Outside Air Temperature

The instrument cluster monitors the ambient air temperature sensor with a low reference circuit and 5-volt signal circuit. The instrument cluster monitors the voltage drop across the sensor, which is proportional to temperature. When the ambient air temperatures are cold, the resistance of the sensor is high and the voltage signals are high. When the ambient air temperatures are hot, the resistance of the sensors is low and the voltage signals are low. The instrument cluster converts the voltage value to a temperature value of Celsius or Fahrenheit that will be displayed by the driver information center display.

The outside air temperature can be accessed through the driver information center Trip/Fuel switch function. The driver information center shows the outside air temperature as a damped value. The time and rate of the temperature update is based on an algorithm in the instrument cluster. Factors such as last temperature reading, current temperature reading, length of time the vehicle was off, current vehicle speed, and the distance driven effect when the displayed temperature is updated. To get the vehicle to display the most accurate temperature faster, drive the vehicle. Constant moving traffic will update the display to the correct temperature more quickly than stop and go traffic.