Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Solar Sensor: Description and Operation

The dual A/C sunload sensor:
- is located on the top center of the instrument panel in the defroster grille.
- contains photovoltaic diodes that are sensitive to sunlight.
- generates small amounts of current across the terminals depending upon the amount of light reaching the photovoltaic diode; therefore the only test that can be carried out is for an internal short circuit, an open circuit or sensor value out-of-range.
- contains an internal diagnostic resistor to allow the DATC module to detect a difference between an open circuit and no sunlight.