Gripe about Monster 696's Ambient Temperature Reading

[Howie]

Every car I've had with an ambient temperature reading has been (or, more correct) less than accurate.  Why?  The ambient temperature it is reading is the temperature around the sensor, not average air temperature.  Perfect example would be my '87 BMW.  The sensor was in the air dam.  AT speed on the open road?  Damn accurate.  On a 70^o sunny day in NYC traffic?  Readings were sometimes over 100^o.  Why?  Hot exhaust from the car in front of me, hot under hood temperature and hot asphalt.  In short, still accurate. 

I'm not sure if the sensor for the dash reading is the same as the sensor in the intake tract for the computer, but if it is, that would explain inaccurate readings.  The ECU doesn't care if you are comfortable, or the air temperature around your head.  it cares about the temperature of the air entering the engine.  If the sensor for the dash reading is separate, and exists in a location subject to solar heating, such as inside the instrument cluster I would expect the reading to be less than accurate when not at speed on a sunny day.

[slim_grizzy]

Yeah, basically the air temp gauge takes an average roughly every minute or so of the air temp near the sensor.  At speed after a few minutes it get fairly accurate.  If you're at idle at a stop for a while the engine heats up the air around it enough to really skew the reading.  It takes a few minutes to bring the running average down to around normal.  There are summer days where it's up in the 110's and takes a few minutes to come down to the 90s where it should be.  In the winter, it starts around 60s or 70s and will go down to 40s after a bit.  It seems fairly accurate at speed.  Your butt can tell you the difference in temperature from the air around your engine compared to the air around your hands and neck.  They'll be greatly different in any season.  Like it's been mentioned, it's more of a novelty than a necessity.  If you don't realize that it's too hot or cold for you to ride before you get on the bike, then a sensor isn't going to help much.

[somegirl]

As I've mentioned before, the one useful purpose I see for a temp sensor would be to help you estimate the risk of ice on the road.  Riding on mountain roads the temperatures can easily vary by >30 degrees within 20 miles, and if you are using heated gear you might not realize whether it is 45 or 35, which could make a big difference to the risk of ice.

[Raux]

i live in the same situation. and last year i didn't have any problems with the temp sensor. it was pretty accurate from what i could tell.

[csp808]

I've got a fuel tank growing like a toddler and your griping about a useless feature that if it worked right you would never use ,go jump off a cliff.

[Bat]

I've got a fuel tank growing like a toddler and your griping about a useless feature that if it worked right you would never use ,go jump off a cliff.

Wow, the world, which should be revolving around only you csp808 and your problems, isn't?   Grow up. Since you obviously have nothing whatsoever of value to add to this particular thread, perhaps you should take your whining back to your own. Now I'd like to post something to the original thread starter and any interested 696 owners.

I am the owner of a 696. The same 696 brought up by Bladecutter. I totally understand the original poster's comments that when you buy something brand new, you naturally expect everything to work. Everything. I don't care if it's a button that does nothing but turn purple and go "whee", it should work. This isn't Microsoft, it's a motorcycle. Shipping with known bugs is bullshit, pure and simple.

Now, some points I'd like to make that keep getting overlooked in this thread by people too interested in being "funny" rather than addressing the actual topic.

1.  The issue is NOT "gee, how can I possibly tell what the temperature is if my bike doesn't tell me?" The issue is why is a known feature on the bike not working correctly from the get-go? An air temp sensor is not a complex thing. Ducati has proven they are capable of putting them on other models without issue. Why does it not work on the 696? And if Ducati truly can't figure out where to put the damn thing so it does what it's supposed to then why even put it on the bike? Here, new owner, we will give you a feature that doesn't work right and when you point it out we will just nod our heads and count your money? Hell, maybe this IS Microsoft!

2. As has been pointed out, this is not a variance of a few or even 20 degrees...on my bike it has turned into a variance of double and more the actual temp and it doesn't come down. It just goes up and up until it stops registering anymore until the next time you go for a ride. And I'm not talking about when sitting in a traffic jam on a hot day. Again, why put the stupid thing on the bike if it is going to be so ridiculous?

3. On my bike, this was the FIRST symptom. The first thing to be "off". Followed by a recurring check engine light. Another innocuous problem on it's own. Another thing most people would say to just ignore it. This was followed by nearly the ENTIRE riding season in the freaking shop with most of the electrical system getting replaced, one painful part at a time. The bike running worse and worse until it was literally unrideable. So yeah, after personal experience with having a brand new bike that couldn't be ridden, I would pay attention to the little things. You might not. And you might not ever have a problem. I, unfortunately, missed the best riding months in one of the best states to ride in...and it started off with a dumb temp sensor.

4. This is one of your fellow Ducati owners. Lord knows, Ducati itself is hard enough to deal with on issues, why throw ourselves under the bus? Although some of you tried to help, some of these posts are downright insulting...to yourselves. A person asked yourselves, the nearest help, a question. Why the posturing? I see it on other threads too, that's why the question.

[Raux]

I am certain that those with the temperature reading problems have issues bigger than just a bad reading. it seems to be a wiring problem. and it seems to be early production models. my VIN last 4 is 1875 and i didn't have issues with the temp sensor.
Ducati does seem to be taking care of these folks, sometimes rather slowly depending on the shop, but it's not being ignored by DNA. So as long as those with problems are consistently talking to their dealers, AND crosstalking here to keep informed, I'm seeing a trend of positive outcomes.
I hope that continues until all those bikes with the issues are fixed.

[somegirl]

4. This is one of your fellow Ducati owners. Lord knows, Ducati itself is hard enough to deal with on issues, why throw ourselves under the bus? Although some of you tried to help, some of these posts are downright insulting...to yourselves. A person asked yourselves, the nearest help, a question. Why the posturing? I see it on other threads too, that's why the question.

Seeing winter around the corner tends to make people grumpy.

[Kopfjäger]

Hey Bat, I hope you and the other 696 owners get your temp sensors fixed, but you
can't fix ugly, so your stuck with that one.   

[ungeheuer]

Now, some points I'd like to make that keep getting overlooked in this thread by people too interested in being "funny" rather than addressing the actual topic......... The issue is NOT "gee, how can I possibly tell what the temperature is if my bike doesn't tell me?" The issue is why is a known feature on the bike not working correctly from the get-go? An air temp sensor is not a complex thing. Ducati has proven they are capable of putting them on other models without issue. Why does it not work on the 696? And if Ducati truly can't figure out where to put the damn thing so it does what it's supposed to then why even put it on the bike?

That was my smartarse point really.  My M696 had the sensor (which as best I could tell worked fine) and my similar-to-696-but-costs-way-more-$$ M1100s doesnt have the sensor.  Now since they could include the (dubious) feature on the less expensive bike, why has it been deleted from the M1100s?  Reliability if operation perhaps?

Hey Bat, I hope you and the other 696 owners get your temp sensors fixed, but you
can't fix ugly, so your stuck with that one.   

Tsk... kopfjäger I can tell that you have a fine eye for things of beauty..... but your old-school opinions regarding the aesthetic attraction of M696/M1100 are - as I'm sure all M696/M1100 owners will attest - sadly misguided.  You do have a fine looking bike... Now go polish your round heallight some more and leave the future to us 

[dtsduc]

I am certain that those with the temperature reading problems have issues bigger than just a bad reading. it seems to be a wiring problem. and it seems to be early production models. my VIN last 4 is 1875 and i didn't have issues with the temp sensor.
Ducati does seem to be taking care of these folks, sometimes rather slowly depending on the shop, but it's not being ignored by DNA. So as long as those with problems are consistently talking to their dealers, AND crosstalking here to keep informed, I'm seeing a trend of positive outcomes.
I hope that continues until all those bikes with the issues are fixed.

Well, my VIN is 296x so I don't think the problem is isolated only to "early" production models.  I do hope it'll be taken care of next time I visit the dealer...

[duclvr]

kopfjäger I can tell that you have a fine eye for things of beauty..... but your old-school opinions regarding the aesthetic attraction of M696/M1100 are - as I'm sure all M696/M1100 owners will attest - sadly misguided.  You do have a fine looking bike... Now go polish your round heallight some more and leave the future to us  

[Kopfjäger]

Tsk... kopfjäger I can tell that you have a fine eye for things of beauty..... but your old-school opinions regarding the aesthetic attraction of M696/M1100 are - as I'm sure all M696/M1100 owners will attest - sadly misguided.  You do have a fine looking bike... Now go polish your round heallight some more and leave the future to us  

Oh I'm not the only one by any means, and if that's the future the Monster is doomed.  

2003                                                                             2010

Monster 620Dark i.e                                                     Monster 1100
Monster 620 i.e.                                                          Monster 1100 S
Monster 620s i.e.                                                        Monster  696
Monster 800Dark i.e.
Monster 800s i.e.
Monster 1000Dark i.e.
Monster 1000s i.e.
Monster S4

Although we will need you guys to tell us what the temerature is. 

[stopintime]

.......................

Although we will need you guys to tell us what the temerature is. 

I know the temperature and I can post it on facebook, but it'll be in Celsius....

[DarkStaR]