Hi guys, the climate control in my TJ2 VRX reckons it's always 20 degrees outside. It's winter in Melbourne so I'm pretty sure it's mistaken. The dealer I bought from tells me a new sensor is approx $140. Is this a common fault and am I likely to find a sutable part secondhand?

You can get the sensor for cheap from a wrecker. I would start by giving it a good clean up and making sure that it is properly mounted.

You can get the sensor for cheap from a wrecker. I would start by giving it a good clean up and making sure that it is properly mounted.

Am I correct the sensor will be under the front bumper somewhere?

If its in the same location as the TL/KL ones (I am sure it is) then it will be behind the front bar, but near to airflow.
In KL, it is on the front facing side, of the car - attached to the Radiator support panel - Passengers side, just next to the Passengers side Headlight.

Quite easy to get at - in TJ, just pull the grille out and bobs your uncle :)

You can see sensor here on the right of cooler under the light. It's the brown thing. Not sure if you can get to it without removing the bar. 2002 VRX.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4035/4602303307_b76dc4b943_z.jpg

Much appreciated guys.

also ensure that the problem isn't in the wiring, as an open circuit (or sensor not plugged in) will cause outside temp to display 20 degrees all the time. How I know - did climate control conversion, haven't wired my outside temp sensor up yet :P.

You can see sensor here on the right of cooler under the light. It's the brown thing. Not sure if you can get to it without removing the bar. 2002 VRX.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4035/4602303307_b76dc4b943_z.jpg

Just an excuse to rub it in that its turbod and show off his small Johnson, sorry i mean huge cooler hahaha ;)

I'm agree with Ben on this. You might want to ensure that the circuit is not open somewhere. The best way would be to put a multimeter against the positive or negative wire on the sensor (sensor has two yellow wires from memory - black & yellow = negative and yellow = positive) and then clench/blow on the sensor to see if the voltage changes.

If you need a working sensor then I've got one lying around I dont need because I've got a TL centre console instead

Thanks for the tips. Just to confuse things, on a few very wet days lately the climate control unit has beeped to alert me the exterior temp is 0 deg. The outside temp reading has then continued to drop down as far as -30 deg. Seems to go back to its usual 20 deg again after the car has been parked for a while.