# Where is my thermometer?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-is-my-thermometer/19323>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [September 9, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-is-my-thermometer/19323 "2008-09-09T02:19:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JackMcCullough](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9f8e36/32.png) [@JackMcCullough](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JackMcCullough)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-is-my-thermometer/19323/1 "2008-09-09T02:19:13Z")

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I have a 1997 SAAB 9000 with a dashboard display of the outside temperature. The problem is, I often doubt the temperature that it shows. Where is the senser? I suspect that it must be down by the pavement, which would explain why it shows well over 100 on days that are not especially hot.  
  
  
  
 TIA

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**Author:** ![Ron-man](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ron-man/32/739_2.png) [@Ron-man](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ron-man)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-is-my-thermometer/19323/2 "2008-09-09T03:05:39Z")

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If it is supposed to give you the surface temperature, it is probably on the inside of the front bumper.

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**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-is-my-thermometer/19323/3 "2008-09-09T04:28:27Z")

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There is also a chance that you can live without a thermometer. Maybe get a stick on one for the outside rear view mirror. Some cars used to have them.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 10:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-is-my-thermometer/19323/4 "2008-09-09T10:57:39Z")

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Likely yes. That is where you want it. The most important function of that thermometer is to let you know it is getting near 32?F 0?C at the pavement.

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**Author:** ![thecarguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@thecarguy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thecarguy)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 11:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-is-my-thermometer/19323/5 "2008-09-09T11:16:06Z")

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its usually in the front grill

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**Author:** ![Manolito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/manolito/32/3070_2.png) [@Manolito](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Manolito)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-is-my-thermometer/19323/6 "2008-09-10T05:35:26Z")

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Normally somewhere in the front grill area, but out of direct sunlight and out of line-of sight with the radiator and the ground (both of which radiate IR). If you have air tunnels that direct a stream of air from the below the front bumper directly onto the front brakes, or a tube that feeds air from the top of the grill directly to the alternator, you might find the temperature sensor in one of those tunnels.