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Outside Temperature Gauge

95318 Views 165 Replies 41 Participants Last post by  thesavo, 
T
Good Day,

I have a 2009 Tribute GX that did not come with an outside temp gauge. When the sun is in the right light I can actually see the numbers behind the dash. I was wondering if anyone knows if you can buy the sensor separately and have it installed or does it have to be factory installed? I can only presume that the Escape would be the same issue.

Cheers

2009 Mazda Tribute GX, Auto, AWD, 2.5.
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T
Best answer to ya....does not look good. I went to several dealers in the area and they have no idea. The only answer I got was that it has to be done from factory. Just hoping one day that some one does get it done or exactly finds out how and shares it so that I can take that info to the dealer. Its so sad as a bought the sensor and plugged it in and nothing. And the worst thing is in the sunlight you can actually see the numbers in the dash window for the temp but obviously they are not lighting up.

Cheers
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Onefastbike
Hey all.. this is my first post :)

I purchased a 2009 Escape Saturday. There is only one option missing for me... the temp display.

I have read the entire thread and am intruiged by the challenge.

I had the same issue with my 2002 Dodge Dakota.

The wiring was all there and I plugged the sensor in.. no display. It turned out I had to run 12V (DC) to a pin-out on a harness. I also had to splice a data cable to send data to 2 pins instead of 1.

I pick up my escape in 3 weeks (have to wait for the lease to expire on my focus)

I will dive in to this after :)
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T
Hey one fast bike,

Let us know what you find....patiently waiting
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jtiss24
hey all,

After perusing this thread, I also became interested in having this feature on my Escape. Here's what I've found.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?carcode=1439986&parttype=7000&a=FRc1439986k380459

http://info.rockauto.com/Motorcraft/Detail.html?YH1504.jpg

If you select "sensors" in the drop down menu, you can see the common problems with the Ambient Temperature Sensor.

Hope this helps, especially in the pocket book. $9!!!
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Onefastbike
going back to my notes, I had to add a fuse to a blank spot on my fuse panel.

I guess I have a few things to check once I take possession. (can't believe I'm already thinking about getting in to the dash of my new truck...lol)
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C
I just picked up my 2009 Escape as well, and i can not see the wire? Do i need to take off the black plastic cover over the AC or radiator?

Hmmm :confused:
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Onefastbike
Well it looks like i won't be able to help with this after-all. I ordered my new truck with the convienance package.
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D
Hey,

New to the site. I read all the previous posts in this thead and I'm quite interested.
I didn't notice anyone that had the sensor purchased that tried disconnecting their battery in attempts to reset the computers. Not sure if it would work, but might be worth a shot.

If it would work, my 2008 Tribute GT could use this feature (which should have been included from the facotry, along with steering wheel controls, and ............ but that may be in another thread........lol)

Regards,
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jpark
Unfortunately, that won't work.

I actually spoke with a Ford engineer who said that the climate control module is programmed at installation time and can't be re-programmed.

They made that change sometime after the 2008 models first arrived.
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CanadianWolf
The ambient air temp sensor (connected to connector C132) connects directly to the HVAC MODULE DATC unit connector C2356A. The DTAC is for the automatic climate control system. For those of us with manual control systems, the connector is C2357A HVAC MODULE EMTC. The connect points for both are the same (Pin 2/Pin 10), so it might be something that is programmable... Then again, it might just be used to adjust the temperature blend door motor.
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CanadianWolf
OK so my 2010 Escape is in for a transmission recall, and i'm having the alarm system tweaked because its falsing all the time. I got to talk to the guy who the service manager said was the most knowledgeable guy they have when it comes to the vehicle electronics, computers and systems - what we can do and not do.

Because the vehicle is so computerized now, everything works together, and is controlled by the main processor in conjunction with the 2 sub processors - the one that runs the climate control system and the instrumentation system, connected by a low speed bus. Everything from the power windows, headlights, power locks, interval wipers, ALL the displays are all on the low speed databus.

The systems are uploaded with your purchased options that are linked to your VIN number, so if something needs to be replaced, they just enter the VIN and the exact part will be shipped.

They have experimented with adding options after at the customer's request. Like the message centre (a change in the instrument cluster to include that function, plus the buttons on the dash), like the temperature indicator on the side of the infotainment (radio) display, like adding Sync after.

Their results were poor, the problem is they dont have any control over the processor programming, they can't just go to a webpage and click "yes" to the outside temperature display. What they CAN do is find a vehicle that has your features PLUS the one you want, enter the VIN into the computer, and download from Ford the BIOS for the vehicle computer systems. They then upload that into your vehicle and VOILA. Well almost. He said what happened was the computer started kicking back some error codes. Some would put on the check engine light. Some would give error codes on the message centre display in the instrument cluster, and some would show errors in the radio display. He said the problem is the BIOS that gets uploaded, also has some other things in it for features or systems that are not listed, but are assumed on that VIN package. So the computer cant find a sensor for something, or cant find a damper motor etc etc.

So he said yes you can, but you might need to spend a lot of cash at the dealer trying to find a VIN BIOS that makes the computers do what you want to do, without any errors. You might find you will need to add the Sun sensor in the middle of the dash plus the interior temperature sensor plus the external temp sensor etc.

Lastly, he said that for the most part, the engine harnesses are the same from model to model, and the under-dash harnesses are the same. But the In-Cabin and outside harnesses are built-to-VIN for the features you have, and they started doing that "a few years ago".

With all that in mind, it might be cheaper to buy the whole dash including all the components including the computers and harnesses from a wrecker and hook everything up. Or start looking on the lot, find the one with the features you want to add plus all the features you already have, and ask them to upload that VIN bios into your vehicle after adding the required sensors, and maybe some unrequired ones.
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CanadianWolf
UPDATE on the temp gauge - and other electrical upgrades.

I have befriended the most knowledgable tech at my local ford dealership, who knows (he says) quite a bit about how the ford central hub/computer works.

Anything is possible he says, however, the difficulty is Ford does not tell the dealerships how to do any modifications. AT ALL.

Here's what we can do, and with some research, we may be able to get some of what we want, quite easily and cheaply, since its all computerized...

I want to enable the external temp display and the compass to start with. Eventually I would also like to upgrade my instrument panel so it has the message centre also.

To do this, next time you are at your dealership service department, request a print out of your vehicle VIN "AS BUILT REQUEST".
This will be a 4 page print out of all the codes that make your vehicle computer do everything, including what sensors are built in and what sensors to expect (and then report if they are not working), what radio you have, what display console options there are (including the temp/compass), whether you have Sync or the NAV package, engine size and options, a/c system (auto or manual) etc etc.

The important part is the BCE modules, which are 4 digit HEX codes. The dealer can change these hex codes manually. The problem is, they dont know what the codes are for, or what to change them to, Ford will not tell them.

SO. I walked around the lot and finally found an identical Escape to mine - except it has the TEMP/COMPASS display working. AND it doesnt have any different buttons anywhere. Its basically identical except for the temp/compass and the instrument panel that I want with the message centre.

I asked (and received) the AS BUILT REQUEST print outs for both my 2010 Escape XLT with sync, and the dealerships service taxi 2010 Escape XLT with sync and the other stuff i want.

I'm going to add the temperature sensor in the front bumper, then go to the dealership and ask the tech I have befriended to change a few HEX codes from what I have currently in my truck to the HEX codes in the other truck - and see if the display starts working.

I will scan and email the AS BUILT REQUEST forms to anyone who wants them, or even better, we should start a new form that says what codes are for what function when we find them out. We should be able to discern what some of them are by comparing the HEX codes to the features each of our trucks have.
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Kurochan
Will do when I take my truck in for her first check up in September. I would love to have temperature/compass added as well.

CanadianWolf said:
UPDATE on the temp gauge - and other electrical upgrades.

I have befriended the most knowledgable tech at my local ford dealership, who knows (he says) quite a bit about how the ford central hub/computer works.

Anything is possible he says, however, the difficulty is Ford does not tell the dealerships how to do any modifications. AT ALL.

Here's what we can do, and with some research, we may be able to get some of what we want, quite easily and cheaply, since its all computerized...

I want to enable the external temp display and the compass to start with. Eventually I would also like to upgrade my instrument panel so it has the message centre also.

To do this, next time you are at your dealership service department, request a print out of your vehicle VIN "AS BUILT REQUEST".
This will be a 4 page print out of all the codes that make your vehicle computer do everything, including what sensors are built in and what sensors to expect (and then report if they are not working), what radio you have, what display console options there are (including the temp/compass), whether you have Sync or the NAV package, engine size and options, a/c system (auto or manual) etc etc.

The important part is the BCE modules, which are 4 digit HEX codes. The dealer can change these hex codes manually. The problem is, they dont know what the codes are for, or what to change them to, Ford will not tell them.

SO. I walked around the lot and finally found an identical Escape to mine - except it has the TEMP/COMPASS display working. AND it doesnt have any different buttons anywhere. Its basically identical except for the temp/compass and the instrument panel that I want with the message centre.

I asked (and received) the AS BUILT REQUEST print outs for both my 2010 Escape XLT with sync, and the dealerships service taxi 2010 Escape XLT with sync and the other stuff i want.

I'm going to add the temperature sensor in the front bumper, then go to the dealership and ask the tech I have befriended to change a few HEX codes from what I have currently in my truck to the HEX codes in the other truck - and see if the display starts working.

I will scan and email the AS BUILT REQUEST forms to anyone who wants them, or even better, we should start a new form that says what codes are for what function when we find them out. We should be able to discern what some of them are by comparing the HEX codes to the features each of our trucks have.
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timothyjay2004
Any update on the progress of this? If it is computer related, I highly doubt that it is something that it is a "one time" flash. Though I took a quick look under my hood of my 09 mariner, and didn't see any connection area.
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S
hi jpark i was wondering if i can get outside temp gauge on my 2007 mariner? weather to use a aftermarket mirror or using the info center etc ..ill check back frequently thanks ahead
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T
Bump!

Any up-date's on this issue? :shades:
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S
The temp probe is under the front bumber to the drivers side. It's not visible from inside the hood, but directly inside the opening in the front bumber on the drivers side. I have a 2011 Base Mariner 4 Cylinder and found the temp sensor (or where it is supposed to be screwed on) under the bumber. It has a plastic gray cap that has threads and a sharp looking point on the end. I am going to order the temp. sens from Ford and try putting it on to see what happens.
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Onefastbike
simplyteeb said:
The temp probe is under the front bumber to the drivers side. It's not visible from inside the hood, but directly inside the opening in the front bumber on the drivers side. I have a 2011 Base Mariner 4 Cylinder and found the temp sensor (or where it is supposed to be screwed on) under the bumber. It has a plastic gray cap that has threads and a sharp looking point on the end. I am going to order the temp. sens from Ford and try putting it on to see what happens.
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It has been done with no positive results.
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jpark
The way to get this to work is to find another Escape (wrecked or parted out) that has the factory sensor installed. Find the climate control module and replace yours with it, but try it first. You may need the dealer to flash other modules to recognize the new climate control module as well.

Ford apparently "programs" the climate control module at the factory to work only with the sensors installed, and that code cannot be changed in the field. I'm not sure how that works when the part needs to be replaced, though...
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intillzah
jpark said:
Ford apparently "programs" the climate control module at the factory to work only with the sensors installed, and that code cannot be changed in the field. I'm not sure how that works when the part needs to be replaced, though...
Click to expand...
I work for a CaseIH dealer and the way that Case does it is you provide them with the serial number of the vehicle and they ship you a computer module that is programmed with the configuration file that came with it from the factory.

And yes, even farm equipment uses ISO and serial buses too...
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