# Why does my outside temperature display flash at 37/38 degrees?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-outside-temperature-display-flash-at-37-38-degrees/42481>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** overheating, ford, f150\
**Created:** [January 13, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-outside-temperature-display-flash-at-37-38-degrees/42481 "2010-01-13T19:14:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cindygross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/48db29/32.png) [@cindygross](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cindygross)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-outside-temperature-display-flash-at-37-38-degrees/42481/1 "2010-01-13T19:14:19Z")

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When the outside temperature drops below 38 degrees the temperature display flashes between ice and 37 or 38. I know others who also see flashing temperature displays and have no idea why it flashes or what it means. What is the point of this? What is so special about this temperature range?

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-outside-temperature-display-flash-at-37-38-degrees/42481/2 "2010-01-13T19:21:38Z")

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It’s just to warn you that you may encounter ice on the road.

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**Author:** ![bennyandthejets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@bennyandthejets](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bennyandthejets)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-outside-temperature-display-flash-at-37-38-degrees/42481/3 "2010-01-13T19:25:31Z")

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When the temperature drops below 38 degrees F, the temp reading flashes “ICE” to warn you that ice could be forming on bridges. It only flashes ICE for about a minute after you start the vehicle or when the temperature drops to 38 or below.

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-outside-temperature-display-flash-at-37-38-degrees/42481/4 "2010-01-13T19:43:38Z")

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You’re seriously asking why your display says “ice” when the temperature is approaching the freezing point of water?

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-outside-temperature-display-flash-at-37-38-degrees/42481/5 "2010-01-13T21:27:22Z")

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Air temp is NOT the same as ground temp. Air temp could be 36…but ground temp could be below freezing…especially on bridges.

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-outside-temperature-display-flash-at-37-38-degrees/42481/6 "2010-01-13T22:32:31Z")

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Black tape…

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**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-does-my-outside-temperature-display-flash-at-37-38-degrees/42481/7 "2010-01-13T22:36:32Z")

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I bet your owner’s manual has the answer. Maybe you should read it cover to cover. You might learn all kinds of important things about your truck.