Where is the Ambient Temperature Sensor located?

Tiny
CRAIG M
  • MEMBER
  • 2019 NISSAN KICKS
  • 1.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,000 MILES
My stepdaughter had a small collision with a small animal that affected her air conditioner. The body shop fixed the front-end damage, but the A/C only works part time. I noticed the ambient air temperature sensor was reading 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the actual temperature. I looked underneath the car and saw the temperature sensor hanging in over the bumper guard. The sensor was attached to a broken piece of plastic. I’m trying to find out where the sensor was originally attached.
Friday, July 4th, 2025 AT 9:16 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,893 POSTS
It should go into a pair of holes in the support behind the bumper up near the A/C core. The image doesn't show it really well but the tabs squeeze in and you can remove it from the broken plastic. Then put it into the correct spot. Ideally it is there so it is in "dead" air so it can get a true reading. If it hangs loose out in the air going under the car it will read incorrect.
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Saturday, July 5th, 2025 AT 8:04 AM
Tiny
CRAIG M
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Thank you very much. I’ll have to look to see if the attachment piece was replaced.
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Saturday, July 5th, 2025 AT 8:24 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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STEVE W. Is one of our best! Please let us know what you find ;)
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Monday, July 7th, 2025 AT 10:00 AM
Tiny
CRAIG M
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  • 9 POSTS
I found out the price it was attached was broken and not replaced. I replaced the part and was able to get the ambient air sensor replaced. However, that was not the real issue. The ac will sometime work for anywhere between 10 minutes to 2 hrs and then the fan quits blowing.
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Thursday, July 24th, 2025 AT 11:34 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,893 POSTS
OK could you ask that as a different question IE AC works for a while then stops, we try to keep individual issues apart so that someone searching later doesn't get lead astray. You can use the same info to log in. Thank you
https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new
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Thursday, July 24th, 2025 AT 1:39 PM
Tiny
CRAIG M
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  • 9 POSTS
The evaporator is freezing up. Trash got past the cabin filter and it’s causing it to freeze.
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Thursday, August 7th, 2025 AT 12:59 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
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Other than taking the HVAC case apart to get to the core you might try using a vacuum in through the cabin filter or through the blower motor opening. The blower is easy to access, remove the glove box, reach in and release the tab on the blower motor, turn it counter clockwise and it will release and you can remove it. Should give some access to go in and clean out the case.
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Thursday, August 7th, 2025 AT 2:44 PM

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