Climate Control Sensors

[101RRS]

Does anyone know where the climate control sensors are and what they actually measure.

The reason I ask is that I have fitted a temp gauge to may dash (why didn't LR have an internal temp display as well as an external display) and the temp selected on the Climate Control certainly does not seem to have any relevance to the actual temp inside the cabin.

I have noticed that outside temp may be 10 degrees but cabin temp having been parked in the sun for a little while is 25, climate control set at 18 and the climate control system is still pouring in hot air (even when on recirc) - clearly the climate control system is heavily biased by the outside temp and not the cabin temp which doesn't seem logical.

Any thoughts.

Garry

[BobD]

Good question, Garry. It is annoying that when it is cold outside and warm inside it is hard to get the car to cool rather than heat (or at least not heat) unless you use the controls manually. Other than that it works fine.

Bob

[discojools]

I'm pretty sure the sensor is behind the left hand rear seat in the wing behind the upholstery. I think I found it once in my RRS when I was trying to trace an annoying buzz. Also there is a sensor in the middle of the top of the dash which I think detects sunlight and compensates accordingly.
It is annoying when starting the car for the first time if the weather is hot that it seems to churn out hot air for a while even though it might be 10 degrees hotter outside. My D3, D4, RRS and wife's Freelander all do it unless you manually change the setting to less than 17 until it settles down. Haven't found this in other makes.

[nat_89]

I'm pretty sure it's that little grill on the left side of the steering wheel near the start button I think there is a little square grill that's like half inch by half inch and it's got slats across is somewhere I read in a previous car that was it's climate sensor not sure about the Discos or sports but my D4 has one there

[SBD4]

I'm pretty sure it's that little grill on the left side of the steering wheel near the start button I think there is a little square grill that's like half inch by half inch and it's got slats across is somewhere I read in a previous car that was it's climate sensor not sure about the Discos or sports but my D4 has one there

I agree with you nat.

[sniegy]

Hi Garry,
The Internal Temp sensor as Nat has said is in behind the little grill on the Dash.
From memory L/H/S of Steering Wheel.

The External Temp sensor is located behind the front bumper, remove grille & feel around underneath & you should be able to find it. I know you can find it on the D3/4 but think it is in the same position.

Cheers

[phl]

Sniegy,

How does the multi-zone climate control work? Are there three separate sensors?

[101RRS]

Hi Garry,
The Internal Temp sensor as Nat has said is in behind the little grill on the Dash.
From memory L/H/S of Steering Wheel.

I can only assume that as hot air does come inside when there is a large mismatch between outside and inside temps and outside temps are low that the computer that controls internal temp also takes input from the outside sensor as well as the light sensor on top of the dash. I actually have my thermometer near that sensor. This morning inside temp was 27, outside was 13 and climate control set on 19 and warm air was coming through for about 20 minutes before the climate control started reducing the internal temp.

I guess it is another one of those weird software programming issues on these cars.


Sniegy,

How does the multi-zone climate control work? Are there three separate sensors?

Yes - surely there is another sensor on the passenger side that allows that side climate control separately to the drivers - however in my experience the two systems are not really independent - even within allowed 7 degree difference.

Cheers

Garry

[CaverD3]

There is also the sun load sensor next to the speaker grill on top of the dash.
There was a TSB on early models to put a foam sock over the internal temp sensor.

[101RRS]

There is also the sun load sensor next to the speaker grill on top of the dash.

Yes that makes the air a degree or two colder when the sun is out and a degree or two warmer when the sun in not out - based on human physiology that it likes to feel a little cooler when in sunlight and warmer when it is cold. Heats though even though there is full sunlight.

Same with my aircon at home - in summer it would be great set at 19 but in winter I love it at 23 yet the season shouldn't matter - 20 should be fine all year around.

Garry