Climate control temp sensor

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Apparently, I was too cocky and the gods of climate control have struck me down. After functioning flawlessly last night and today, the sensor/system has flipped to the opposite pole and now behaves like the OP. Ambient air at low/mid fan speed at all settings below max heat, then FULL HEAT and FULL Fan at the feet. Cleaned the sensor with IPA, zip-tied the hose to the housing so it wouldn't come loose, but still nothing. Do I need to pony up for a new sensor?
 
I would love to know if you replace your sensor and this fixes the issue. I hate my climate control. It doesn't work right and we're never comfortable. My Toyota Camry with manual control was better than this.
 
Muddy Bean said:
I would love to know if you replace your sensor and this fixes the issue. I hate my climate control. It doesn't work right and we're never comfortable. My Toyota Camry with manual control was better than this.
Click to expand...

Muddy-
I was just signing in to say that the problem seems to have resolved itself again (magically). After I went back to cleaning the sensor with IPA and zip-tieing the hose securely, the next morning it started working perfectly again and seems to be fine. Though I guess I wouldn't be surprised if it got wonky again. It is frustrating to not have it work, but I will say that when it DOES work, it is quite good at managing fan speed, location of airflow etc.

I don't remember if you have checked this, but my foot area vents were partially blocked by the carpeting. The DS was easily tucked under the vent, but the PS required that I put a bolt through the carpet near below the vent (there was an existing threaded hole). Carpet is now secured against the console below the vent and airflow is much better. This *may* impact how well the temp sensor reads. Good luck!
 
Ok. Well, I'm needing to resolve this at some
Point. My carpet is tacked down proper, vents aren't blocked. Sensor is cleaned and corrugated hose is attached properly. So I might have to pony up for a new sensor
 
Sounds like a logical next step. Good luck!
 
Gentlemen, any updates on this thread? I just bought a 2005 LX and am having the issue where it blows warm unless in Max Cold.
 
I'm having the same problem. About to check the climate sensor and then the actuator that opens and closes the ducts. Will report back
 
My issue turned out to be with wiring. My led footwell light had never worked since I bought it and while working under the dash I realized the connectors are the same size and shape but are different colors. (white goes to the light and black goes to your temp sensor) My records show some steering column work was done at some point - tech must have mixed them up. If your light isn't working as well this may be your fix.

Also, while troubleshooting mine I used the outside temp sensor behind the front bumper to cross reference ohm readings between the two. After cleaning the sensor with alcohol and a q tip (gently), try testing both at room temp then in the fridge, infront of a heater, etc. They should read very close.
 
I had the exact same issue as OG100 with my 2006 LX. There was a steering column recall a few years ago - and during the fix, the dealer mixed up the temperature sensor with the footwell light connectors. (Apparently they are identical, and easy to do.) It tool the dealer about 2 hours to figure it out.
 
Bringing this thread back up in case anyone else is having the issue, I noticed I had about 3 temp settings, really hot, mildly warm or cold, I found the sensor to be caked with dust and the tube disconnected. I can't wait to see how this helps. To access the sensor, pull look the trim above the steering wheels, be careful with the wiring on the dimmer switch, then pull loose the lower trim from the top down, the sensor should have the wiring and tube connected.
 
Same problem in my '99 100 Series. I didn't find this post until today, but described my similar symptoms in detail on a separate post:

Temperature Control Issue - Too Hot or Too Cold

I'm seeing a lot of posts about the "sensor" possibly being the problem, but as someone has already posted on this thread, isn't the sensor only for "auto" settings? (Correct me if I'm wrong). Yes, while on "auto", the temp and fan speed do go to the extreme (I don't even bother using auto). My (and what sounds like the OP's) issue has to do with the "manual" controls. To be clear, fan speed works fine on all settings. It's the "temp" knob that is haywire. My '99 doesn't use numbers on the dials for degrees, but rather, tiny dots -- 7 or so. On the lowest (coldest) dot, the temp is cold (without A/C). Move the dial up one dot, and it's super hot within 60 seconds. Good thing the rig doesn't have manual transmission, because my right hand is permanently on the temp dial on long drives!

Some responses to my post indicated it could be either the sensor (as discussed here) or else the blend door. I researched blend door issues generally but most suffering with blend door issues also heard a "clicking" sound. I don't have a clicking sound. But that's not to say it is still not a blend door issue.

Anyway, thought I would add my 99 problems to this issue. If someone has figured out a solution - ANY SOLUTION! - please post. It's crazy to think that climate control issues can cause so much uncomfort...
 
Will someone post a photo of the footwell light they are referring to? I cleaned my temp sensor tonight and I'm 90% sure it had a white connector. My floorboard light has never worked on the driver's side. Also, in the event this is not a mixed connector issue can someone confirm the part number is 88625-32171?
 
I can confirm my connectors appear to be flipped. When I moved white to white and black to black the floorboard light came on. I will have to see if the heat is fixed on my way home.
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Just did this little fix over the weekend and thought this bit of info might be useful for anyone that might want to give it a try. The black piece of plastic (with the light dimmer, right below the instrument panel, see picture) wheel pops right off. You just gently pull up and away from the instrument panel. That gives you a good sightline on the corrugated plastic tube with the temperature/climate control sensor. If the sensor is off, then the plastic trim that houses the ignition (in the photo in the post above) also pops out to give you access to the tube.

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No screws, no tools, all plastic. Mine had moved so far away from where it clips to the trim that I have no clue how long it has been like that.

Also, check your rugs in the footwells if you're not getting heat because my floor vents were covered on both driver and passenger sides.
 
So I seem to be missing that white corrugated hose… Where does it connect to from the sensor by right knee? Behind the hvac controls?
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