Some will be aware that there have been discussions on other threads about the ability for Aussie spec cars to display the ambient (outside) temperature.
At the moment there are a few threads kicking around the Aussie section of this forum with discussions about this.
If you own a Maxx Sport or lower (SP23 already has it) you can order an Air Temperature Sensor and install it in your engine bay pretty simply, to obtain this function.
Thanks jeffyg! I just ordered the part which was not in stock up here in Cairns. The guy in the parts department who answered the phone said he remembered reading a Mazda bulletin about 2 months ago that said the sensor could easily be attached. I guess the part will take a good few days to get up here. Will let you know when I have installed it in the car. 8)
i saw this thread at 1pm today, and was pretty intrigued by the discovery. by 5pm, straight after work, i had it bought and installed in my car. its pretty nifty.
for future buyers, word of advice: once you attach the sensor to the wiring, make sure you clip the sensor into the holder. by default, it is the wire that is clipped to the holder. this way the sensor has no way of becoming loose and dropping on the road, even if it seems very unlikely (as it clips into the wiring pretty tightly).
also, i noticed the reading wont always be accurate, as the area surrounding the sensor is warmer due to engine warmth. ah well.
and on my way to the dealer, at one point there were 4 3's all stopped at the lights. mine, a blue sedan, a blue hatch, and a red hatch. the 3 is a real head turner.
supernova3, you'll find that in most cars with this feature, it takes about 5 minutes of driving for the sensor to reach the acurate outside temperature.
When you park after driving, the engine warmth warms the sensor up but the air flow that happens when you start drving again will make it drop back to the outside air temp.
Ive found it to be pretty acurate (based on temps given over the radio) once Ive been driving 5 minutes. Youll notice it will drop quickly in that time.
I will be interested to see what effect the ambient warmth in the road has on it in summer... down here in melbourne that hasnt been an issue yet!!
I remember hiring a barina in QLD one summer a few years ago, and the sensor was quite near the road, so the readings always seemed higher... zoomer can u confirm?
jeffyg, mine is still on order so can't say with any certainty if it will read warmer near the road. I will let you know when it's installed and tested. I wondered if the air flow over the sensor would give true readings so close to the engine heat but you have clarified that it will be ok. Thanks for that. Now like you steve-o, I have to take an engineering course at the local TAFE before I can confidently carry out what appears to be quite a tricky installation. Hope my arm is long enough! :chuckles:
I'm glad we are starting to see some movement in Australia with this, becuase it was lonley that myself, jeffg and a few other guys from the original post helping out other people with this quick little mod for the cars.
Just be lucky that you are not in America becuase they need to purchase the whole wiring loom to get theres to even work at an expense of $1400 AUD - if it would even make it work.
Just give credit to the people that have worked to figure this out for the benfit of other people.
I got in trouble for doing the ambient temperature sensor mod The gf saw the reciept in the car and asked what it was for.
Steve-o: "It's a sensor that shows how cold it is outside on the dash"
gf: "$50 buck for that, you must be crazy"
Steve-o: "It's a cheap modification"
gf: "So you know how cold it was while I was waiting for you to pick me up"
Steve-o: "Yep, it was 18 degrees"
gf: "You can tell me how cold it is on the couch tonight then you smart arse"
Steve-o: "I'll take you home then shall I"
Mind you I was 10 minutes late picking her up. Mistress MZ3 gets me in up to my nuts in it once again.
:lol: I'll end up single soon at the rate I'm going. I think Mistress MZ3 and I will just make a go of it together. Do you think there are laws about blokes marrying their cars?
jeffyg : you said you ordered the parts at Penfold, where did you go to get the part? I know there is one section to get your car serviced and another big building which is their holding yard.
17 days on order and it arrived today. Not bad for the last outpost of North Queensland! Stepped out of the spare parts section of the dealer and installed it in my 3 there and then. You have to squeeze the sensor in quite hard (but gently.....bit like a girl), before you hear and feel it click home so that it does not fall out of the plug.
On the drive home the reading (which by the way came on immediately I fired up the ignition), started out at 31C and quickly dropped to 28C where it stabilised. On getting home I checked the local weather web site and the official reading was 25.5C but that was from one of those metreological temperature slatted white box thingies out at the airport.
By the way the sensor cost $60.85. I guess that's because it was not a stock item and had to be ordered from down south.
I'm happy. Thanks everyone for the idea and the advice regarding installation. Next mod anyone??????????????????????
Zoomer, should have called melbourne and paid by credit card over the phone... I would have picked it up for you and put it in an express post bag and you would have had it the next day!!
Thanks jeffyg. That's very kind of you. Next time. Good vibes on the Oz forum!
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