Bought external temp display,need help! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

vegetaleb · 12-18-2008, 03:11 AM

Hello I just bought a display for external/internal temps because Middle East version of Corolla don't have external temp!
Now I need help to know how to stick the small display in a way that the wires don't show up on dash-board(pass them between the radio and the A/C plastic blocks??) and of course how to pass the sensor through the dashboard to the front bumper(where is the easiest passage)??
I am thinking to place the display just between the radio and the A/C,or on the left side of the ''passenger seat belt'' display
Ok here is the model,it has a Cigarette lighter plug 12v that can be cut down to use the electrical wires directly with the car's light system(the corolla 09 has some extra free 12v wires inside the dashboard??): http://www.lampa.it/eng/Prodotti_scheda.asp?P=86316

vegetaleb · 12-19-2008, 08:14 AM

Ok!
I took it today to Toyota service center,they didn't charge me for the installation but the sensor is not in a good place,it's too close to the radiator + too high so if the car is steady in a traffic jam the temp can go up to 45c!!!
Same at parking after driving!
As the sensor is now in the front compartment and the electricity connection made,I just have to move the sensor to another point,so I am thinking to put it right near the fog lamp compartment on the lower bumper so it would not be affected by engine heat even when steady,is it a good spot??

Pandaxpress · 12-19-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegetaleb

Ok!
I took it today to Toyota service center,they didn't charge me for the installation but the sensor is not in a good place,it's too close to the radiator + too high so if the car is steady in a traffic jam the temp can go up to 45c!!!
Same at parking after driving!
As the sensor is now in the front compartment and the electricity connection made,I just have to move the sensor to another point,so I am thinking to put it right near the fog lamp compartment on the lower bumper so it would not be affected by engine heat even when steady,is it a good spot??

I would think that it would be colder because air is rushing toward it. I though you should point it aiming up or diagonally somewhere else.

vegetaleb · 12-19-2008, 03:09 PM

Mmmm so on the front bumper the circuling air will false the results?
So where is the best spot? somewhere it's not at all affected by engine's heat?
I though about window corner or roof but it will be influenced by the AC heater...

KrakaJap · 12-19-2008, 03:35 PM

Can this sensor be calibrated? In other words... can you figure out the ambient temp under your hood or near the radiator and compensate for that temp in the after-market sensor? Never had one so I'm not sure how it works.

Hamster Inspector · 12-19-2008, 03:49 PM

Check the temperature sensor.

If it sais rectal you will have to put it in the back of the car!

KrakaJap · 12-19-2008, 05:20 PM

LOL not very productive but funny.

What about the wheel well? I can't imagine it would get very hot and I doubt the treads are enough to act as a cooling fan for the well itself.

Honda city · 12-19-2008, 05:55 PM

Try to find out where the temp sensor is on the North American cars and put it in the same place. I suspect that it may be somewhere near the air intake just below the windsheild wipers.

Jeff Lange · 12-19-2008, 06:39 PM

It's mounted behind the front bumper.

Jeff

vegetaleb · 12-20-2008, 05:37 AM

It seems that on the mid to upper level of the front bumper there are too much in-going/out-going air so the temperatures are raising and droping like a yoyo every 5sec,whoever on the lower level of the front bumper(air intake) there are no heats at all even if the car is parked for 10mins after one hour of riding! I will try to put it there,if it's still not perfect I will try as Honda City said

KrakaJap · 12-20-2008, 06:48 PM

Normally I just stick my finger out the window. :P There are only 3 temperatures in my opinion... cold, warm, and hot.

Every place on a car is going to have varying degrees of temperature and I don't believe any place is a "perfect" place for a sensor in this respect. If your car has bluetooth you could always program a speed dial for your local time and temp.

Or if you have navigation, most of them will display positional weather information and forecasts. I know this doesn't help any but you'll probably have to just try out a few places on your car to see which one reflects the most accurate temp. As I said no place is perfect... there are numerous factors that need to be considered such as whether or not the area you live is windy, humid, etc. What elevation is your area... this can determine how hard your engine runs with local oxygen levels thus producing more/less heat. The airflow of your car should be a big factor... just because an area does not get much air doesn't make it the best place for a sensor. The lack of airflow can create a small vacuum which (by physics) tells us the temps will be slightly lower in those areas.

Not to mention the shell around these areas that prevent airflow... depending on the material, airflow around this area can decrease the temp of the material itself making it's protected area cooler. haha Are you getting a headache just thinking about all this? :P

I personally never rely on even factory installed temp sensors, they're far too inaccurate. I just load up the weather channel app on my iPod or cell phone.

vegetaleb · 12-22-2008, 06:38 AM

I added a homemade extension cable to reach the lower airtake of the front bumper,it's better than on the higher spot but there are still differences between while driving and being steady in traffic jam,about 10 F.!!!!
Can it be because I sticked the sensor on one of the blades instead of behind,or even the junction between the extension cable and the original's one(situated in the engine compartment)?
Also I have red somewhere that external mirrors are the best place for the sensor(far from engine and road),is it easy to access and to open?