Accessory question for a 2008 - Diesel Forum

Bluefan · 01-04-2008, 12:55 PM

Does anyone have any suggestions on a place to purchase a device that would show the outside tempature on a 2008 F-350. My 2004 F150 had it and i found it very useful in the winter. Here in Ohio more often than not the tempature is right around freezing and now I find myself missing it. I have found 2 kinds. 1 is a rearview mirror that displays this but they are very expensive ($300-$400) and 2. A stand alone unit that has a wire with a sensor on it. I like the price ($25) but I cannot figure out how to get the sensor outside the truck without any drilling. Any suggestions??

tk2312 · 01-04-2008, 01:14 PM

I think this was a standard feature. I may be wrong......but the outside temp shows on my display located next to the hot and cold adjustment buttons. It is a digital reading that shows current outside temps. I do have the upgraded independent temp controls. I can not imagine this not being a standard feature.

CaptSkup · 01-04-2008, 01:30 PM

I do not know if the XF4 is the same but on my Lariat the outside temp indicator is part of the HVAC system. Indicated on the right side of the digital panel. I remember reading that it was going to be changed, possibly to the rear view mirror?

newbie_101 · 01-04-2008, 03:07 PM

The outside temp is not available with the FX4. Pretty lame in my opinion. There are a number of options that aren't even availble with the FX4. Not sure what the logic there is as the price is virtually identical between the FX4 and the Lariat. 2 ridiculous features that aren't available, heated seats and auto climate. Stupid.

Anyway, the move of the outside temp and compass to the rear view mirror is good for us. You can buy the Lariat mirror, complete with the goodies. I will be doing this. The one hangup I have is where to pull power from. I assume from the map lights but not 100%.

reddog999 · 01-04-2008, 03:25 PM

I have an Fx4 with the heated seats. Having no temp gauge is really bothering me. I get teased by coworker on how their $10k car has one and my $50k truck doesnt. I cant look into the mirror gauge though because i have a rearview camera. I would love to hear someone come up with a factory like solution for this.

newbie_101 · 01-04-2008, 03:53 PM

Heated seats option must have changed, I have a job 1.

CaptSkup · 01-04-2008, 04:10 PM

Ford is by far the best at offering more options than the other guys but sometimes they do some dopey decision making. Such as no heated seats in the FX4 job1's. Do I have a compass in the Lariat? I ain't got a clue. Imagine the poor Chevy/GMC guys, they can have any gear ratio in their SRW as long as it's 3.73, or the Dodge guys with their permanent locked up front hubs. I had that crappy design in my Cherokee, would have been nice if they came with zerks.

newbie_101 · 01-04-2008, 04:53 PM

Isn't that the truth. I guess when your biggest accessory complaint is that you don't have a temp guage, you're laughing.

I shopped all 3 before buying and was blown away at how difficult it was to find a Dodge with 4.10's. Same issue with the Chevy but the fact they're not even available is suprising. Guess that's why the salesman kept telling me don't worry about the gear ratio, it'll pull anything.

VTFireftr · 01-04-2008, 05:17 PM

go to http://www.cabelas.com and do a seacrh for auto thermometer. it costs about $20 plus shipping. I have one and it works great!

Marc

stunya · 01-04-2008, 08:30 PM

the thing that chapped me about the FX4 was the lack of the power rear window. I was pretty upset but went with the FX4 over the lariat anyway.

thunderpuppy1 · 01-04-2008, 10:24 PM

Job 1 FX4s had heated seats available, at least the Canadian ones did. My butt has appreciated them since April.

F450Mikey · 01-05-2008, 02:31 PM

Lariat's have a compass in the message center piggy backed with another function.

zeegs · 01-05-2008, 06:25 PM

I have a job1 FX4 with heated seats, it's a Canadian truck as well. And if I remember correct, I could have got the digital dual zone climate control, but the truck I was looking at had the manual climate control which was fine, because I prefer it over the digital. The outside temp reading IS something I really want, and I think I'm going to go with the mirror from Ford as I would also like the auto dimming mirror. I have this in one of my cars and love it. Doe's anyone know FOR SURE if you could get the digital controls in the FX4?

Back to the original question, would you be able to just cut the wire for the sensor and connect it to one of the four blunt cut wire's that Ford put through the fire wall?

mooch91 · 01-06-2008, 08:58 AM

Consider replacing the rear-view mirror with an auto-dimming one with compass/temperature as an option. You can also get mirrors with Homelink and maplights as well. Gentex makes a number of these mirrors for OEM.

Here is one I am planning to install on my 07 XLT FX4:
http://shop.autodimmingmirrors.com/products-genk51a.asp

The one with just compass/temp is a bit less expensive (~$180):
http://shop.autodimmingmirrors.com/products-genk21a.asp

Haven't ordered yet so I can't comment on the vendor or their pricing. I imagine the Gentex would be less expensive than purchasing the Lariat mirror from Ford.

I agree, this is something that would have been nice on the XLT.

2002ex · 01-23-2008, 03:56 PM

I replaced my rear view mirror on my FX4 with a compass/temperature disply one (got it from Summit Racing). A little work to install, but looks pretty OEM and clean.