High exterior temperature warning

[yubbie2]

Just got home from a few afternoon errands. I’m in Houston, so it’s crazy hot out, but as soon as I pulled into my garage the car came up with a warning message “Exterior temperature high. Plug in vehicle when not in use” (or something like that). I looked at the display and it thinks it’s 130*F outside!! Yeah it’s gross and hot but it’s not that hot. Do I need to worry? Do I need to plug it in?

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[generaltso]

The car is suggesting you plug in. Whether or not you follow that suggestion is up to you.

 

[yubbie2]

The car is suggesting you plug in. Whether or not you follow that suggestion is up to you.

maybe I should be more specific. Since the exterior temp sensor is clearly wrong, is it valid advice from the car?

 

[generaltso]

maybe I should be more specific. Since the exterior temp sensor is clearly wrong, is it valid advice from the car?

If it’s hot, it’s valid advice. Mine tells me to plug it in all winter long due to the cold. But I never do.

 

[Mach-Lee]

maybe I should be more specific. Since the exterior temp sensor is clearly wrong, is it valid advice from the car?

Yes, the battery can be warmer than the air temperature due to thermal radiation from the ground in hot sunny weather. Plugging in will allow the battery to cool down.

In a hot climate like Houston, you should set your car to only charge at night from 7 PM to 12PM, and plug in as soon as you get home. This allows the battery to cool down right away, but charging won't happen until later in the evening.

 

[canuck1975]

If it’s hot, it’s valid advice. Mine tells me to plug it in all winter long due to the cold. But I never do.

Rebel! I'm keeping mine plugged in all the time. I park outside so am really screwed by the Canadian weather fluctuations.

 

[Blue highway]

Just got home from a few afternoon errands. I’m in Houston, so it’s crazy hot out, but as soon as I pulled into my garage the car came up with a warning message “Exterior temperature high. Plug in vehicle when not in use” (or something like that). I looked at the display and it thinks it’s 130*F outside!! Yeah it’s gross and hot but it’s not that hot. Do I need to worry? Do I need to plug it in?

I bet it is that hot on Houston asphalt.

Heat is really not good for the battery, I'd plug it in.

 

[Haydn12]

The temp gauge on the MachE is really off. Wife said it was showing 136 degrees the other day. Our other car's highest temp was 122 on the same road. The temp in that car is pretty accurate. It was 119 on the day when it said 122 which would have been the extra heat from the asphalt road.

 

[4sallypat]

The temp gauge on the MachE is really off. Wife said it was showing 136 degrees the other day. Our other car's highest temp was 122 on the same road. The temp in that car is pretty accurate. It was 119 on the day when it said 122 which would have been the extra heat from the asphalt road.

The temp sensor seems to be reading hotter temps when parked in the sun.
Once you drive off, the temps come down to realistic numbers.

 

[yubbie2]

The temp sensor seems to be reading hotter temps when parked in the sun.
Once you drive off, the temps come down to realistic numbers.

So if the sensor says 130, but it’s actually 95-100, am I correct that I am not actually in danger of damaging the battery?

 

[Mach-Lee]

So if the sensor says 130, but it’s actually 95-100, am I correct that I am not actually in danger of damaging the battery?

Correct, plug in when the air temp is above about 104°F.

You must be moving faster than 20 mph for several minutes before the temp will read accurately. In stop and go traffic it will not read correctly due to heat from the sun, ground, and radiator.

 

[yubbie2]

Correct, plug in when the air temp is above about 104°F.

You must be moving faster than 20 mph for several minutes before the temp will read accurately. In stop and go traffic it will not read correctly due to heat from the sun, ground, and radiator.

Great! Thanks for the clarity.

 

[desiguy2447]

I got the same message for the first time here in the DFW area (Frisco). The actual temp was 106F outside on Friday evening with the display showing around 111F. I plugged in the car once home and the cooling turned on in 50 seconds.

 

[san]

Yes, the battery can be warmer than the air temperature due to thermal radiation from the ground in hot sunny weather. Plugging in will allow the battery to cool down.

In a hot climate like Houston, you should set your car to only charge at night from 7 PM to 12PM, and plug in as soon as you get home. This allows the battery to cool down right away, but charging won't happen until later in the evening.

If plugged in like you suggested but not charging until later at night, how does this help the battery cool down?

 

[hybrid2bev]

If plugged in like you suggested but not charging until later at night, how does this help the battery cool down?

The car can draw ‘wall power’ to run the battery cooling system.

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