Trying to debug some problems with my church's van, and I'm getting the code for an Ambient Air Temp Sensor. I've looked around and on other Dodges some people have said it's in the front grill area or between the headlight and radiator, but I pulled a bunch of things apart and I can't find the sucker. Is it enclosed in something or located somewhere else on this particular vehicle?

Also, in replacing the O2 Sensors I noticed they had a square plug like an '02 instead of the '01 that the VIN number describes it as... is this a common thing? Sadly I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to Dodges...

Any help would be very much appreciated!

 

My van is 12 years older than yours, but when I was getting the Battery temp sensor code, which must be the same thing as ambient air temp sensor code, the computer itself was beginning a months long process of dying.

There is no battery temp sensor on mine, but there is a duct on mine which splits off from the engine air intake that bathes the ECM itself in Ambient air temps.

Sorry this doesn't really answer your question.

 

Ambient or Intake Air Temp Sensor? What is the code number? If the Intake temp sensor that is on the right side of intake plenum and right behind the alternator. Here is a pic of where to look. It is in the center of the pic with the plug disconnected.

 

I actually did get a battery temp sensor code, replaced that already (even after reading the description I still can't imagine WHY you really need that sensor, but that's just me) and then I got both that code AND the Ambient Air Temp sensor code. A friend and I figured maybe with one out of whack the other was being off too.

Where is the ECM? Is that the box just above the engine by the top of the hood or is it the one under the battery?

 

I actually did get a battery temp sensor code, replaced that already (even after reading the description I still can't imagine WHY you really need that sensor, but that's just me) and then I got both that code AND the Ambient Air Temp sensor code. A friend and I figured maybe with one out of whack the other was being off too.

Where is the ECM? Is that the box just above the engine by the top of the hood or is it the one under the battery?

 

ECM is over the engine on the firewall just below the center of the hood.

 

Nope, it's definitely the ambient air temp sensor. It made me scratch my head too. I don't have the code handy, I borrowed a friend's friend's OBDII scanner, but it read out on the scanner ambient air temp. sensor.

PS Sorry for the double post before.

 

Hopefully Alloro will have the answer you need. He should be here checking the forum later.

 

Battery temp sensors are good because batteries need higher voltages at lower temperatures and vice versa to reach full charge. I wish my solar charge controller had one.
But it is one more thing that could fail and if it tells the pcm's internal voltage regulator the battery is very cold, when in fact it is very warm, it can severely overcharge the battery. Introduce a spark to a severely overcharging battery, and you have a bomb.

I didn't know vehicles actually used them, I thought they assumed the battery was the same temp as the PCM. Learn something new every day.

 

The battery temperature sensor (BTS) is mounted in the battery tray under the battery. It's purpose is to alter the battery charging rate based on temperature.

The intake air temperature sensor (IAT) is what's mounted in the intake behind the alternator as shown in MAR's picture in post #3 above. It is not the same as the ambient air temperature sensor (AaT).

Just use the O2 sensor for a 2002, they probably changed the sensor halfway through the model year.

Now to answer your main question, the AaT and it's mounting bracket are held on with a screw to the upper radiator support on the driver side of the hood latch and behind the radiator grill. Keep in mind that this AaT is for the climate control and has nothing to do with engine operation or management.