Ambiant temp not right ???
 

I have had my RX8 for three weeks. I've never owned such a car fuun fuun and Zoom Zoom. But there seems to be a problem with the ambiant temp. It will read 50 when I know it's in the 30s..


Anybody else having this problem???

Well, you guys do insist on sticking with F. Our temperature indication seems spot on, at least within a degree of the current temperatures broadcast on the radio. Check it after driving for about 5-10 minutes, when the sensor has had a chance to equilibrate. If it is 20F out as you say, then get it fixed at next service.

Why would you need to drive 10 to 15 min. When I look at the thermo hanging outside it does not take 15 min to get to temp. And why would driving make the temp change :(

My temp seems to be dead on. For instance, before I leave the house in the morning I always check the weather/temp online. I leave my garage and the temp reads 70 something. As soon as I pull out the temp starts falling until it reaches the correct temperature.

The sensor is inside the "mouth" of the RX-8, behind the grill but in front of the radiator. It appears that its location makes it both a little slow to respond to ambient temperature changes and somewhat subject to radiant heat from the radiator when standing still. It doesn't take 10 minutes, but it will certainly give a better indication once you get the outside air flowing over it by driving for a minute or two.

mine seems to work fine.

If you are sitting there idling then the sensor is going to be heat soaked from the rad/engine(heat source). You have to have fresh outside hitting the sensor to get an accurate reading.

then it's not true ambient temp. ambient temp sensor is temp of surrounding air and shouldn't be affected by air passiing over it, if that really is the case, then it's not the right type of sensor. and if it really is located where ppl say, then it will change often being right next to the radiator like that. maybe they should have placed near the rear plate where it's less likely to be affected by other things. mine never seems to be right on, close, but never really accurate.

its pretty accurate to me. Im actually surprised how fast the temperature reading is compared to my old PT Cruiser. It would take a full 5-10 minutes to start reading the temp.

Mine seems fine too.

Eccles, I don't suppose you could tell me exactly where the sensor is? I can recognize a thermocouple, but if you can tell me where it is exactly, it'll save me the effort of hunting for it. I'll then look into relocating it when I pull my front bumper off to put my new grille and oil cooler covers on. I'll also take pics (and post) if it's a practical thing to do.

Thanks...

My temperature gauge also works fine, but for whatever reason I noticed that it does take about three to five minutes to display temperatures accurately.

Not exactly, no. My previous description is as good as I can remember from when we were poking around Tim Pryor's car while it was up on the hoist getting his body kit bits fitted. It was mounted to the top of the "mouth" behind the grill, and was pretty obvious - you shouldn't have any trouble identifying it.