At hunt camp one morning my dash readout indicated 43 degrees. Ground was froze hard, and temps were in the single digits. Engine was cold/had not been run.

Does this sensor do anything besides provide an outdoor temperature reading? Located behind the grill beside a horn.

2011 XLT 3.5 SC 4x4 3.55LS

 

I think it can have it's reading taken into account by the HVAC system on auto.

You post is unclear, you replaced it and caused this issue? you had this issue, replaced it and it's working again?

It's made in Great Britain?!!! really?!

If you want to check/test it, put it in a bowl of icy water along with a thermometer.

 

The original sensor is the one that went rogue. It is pictured there on the package for a replacement I bought through Amazon. British counterfeit? I've no idea.

Tested the new one in an ice bath (sans thermometer) and got a dash reading of 33 degrees. Figure it's good, as that error has to be <1% of full scale.
And compared it to a Flir non-contact thermometer at ambient, (62 degrees), it read the same.

 

When I repaired my 2013 F150 with front end collision damage that I bought from the salvage auction, I replaced the ambient air temperature sensor as it was smashed. Upon getting the truck running, it displayed an obviously incorrect number and would not update. It may have been displaying the last data point recorded the last time it was running. Once I did the first test drive, it began seeking temperature readings at and above 30 mph. I believe this is a programming function to keep it from drawing erroneous data at idle since it is near the radiator and cooling fan. If I recall correctly, it will seek a new temperature every 20 minutes if left idling, otherwise seeks a new temperature reading every minute when at speed. Thus, I would test drive the vehicle whenever replacing the sensor and not trust what is displayed at start up.

 

I know the reading is historically useless until you've driven a few miles, but it makes sense they'd have something in there to try and deal with that these days.