Battery box sensor

I have a 99 neon, and inside of the battery box is a little black sensor with 2 wires going to it. Does any anyone know what this is for? I think its a temperature control sensor for the battrery, but Im not sure. But mine is broke off and the battery light is on. I also have a code 37, any ideas what this is?
Thanks,
Dom

It's the battery temp sensor.

The code 37 can be:

*An open or shorted condition detected in the torque converter solenoid control circuit.

*No torque converter clutch engagement. No RPM drop at lockup.

*Incorrect state detected for the Park/Neutral switch.

Get it scanned to get the P code and work on it from there.

Thanks, I just had the rear main seal replaced and it sounds like they may have scewed somthing up when they removed the trany.

I have a 99 neon, and inside of the battery box is a little black sensor with 2 wires going to it. Does any anyone know what this is for? I think its a temperature control sensor for the battrery, but Im not sure. But mine is broke off and the battery light is on. I also have a code 37, any ideas what this is?
Thanks,
Dom

Funny, I was paging through my shop manual this evening, and came accross the page describing that very sensor. The manual says it should have 9K ohms across it at room tempreture. also says the PCM uses the tempreture from this sensor to adjust the charging voltage. From the picture, it doesn't look that hard to replace. I am sure it is a standard Thermistor, and can't cost that much.

If you just want to get rid of the battery light and the trouble code, just connect a 9.1 kilo-ohm resister across the two wires (available at radio shaft for 99 cents). Doing this, You run the risk of under charging if it is really cold, and over charging if it gets really hot. Still, you can get away with it for a couple of months until you get the thermistor.

I had the same problem on my '95.I plugged it in after an engine swap and the battery light went out.