i have a 95 exp & was wondering how to recalibrate the outside temp guage,if possible-thanks

 

The temp sensor is a sealed unit, and I don't believe you can calibrate it.

 

If its anything like the temp sensors I use at work it is just a thermistor (typ of resistor). They work by reading the voltage drop and applying an algorythim to calculate the temp. They are not calabratable, but they do go bad, or weaken over time. At that time they need to be replaced.

However, I would think that the software guys at ford couldof written a program that can be run to get a known value at a specefic temp and then adjust with offsets.. hmmmm I wonder.

 

I still need to replace the sensor on the one on my 1997 Mountaineer. They got me something close at the dealer but it was for a newer model... and at 100 bucks I was not willing to go with "something close". They were unable to locate the correct one for my vehicle. I think that the 95 might be the same. If you do come up with a replacement for it please post what info you might have on it. I would still like to get a replacement. I am currently waiting to go down to a few junk yards and see what they have.

 

The schematic for the 95's show the outside air temperature sensor as a variable resistor. This would indicate the if you could open the sealed unit, you could adjust it. Even one that is right on will appear to be off sometimes because of how the microprocessor reads the sensor. Here is the explanation from the Ford CD:

Temperature Display

The temperature display operates through the use of a thermometer sensor (15A022) mounted behind the front bumper/grille. The display can be changed from English to metric units.

The data from the temperature sensor must be processed and adjusted so that engine heat does not affect the displayed temperature. When the ignition is first turned on, the module checks to see if the ignition has been off for more than two hours. If it has, the currently sensed temperature is displayed. If the ignition has not been off for two hours and the sensed temperature is higher than it was when the vehicle was turned off, the old temperature will be displayed. If the ignition has not been off for two hours and the sensed temperature is lower than it was when the vehicle was turned off, the currently sensed temperature is displayed.

To update the temperature, the module looks at several different factors, as listed below.

l Engine Cold --If ignition has been on for less than five minutes, and was previously off for longer than two hours, the engine is cold and does not affect the temperature sensor. Therefore, the current sensor data is used.

l Engine Warm, Updated Temperature Cooler -- If ignition has been on for longer than five minutes or if the ignition was off for less than two hours, the engine compartment may be warm from the heat of the engine. The current sensor data is used only if it is less than the stored temperature reading from before.

l Engine Warm, Updated Temperature Warmer -- If the sensor data indicates a higher temperature, the module looks at the vehicle speed to determine whether engine heat is causing erroneous readings. A "high speed counter" is used to determine this. The counter is incremented when the speed is greater than 53 km/h (33 mph) and decremented when the speed is between 16-53 km/h (10-33 mph). If the speed is less than 16 km/h (10 mph), the counter is reset, and the displayed temperature is not updated from its last reading. If the counter is greater than two minutes, the currently sensed temperature is displayed. If the high-speed counter has counted less than two minutes, the temperature is allowed to increase only one degree per minute.

If the temperature sensor is short- or open-circuited, the display will read SC or OC, respectively, instead of a temperature. If the temperature drops below 3.3°C (38°F) or is below 3.3°C (38°F) upon power-up, the display will alternate between displaying "ICE" and the temperature. The display will alternate every two seconds for a time of one minute.