2011 Malibu temperature reading

[Johnny R]

This is not a problem; I'm just curious. This winter the temperature (outside ambient temperature) display in the instrument cluster sometimes does not move from the temperature displayed when the car is first started in my heated garage. Sure seems odd, because it is colder outside than in the garage.

[Tech II]

I believe that is normal.....think of it as a buffer in the circuit......the temp display doesn't change immediately....if it did, it could become a distraction....

So it displays the temp is the garage on startup, and will remain there for a set amount of time....then the temp will change to actual temp once that set period of time has passed.....can't remember what that period of time is, could be 5-10 minutes, I think....

[brcidd]

OATs Outside Ambient Temperature readings don't update without seeing mile per hour--in other words the car has to be moving- otherwise everytime you pulled up behind a city bus, your temp would say 130 deg and your a/c would go to full cold...

You see this all the time when you replace a faulty sensor- it will read -40degf until the car is driven.........