File in Section:

Service Bulletin

Bulletin No.:
Date:

PI0233B
September, 2012

PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
Subject:

Inaccurate or Slow Response of Outside Air Temperature Display

Models:

2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze

This PI is being revised to update the Condition/Concern and Recommendation/Instructions.
Please discard PI0233A.

The following information may be helpful if you encounter a vehicle with this condition. You may show or offer a copy
of this PI to your customer.

Condition/Concern #1
Some customers may comment that the outside air temperature display is inaccurate when starting the vehicle, or
that the display is slow to change/update after starting the vehicle.

Recommendation/Instructions #1
For comments of the outside air temperature display is inaccurate when starting the vehicle, or that the display is
slow to change/update after starting the vehicle.
Important: DO NOT replace the instrument cluster for this condition as it will not correct the concern.
An intentional delay is built into the system, as a parked vehicle encounters conditions that may cause inaccurate
readings of the outside air temperature. Higher than actual readings could be encountered if the vehicle is left sitting
in direct sunlight, or if the vehicle engine is warm when parked.
To assure greater accuracy of the reported outside air temperature, the display is programmed to perform updates
on the following schedule when the vehicle is started.
If the vehicle is driven at:
1. 25-40 km/h (15-25 mph), , the display will update after 5 minutes.
2. 41-60 km/h (26-37 mph) , the display will update after 2 min 30 sec.
3. 61-100 km/h (38-62 mph) , the display will update after 1 minute.
Once the first temperature update begins, the outside temperature display is refreshed every 2 seconds.
Important: The outside temperature display will update immediately if the vehicle is turned off for more than 200
minutes or if the sensed outside temperature is below the value when the ignition was previously turned off.
For comments in which the air temperature display is inaccurate while driving, follow Outside Air Temperature
Display Inaccurate or Inoperative diagnostic in SI. If following the diagnostic does not identify an issue, do not
replace the Ambient Air Temperature Gauge Sensor. The differences between the actual ambient temperature and
that displayed by the vehicle is likely caused by a variety of factors including air flow at and around the temp sensor,
heat from other vehicles, etc. For these conditions, replacement of the Ambient Air Temperature Gauge Sensor and/
or instrument cluster will not change the temperature readings.

Condition/Concern #2
Some customer may also comment that the air temperature display is inaccurate while driving, particularly in high
traffic conditions and most often will display a temperature that is higher than the actual temperature.

Recommendation/Instructions #2
For comments in which the air temperature display is inaccurate while driving, follow Outside Air Temperature
Display Inaccurate or Inoperative diagnostic in SI. If following the diagnostic does not identify an issue, do not
replace the Ambient Air Temperature Gauge Sensor. The differences between the actual ambient temperature and
that displayed by the vehicle is likely caused by a variety of factors including air flow at and around the temp sensor,
heat from other vehicles, etc. For these conditions, replacement of the Ambient Air Temperature Gauge Sensor and/
or instrument cluster will not change the temperature readings.