Ambient Air Temp Sensor Relocation

[The Governor]

2010, RTS-SM5. The ambient temp sensor primarily supplies important variable information to the ECM for air/fuel ratio mixture, and shows the rider (roughly) the outside air temperature, I felt it has been poorly located from the factory. For those that don't know where it lives, it is located out of any airflow on the right side of the frunk inboard of the right fog light assembly. It is held in place by one bolt, 10mm.
I removed the sensor, unplugged it, and decided to mount it directly above my new air cleaner (THANKS JT!) I installed the new air ducting mod last year to resolve the cooling issues, and thus creating massive amounts of cooling air to now flow into and thru the engine compartment. I will certainly update this post with any and all results from my new mod....
One observation prior to this mod- the static air temp at startup was typically incorrect, and now in a position of high airflow, I'm interested to see how quickly it will correct itself...

Gov

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

TEMP SENSOR

I had an issue with the Sensor also........But basically you took the Sensor from where there was NO engine heat to where there is a LOT of Heat.................and you think this is better because you have some better AIR DUCTS..................might work........BUT DON"T STOP :lecturef_smilie: :gaah:......:banghead:.......because those AIR ducts ( if not using forced air from a FAN ) won't do you much good .......just a thought , Mike :bbq:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

2010, RTS-SM5. The ambient temp sensor primarily supplies important variable information to the ECM for air/fuel ratio mixture, and shows the rider (roughly) the outside air temperature, I felt it has been poorly located from the factory. For those that don't know where it lives, it is located out of any airflow on the right side of the frunk inboard of the right fog light assembly. It is held in place by one bolt, 10mm.
I removed the sensor, unplugged it, and decided to mount it directly above my new air cleaner (THANKS JT!) I installed the new air ducting mod last year to resolve the cooling issues, and thus creating massive amounts of cooling air to now flow into and thru the engine compartment. I will certainly update this post with any and all results from my new mod....
One observation prior to this mod- the static air temp at startup was typically incorrect, and now in a position of high airflow, I'm interested to see how quickly it will correct itself...

Gov

It's actually an Ambient Air Pressure and Temperature Sensor. The temperature part will most likely be OK in the new location, but the pressure part of its operation may be affected. I don't know how critical the pressure reading is for the ECM control but I'm sure the reason it's located above the air duct is to avoid false pressure readings caused by air ram pressure. Moving air doesn't give the same pressure reading as does still air.

Let us know how it works out in its new location.

 

[The Governor]

I had an issue with the Sensor also........But basically you took the Sensor from where there was NO engine heat to where there is a LOT of Heat.................and you think this is better because you have some better AIR DUCTS..................might work........BUT DON"T STOP :lecturef_smilie: :gaah:......:banghead:.......because those AIR ducts ( if not using forced air from a FAN ) won't do you much good .......just a thought , Mike :bbq:

My goal is to accurately represent the temperature of air actually entering the motor, not keep the sensor cooler. Since I installed the air ducts, I can no longer cook eggs in the console... The airflow is fantastic, even at 10 mph. The location change will now provide much better info to the ECM.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

ECM & AIR TEMP SENSOR

My goal is to accurately represent the temperature of air actually entering the motor, not keep the sensor cooler. Since I installed the air ducts, I can no longer cook eggs in the console... The airflow is fantastic, even at 10 mph. The location change will now provide much better info to the ECM.

In my question to you about this ....I stated STOPPED, not 10 MPH ....there's a HUGH difference............... But I'd like you to think of this scenario .......before you moved the SENSOR the reading might have been 90 * on a day when the AIR was 85*......But now the sensor is directly over that " 998 " motor ( which is known to run very HOT ) and the sensor may be telling the ECU that the AIR temp is now 185* ( and I have checked this with a thermal heat gun )...........maybe it will have zero effect.....but if so, why did BRP connect the Air Sensor to the ECU in the first place ...................good luck........Mike :bbq:

 

[The Governor]

In my question to you about this ....I stated STOPPED, not 10 MPH ....there's a HUGH difference............... But I'd like you to think of this scenario .......before you moved the SENSOR the reading might have been 90 * on a day when the AIR was 85*......But now the sensor is directly over that " 998 " motor ( which is known to run very HOT ) and the sensor may be telling the ECU that the AIR temp is now 185* ( and I have checked this with a thermal heat gun )...........maybe it will have zero effect.....but if so, why did BRP connect the Air Sensor to the ECU in the first place ...................good luck........Mike :bbq:

Exactly my point. If the air above the motor is 185* then the air entering the throttle body with the new open air filter setup will be 185*. The sensor is now located where it can represent the temperature of the air entering the motor. When it was located by the frunk, Texas heat, at times, was reflecting 114* for example, even at highway speeds. Like a hot car with the windows up. I simply rolled the windows down.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

ECM & AIR TEMP SENSOR

Exactly my point. If the air above the motor is 185* then the air entering the throttle body with the new open air filter setup will be 185*. The sensor is now located where it can represent the temperature of the air entering the motor. When it was located by the frunk, Texas heat, at times, was reflecting 114* for example, even at highway speeds. Like a hot car with the windows up. I simply rolled the windows down.

Well your explanation makes sense.....if the engine is getting 185* degree air, than the ECU should know this and adjust accordingly................MY GS and RSS had tubing attached to the air scoops to get cooler air to the Throttle bodies, I probably should have moved the air sensor to reflect that :banghead: ..............Mike :bbq:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Exactly my point. If the air above the motor is 185* then the air entering the throttle body with the new open air filter setup will be 185*. The sensor is now located where it can represent the temperature of the air entering the motor. When it was located by the frunk, Texas heat, at times, was reflecting 114* for example, even at highway speeds. Like a hot car with the windows up. I simply rolled the windows down.

The only problem is if sensor reads 120+ the ECM throws error codes.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

 

[DrewNJ]

Any concerns with heat soak having it mounted to an aluminum plate on top of the motor? I agree with Mike, stop/go traffic or long periods of sitting would be the areas to watch.

Might be worth getting some true temp readings under there and compare them to the temp readings of the stock location away from the motor. Its typically going to be warmer closer to the motor. This is the reason I'm still not into those types of intakes. That design died in the 70's for a reason.

Good luck though, interested in seeing what your thoughts are as you get a chance to test it all out.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Denman]

I think that :agree: with Mike and Doug...
The AAPT was designed to work in still air. I'd be concerned with the affect that your location has on the pressure readings... :dontknow:

 

[The Governor]

I think that :agree: with Mike and Doug...
The AAPT was designed to work in still air. I'd be concerned with the affect that your location has on the pressure readings... :dontknow:

It's not a confined space. I would agree pressure readings would be affected if I were mechanically compressing the air, such as a turbo, or supercharger. There are multiple locations for airflow to enter and escape the engine compartment, therefore a differential pressure will be null. This location will reflect actual air temp going into the motor. If I'm wrong, I prefer wing sauce on my crow....lol....more to come after riding. All of my parts are due back from powdercoat today!

 

[Bob Denman]

BRP planned on having that sensor still in still air...
Putting it up that close to the induction pieces?? :dontknow::dontknow::dontknow:

Keep an eye on things, and I hope that it all works the way that you got it planned. :thumbup:

 

[Highwayman2013]

See how it goes. Will it make the A/F richer or leaner? I know most temp sensors are moved to cooler locations to richen up the A/F mixture. Keep us posted.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

HIGH TEMP = ERROR CODES

The only problem is if sensor reads 120+ the ECM throws error codes.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

Now this bit of info is interesting........Not something I was aware of :dontknow: :banghead:..................Mike :thumbup:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Now this bit of info is interesting........Not something I was aware of :dontknow: :banghead:..................Mike :thumbup:

Parked in 105 degree sun it gets over 120 under the tupperware!

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Denman]

I've heard of this happening. Thanks for letting us know that it's based in fact! :thumbup:

 

[Chupaca]

Interesting. ...

Lots of views on the effects and side effects. I left it right where it was but added a turbo fan with direct flow to the air filter with no change at all...:thumbup:

wish I knew how to flip the picture but the other side cool the rear cylinder ....

 

[ARtraveler]

Interesting subject. Not mechanical, but I will come back and see what you folks figure out as the thread progresses. :thumbup:

 

[spyderCodes]

So you feel that because the ambient air temp as shown on your display is incorrect therefore the ECM must be getting bad information.

All you have to do is put it in a different place and you probably have solved most of the engineering problems that BRP is working on.


The fact is that I imagine BRP is really sorry they placed the display on the dash in the first place.

The AAPT or AATP (I can't remember which it is) doesn't have to be accurate and agree with the Bank Temperature point of view.
You all do remember the time & temp on digital Bank signs ... right? OK I'm old. I remember walking up to the bank at midnight just to see if it really said -10.
But I digress.

It has to be repeatable, not accurate.

There is a difference.
And the curve that was used to calibrate the ECMs of all Spyders was based on the data received from the sensor where it was installed on the production Spyders, not where you could move it to get it to read 70 degrees when your bank said it was 70.

Or 17 if you happen to believe in the Celsius Church doctrine.

 

[Bob Denman]

That sounds about like what Roger said about two year's ago... :agree: