Outside temp showing crazy figures - 40 degrees?

[skymaster]

Hi

The temperature displayed in the central display is showing some wild numbers. It thought it was 40 degrees out today. As a result the climate control needs to be turned up to over 25 just to stop my from freezing.

I assume there is a temp sensor somewhere? Any ideas which one I would need to change?

[richlean]

I think it's the one mounted in front of the radiator. It clips onto the back of the grille somewhere close to the top. I suppose it might be mucking up some of your engine parameters, too, if it's reading wrongly.

[rafletcher]

I suspect a different issue. The sensor is a thermocouple - so it either works or doesn't. Also external temp shouldn't affect A/C - that uses sensors in the cabin to control cabin temperature - though a high ambient temp may mean it thinks initially it needs to work harder - but once the cabin is at the set temp it should back off - assuming it's an automatic climate control system, and not manual A/C. So I'd suggest a fault scan as spurious temperature readings sounds like a software/processing issue, as opposed to sensor. Still if it's quick and easy to swap the sensor, go for it (and possibly prove me completely wrong!)

[skymaster]

I think I might have fixed it. It was in the body shop recently having a new front grill fitted... (The old one was peeling) I found said sensor and it was dangling ... but there's a clear round hole in the back of the grill it's meant to go it. I suspect it was dangling in a hot part, away from incoming air flow. I've put it back in the hole (not quite sure which way it should be facing) I'll drive it home later on and see what it says.

[richlean]

Any joy?

[skymaster]

Yes, all fixed! It must have been dangling down in part of the front of the car that retains heat... It must have been like it for a few weeks but only in this hot weather did I notice... The amount of times i've had a car back from a franchised Audi center and it's not been screwed back together properly... is too many to count