Most of the time, we don’t think twice about bonking our side mirrors. Sure, most of them have power folding mechanisms built in, but they’re still built to withstand some level of abuse. But with the next-generation Everest, you may want to take extra precaution.
According to Ford, there’s actually tiny little sensor tucked away beneath the side mirror of some Everest and Ranger variants (those equipped with automatic climate control primarily).
This little piece of equipment is called the Outside Air Temperature (OAT) sensor, and it turns out, is one of the most important sensors on the next-generation Everest and Ranger.
Per Sandy Fragapane, Ford’s Climate Control Attribute supervisor for ICE Propulsion and Thermal Systems:
“Without the information gathered by the temperature sensor, features like the front and rear parking sensors and the air-conditioning system wouldn’t function properly. It really is that critical.
According to Ford, the placement of the temperature sensor is vital to its proper operation. In this case, the sensor is hidden underneath one of the side wing mirrors on the stalk connecting it to the body of the vehicle.
Now, placing it in a location that may make it susceptible to damage may seem counterintuitive, but again, Fragapane has an answer to that:
“Placing the temperature sensor beneath the side mirror means it’s away from hot engine parts, and out of direct sunlight and rain which can all skew the accurate measurement of the ambient temperature affecting the features that rely on it.”
The temperature sensor is designed to adjust its electrical output based on the ambient temperature. This sensor is connected directly to the vehicle’s powertrain control module (PCM), allowing it to feed its data to the systems that are reliant on an accurate reading of the ambient temperature for proper operation.
So where is the OAT sensor used on the Ranger and Everest? Well, it makes sure two vital systems: the parking/clearance sensors and the automatic climate control work as intended.
Because the speed that sound travels in air varies based on the ambient temperature (faster when it’s warm and slower when it’s cold), the temperature sensor works with the parking system to calculate the real-time distance to an object. The “ping” travel time from your parking sensors can be accurately measured, in the hot or cold, so that your vehicle always knows exactly how far away it is from an object when you’re parking.
“The ultrasonic parking sensors emit a sound wave which can’t be detected by the human ear,” Fragapane said. “The amount of time it takes for that sound wave to hit the object in front of or behind the vehicle and then back to the sensor is used to calculate the distance between the object and the vehicle; the temperature sensor tells the system how hot or cold it is so the distance can be calculated in real time.”
And when you select auto mode on your vehicle’s climate control system, the fan automatically adjusts cooling or warming the cabin to match the pre-set temperature. Knowing what the temperature is outside helps the system determine how much heating or cooling is required to achieve the desired temperature inside the cabin using the least amount of energy.
“Sure, the outside air temperature sensor tells the driver what the ambient temperature is, but the way the vehicle uses this information goes way beyond that,” Fragapane concluded.
Scary tech. Best is to just keep things simple as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteThey could have just integrated these sensors on a shark's fin antenna but no, they just have to put it in a dangerous location.
ReplyDeleteNice try.
Nagmarunong. Its easy to say where you would like to place it.
DeleteHe's actually right though. Ford is the exception when it comes to the placement of these sensors. Other manufacturers do not have this kind of concerns.
DeleteNasa ilalim ba ng flooring yung shark's fin antenna ng kotse mo?
DeleteFord fanboy/Xi Jinping taxpayer/Genshin Impact player spotted lmao... Enjoy your Yusheng.
DeleteI don't agree with Ford's decision on where to place the sensor but the article clearly has the reasons why:
Delete"direct sunlight and rain which can all skew the accurate measurement of the ambient temperature"
Shark fin antenna is under direct sunlight and rain, no?
More tech, more complication
ReplyDeletethat is what noobs fail to understand. they want as much tech as possible in their cars. akala nila di masisira
DeleteYou are a first time owner and you dare call them "noobs'? Parehas lang naman kayo lol
Delete^
DeleteThe typical noob response...
Stop treating your car like a gadget.
If EVs take over from ICE vehicles, your car will be a gadget and it will be serviced by electricians, instead of mechanics.
DeleteIts easy to criticize. But as a huge company they thought of that before releasing to the mass market. You have to understand they need to consider, cost, effectiveness etc.. Not just a simple placement.
ReplyDeleteGood reason for recall.
ReplyDelete