Outside temperature reading stuck on -40*F??? - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

Zero · 10-01-2012, 06:23 PM

Yesterday on the dash of my 335i the snowflake in the triangle light came up (signifying its cold as balls outside) came up and my outside temperature gauge is stuck saying it's -40*F outside. Also my check engine light came on too, any ideas what it is? Outside temperature sensor go out? I don't have iDrive btw.

Thanks for the help!

BMW_Belgier · 10-01-2012, 06:26 PM

Battery?

islandbimmer · 10-01-2012, 06:27 PM

broken wire or sensor . On the e36's they often fell out of their sockets and dangled underneath the bumper till you curbed them. Check the sensor see if the wires look oK .

BMW_Belgier · 10-01-2012, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by islandbimmer

broken wire or sensor . On the e36's they often fell out of their sockets and dangled underneath the bumper till you curbed them. Check the sensor see if the wires look oK .

Would that explain the CEL aswell?

Tom K. · 10-01-2012, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by islandbimmer

broken wire or sensor . On the e36's they often fell out of their sockets and dangled underneath the bumper till you curbed them. Check the sensor see if the wires look oK .

On my E46, it was chipmunk damage to the wiring near the sensor. While it didn't throw a SES light, the A/C compressor (thinking it was well below freezing) wouldn't come on.

Tom

Zero · 10-02-2012, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by islandbimmer

broken wire or sensor . On the e36's they often fell out of their sockets and dangled underneath the bumper till you curbed them. Check the sensor see if the wires look oK .

Alright, where's the sensor located at on the car? Pics? Thanks

mxchris727 · 10-02-2012, 03:05 PM

It should be right under the front bumper on the passenger side

Zero · 10-06-2012, 07:41 PM

Does anyone have a diagram where they can point out where it is? I looked under the car the other night and have been looking for diagrams to see what I'm looking for and can't seem to find anything. Thanks guys, I really don't want to take it to the stealership just to replace a sensor.

gzim335 · 10-07-2012, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero

Does anyone have a diagram where they can point out where it is? I looked under the car the other night and have been looking for diagrams to see what I'm looking for and can't seem to find anything. Thanks guys, I really don't want to take it to the stealership just to replace a sensor.

im having the exact same issue...
u have to take off the bumper to get to the sensor.

r3dbimmer89 · 10-08-2012, 11:22 AM

That happened to me in my E46...my sister rolled over a high curb and popped the fender lining pulling the sensor off with it. Most likely your sensor is broken or gone but I think the SES light is something different going on.

ttribe · 10-08-2012, 11:45 AM

My ambient temperature sensor went out on the E60 M5 last year and triggered a limp mode on the engine. Get the sensor replaced and you'll be up and running again.

Zero · 10-08-2012, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gzim335

im having the exact same issue...
u have to take off the bumper to get to the sensor.

Have you done yours yet? If you haven't can you take a picture of the sensor and where it mounts?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttribe

My ambient temperature sensor went out on the E60 M5 last year and triggered a limp mode on the engine. Get the sensor replaced and you'll be up and running again.

Hopefully that's it, I literally just got the car back from an oil change at the stealership so I can't think of anything that could have made the SES light go off

ttribe · 10-08-2012, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero

Hopefully that's it, I literally just got the car back from an oil change at the stealership so I can't think of anything that could have made the SES light go off

I thought the ambient temp sensor was just a convenience thing but, according to my dealer service adviser, the car actually uses the sensor to adjust the fuel mix; hence the limp mode. My sensor was telling the car it was 125F outside when it was in the 90s, so it freaked out.

gzim335 · 10-08-2012, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero

Quote:

Originally Posted by gzim335

im having the exact same issue...
u have to take off the bumper to get to the sensor.

Have you done yours yet? If you haven't can you take a picture of the sensor and where it mounts?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttribe

My ambient temperature sensor went out on the E60 M5 last year and triggered a limp mode on the engine. Get the sensor replaced and you'll be up and running again.

Hopefully that's it, I literally just got the car back from an oil change at the stealership so I can't think of anything that could have made the SES light go off

just tackled it today with a friend,I took the bumper off n the sensor was on the driver side between bumper and radiator.
my issue was the wire was exposed,I reattached and wrapped it in elec tape and deleted the code after and my temp is reading again

I'll post a pic when I get on my PC
SES light is gone

10-01-2012, 06:23 PM	#1
Zero Private Drives: 335i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: CA Posts: 51 iTrader: (0)	*Outside temperature reading stuck on -40F???** Yesterday on the dash of my 335i the snowflake in the triangle light came up (signifying its cold as balls outside) came up and my outside temperature gauge is stuck saying it's -40*F outside. Also my check engine light came on too, any ideas what it is? Outside temperature sensor go out? I don't have iDrive btw. Thanks for the help! __________________ - Muffler Delete - BMS DC Intake - 5%/Side 50%/Shield - Depo Blacklines - Shadowline - M3 Bumper - Full LED/HID swap - Forgestar F14s - Hankook V12s
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10-01-2012, 06:26 PM	#2
BMW_Belgier Major Drives: E92 335xi n55 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Switzerland Posts: 1,352 iTrader: (0)	Battery? __________________ BEFORE: 130i N52 (2006-2011) NOW: 335xi N55 (2011- )

10-02-2012, 03:05 PM	#7
mxchris727 Private Drives: E90 with 3 pedals Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wilton, CT Posts: 54 iTrader: (0)	It should be right under the front bumper on the passenger side __________________ I have a workstation set up with DIS, TIS, SSS, INPA, NCS Expert, WinKFP, Tool32 with an K+D CAN interface; PM me if you want to stop by and code your car. ISTA/D + /P with an iCOMM interface finally here!

10-06-2012, 07:41 PM	#8
Zero Private Drives: 335i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: CA Posts: 51 iTrader: (0)	Does anyone have a diagram where they can point out where it is? I looked under the car the other night and have been looking for diagrams to see what I'm looking for and can't seem to find anything. Thanks guys, I really don't want to take it to the stealership just to replace a sensor. __________________ - Muffler Delete - BMS DC Intake - 5%/Side 50%/Shield - Depo Blacklines - Shadowline - M3 Bumper - Full LED/HID swap - Forgestar F14s - Hankook V12s

10-08-2012, 11:22 AM	#10
r3dbimmer89 The Coolest Drives: '12 E92 335i M Sport Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 560 iTrader: (0)	That happened to me in my E46...my sister rolled over a high curb and popped the fender lining pulling the sensor off with it. Most likely your sensor is broken or gone but I think the SES light is something different going on. __________________ Current: 12 AW E92 335i ///M sport Gone: 08 Crimson E90 335i/02 AW E46 325i

10-01-2012, 06:27 PM	#3
islandbimmer First Lieutenant Drives: 2007 e92 SG Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Victoria BC Canada Posts: 309 iTrader: (1)	broken wire or sensor . On the e36's they often fell out of their sockets and dangled underneath the bumper till you curbed them. Check the sensor see if the wires look oK .

10-08-2012, 11:45 AM	#11
ttribe First Lieutenant Drives: '09 E93 335i Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 338 iTrader: (0)	My ambient temperature sensor went out on the E60 M5 last year and triggered a limp mode on the engine. Get the sensor replaced and you'll be up and running again. __________________ 2012+ 09 E93 335i - Space Gray, N54, Sport, Premium, Comfort, Logic7, Nav Mods - Reflectors, LUX, Pedals, M3 Spoiler, Black Grilles, Macht Schnell, Aero, ESS, RE760 2011-12 07 E60 M5 - Indy Red

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