Air Conditioning" is available on all other F-150's. I assume the latter means Manual A/C.

I was mixed up because no matter the outside temperature my Manual Air Conditioning was quite adequate requiring very little changing once the cab was up to a desired comfort temperature. My wonderment came about with my posts about the value of the little black box behind the center rear view mirror, which is the compass. My posts led into replies that the black box was a temperature guage, which is not true.

I am glad I am straight on that.....or am I. Comments invited.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:37 AM.

story-0
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

Slideshow: 10 ways Ford is losing to the competition

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 09:52:01


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

Some great targets in today's expensive world.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 09:35:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-4
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE