Really dumb problem with aftermarket side mirrors

[kurek]

I'm just posting this in case it helps anyone, I replaced my driver side manual mirror a few months ago because the OEM one broke inside in a way that couldn't exactly be fixed with epoxy. Just bought a $69 aftermarket mirror assembly and it has the outside temperature sensor built into it.

Now whenever it's hot and sunny (like 100F+ and parked in the sun) if I start up the truck I get a check engine light and P0073 code (ambient air temp high). This doesn't have any engine consequences because there's a separate air intake temperature sensor for that but I think if I had a more premium truck with automatic climate control it would affect how well the A/C works in the cab.

Previously I had the OEM mirror and lived in Arizona where it got a whole lot hotter & never got this nuisance error.


It's a pretty obvious cause and effect here so I'm not asking for help just sharing information. 2015 1500 RCSB Tradesman

 

[Marshall]

a set of side cutters?

 

[kurek]

a set of side cutters?

I figure it would probably throw a different code if the sensor was just missing. I wish I hadn't just thrown out the OEM one because if I was the kind of person who hangs onto stuff I could probably just swap the sensors. Maybe I'll go hunting at junk yards, that part is probably universal whether it's a power mirror or base model manual one.

 

[RamDiver]

I'm just posting this in case it helps anyone, I replaced my driver side manual mirror a few months ago because the OEM one broke inside in a way that couldn't exactly be fixed with epoxy. Just bought a $69 aftermarket mirror assembly and it has the outside temperature sensor built into it.

Now whenever it's hot and sunny (like 100F+ and parked in the sun) if I start up the truck I get a check engine light and P0073 code (ambient air temp high). This doesn't have any engine consequences because there's a separate air intake temperature sensor for that but I think if I had a more premium truck with automatic climate control it would affect how well the A/C works in the cab.

Previously I had the OEM mirror and lived in Arizona where it got a whole lot hotter & never got this nuisance error.


It's a pretty obvious cause and effect here so I'm not asking for help just sharing information. 2015 1500 RCSB Tradesman

What temperature is indicated by this aftermarket sensor, and does it appear to be excessively higher than expected?

.

 

[kurek]

Displayed temperature seems to be pretty normal, the hottest I've seen in the display is I think maybe 121F which seems pretty reasonable for a black piece of plastic in full sunlight when the air temp is 99F. 121+ was the ambient air temperature plenty of days in Phoenix (with the OEM sensor that didn't cause an error) .

It's not reading 199 or displaying something erratic like [---] .

I think it's possible that the sensor itself is actually fine but maybe the OEM mirror has it mounted in a slightly different location inside or has slightly different ventilation air flow, insulation, etc - I never disassembled it to compare because I had no reason to suspect there would be a problem later.

 

[RamDiver]

Displayed temperature seems to be pretty normal, the hottest I've seen in the display is I think maybe 121F which seems pretty reasonable for a black piece of plastic in full sunlight when the air temp is 99F. 121+ was the ambient air temperature plenty of days in Phoenix (with the OEM sensor that didn't cause an error) .

It's not reading 199 or displaying something erratic like [---] .

I think it's possible that the sensor itself is actually fine but maybe the OEM mirror has it mounted in a slightly different location inside or has slightly different ventilation air flow, insulation, etc - I never disassembled it to compare because I had no reason to suspect there would be a problem later.

Are you confident that all the sensor connections are adequate?

The information sounds a bit contradictory, not saying your info is wrong but we have 2 areas that are not in agreement with the sensor info, resulting in a DTC.

If the temperature displayed on the EVIC appears correct and yet the DTC suggests otherwise, where is the difference being created?

I don't know where the division between the displayed temperature and BCM or ECM that is creating this DTC exists.

Do you have a schematic so we can better understand the passive wiring path, connectors and/or active devices involved?

Do you have AlfaOBD or another scanner?

.

 

[kurek]

Do you have a schematic so we can better understand the passive wiring path, connectors and/or active devices involved?

It's a connector you click together. The connector lives inside the door where it's not exposed to any chemicals or temperature extremes so the plastic and contacts are all fresh as if they were new so it all just clicked out and clicked in like they day it was manufactured.

Like I said pretty simple cause and effect I put a new cheap not-OEM part in and then a fault directly related to that part became apparent. I'm sharing it here in case somebody else has that problem they can solve or ignore it more easily.

Since it's a pretty inconsequential problem that clears itself after a cool day or two I'm just going to keep it in the back of my mind and keep an eye out for 4th gen Rams when I visit auto wreckers for old mustang parts. If one of 'em has a mirror I'll take it apart, take photos of how the sensor is mounted, buy the sensor and then dive deeper. Till then it's 100% getting ignored.

 

[mdc1990zr1]

It's a connector you click together. The connector lives inside the door where it's not exposed to any chemicals or temperature extremes so the plastic and contacts are all fresh as if they were new so it all just clicked out and clicked in like they day it was manufactured.

Like I said pretty simple cause and effect I put a new cheap not-OEM part in and then a fault directly related to that part became apparent. I'm sharing it here in case somebody else has that problem they can solve or ignore it more easily.

Since it's a pretty inconsequential problem that clears itself after a cool day or two I'm just going to keep it in the back of my mind and keep an eye out for 4th gen Rams when I visit auto wreckers for old mustang parts. If one of 'em has a mirror I'll take it apart, take photos of how the sensor is mounted, buy the sensor and then dive deeper. Till then it's 100% getting ignored.

Call/email the customer service department of the replacement?

 

[RamDiver]

It's a connector you click together. The connector lives inside the door where it's not exposed to any chemicals or temperature extremes so the plastic and contacts are all fresh as if they were new so it all just clicked out and clicked in like they day it was manufactured.

Like I said pretty simple cause and effect I put a new cheap not-OEM part in and then a fault directly related to that part became apparent. I'm sharing it here in case somebody else has that problem they can solve or ignore it more easily.

Since it's a pretty inconsequential problem that clears itself after a cool day or two I'm just going to keep it in the back of my mind and keep an eye out for 4th gen Rams when I visit auto wreckers for old mustang parts. If one of 'em has a mirror I'll take it apart, take photos of how the sensor is mounted, buy the sensor and then dive deeper. Till then it's 100% getting ignored.

My mistake, I thought you were searching for a solution.

I'll ignore your post then and not lose any sleep over the mystery.

.

 

[Daw14]

These trucks really prefer OEM sensors for them to operate correctly.

Part number 68457701aa factory ambient sensor about $12.00

Couple places said NA however gogo shows a lot are out there.

 

[kurek]

My mistake, I thought you were searching for a solution.

I appreciate the conversation but I literally did say this in the top post

 

[Daw14]

Damn it , you will accept our advice weather you need it or not.
I was good the first time I saw the post, then upon returning I skipped the first part of the conversation.

 

[Marshall]

I figure it would probably throw a different code if the sensor was just missing. I wish I hadn't just thrown out the OEM one because if I was the kind of person who hangs onto stuff I could probably just swap the sensors. Maybe I'll go hunting at junk yards, that part is probably universal whether it's a power mirror or base model manual one.

I don’t think I have tossed anything in years till we moved in 2012, you never know if you may need it in 20 yrs
Wife don’t agree, but i can’t hear much anymore
It does help when I use to have 3 shops to put stuff in.