Richard / E320

after 11 years of pampered ownership, driving approximately 700 miles a year, and never in the rain, a college student backed into my vehicle. She was late for class and holding onto her Starbucks, backing up using only her mirror and never looked over her shoulder. I watched the whole thing in slow-motion, hoping in that last split-second she'd slam on her brakes and I'd have nothing more than momentary high-blood pressure. No such luck...

$4,200 and two-weeks later, I got my vehicle back but just noticed that the ambient temperature is reading minus 36 degrees fahrenheit and never changes. The sensor wasn't hit but likely was disconnected due to paint work. Could anyone tell me exactly where the sensor is connected on the vehicle? Since the display is showing a temperature, I'm assuming that it's connected and I would think that the plug would only clip together one-way.

Any ideas what to look for?

Thanks in advance,

renault12ts

Did she not hear your horn that you were frantically hammering as you watched her approach?

Richard / E320

I wasn't in the vehicle; watched it all as I was exiting a Starbucks. Thought about yelling but she was too far away with the window rolled up. Could only hope she would realize how close she was getting before impact, but no such luck.

I was pretty upset since I felt that it was no 'accident', but rather strictly due to inattention. While I was writing down all her information, she told me to 'hurry up... she was now late for class and needed to get there.' College student, driving mommy and daddy's pick-up on their insurance, couldn't have cared less what it did to my vehicle or what the damage meant to me.

renault12ts

I would have taken all day with the attitude she displayed...and made her miss her class.

Hirnbeiss

That's just California. I'm surprised she didn't take the opportunity to stream the reality episode to the web.

Richard / E320

Well, as upset as I was and a few things I said to her, it would have been censored anyway! I made it pretty clear how I had pampered my vehicle all these years and in a split second, she threw all my effort out the window.

toby1

If it's in the same place as a UK vehicle, the sensor is in the front bumper near to the LH front fog lamp. You'll see a small round aperture in the lower bumper for it

Richard / E320

I found the sensor with no problems; I was hoping to find out where it plugs in but I have to drop the shroud or belly pan to access that area. Called the repair facility and they want me to bring the vehicle by and they'll take care of it. Was hoping to save myself a trip.

I still don't understand the 'why' the temperature reading is minus 36 degrees. Is that the default reading if the sensor is not plugged in? If it's plugged in wrong, which doesn't seem likely based on most connectors.

siopaolover

Ahhh that's horrible! I can't believe that happened to you, especially after knowing just how much you babied your car.

Richard / E320

I call it the 'Parking Lot Murphy's Law-: the farther away you park from others to avoid door dings and runaway shopping carts in the first place, the bigger the dent when luck runs out due to inconsiderate people or people that drive with the attention to actually driving the last thing on their multi-tasking priorities. Not spilling your coffee is way more important then watching were you are going and backing into a parked car.

siopaolover

lol. female + college student + starbucks = disaster

She still had no excuse for her attitude though. It doesn't matter what she was late for, because now she'll be even more late. And plus, I don't think we have to go to class if we were involved in any kind of accident that day lol