Trans temp gauge

[tomvoy]

I'm going to be adding a transmission temp gauge, I was just wondering if someone makes a pillar gauge pod or am I going to have to make something to hold the gauge?

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Ive been tossing this around for a while too. The only place I see really feasible and aesthetically pleasing would be the cigarette lighter hole in between the 4wd selector and the rear wiper on/off. After all, there are 2 other electrical outlets and who uses their cigarette lighter anymore anyways :D

I do wish GM built this into the gauge cluster, like they do with the Yukon Denali gauge cluster.

[tomvoy]

That would be a great spot, thanks for the info.Hopefully it's not a pain taking that part of the dash apart.

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Shouldnt be. Let me know how it goes and which gauge you are buying. I want to do this while Im bored and stir crazy this winter :D

[tomvoy]

Should be installing in a couple of weeks, still have no idea how dash comes apart? Ordered Autometer Sportcomp II 2-1/16", Should match other gauges real well.

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Tom, if you are referring to the bezel that includes the 2 center vents and trim around the radio and HVAC controls - it pops right out. The first time I popped my bezel out I had to use a butter knife to gently pry. Then you just pull straight out really hard at the top. Grab the top of the bezel and pull hard. The bottom of the bezel has 2 phillips screws IIRC. However, I've never removed mine. The bezel will bend back as far as you need it to. Its held in by clips.

[tomvoy]

Thanks, I found directions in audio/video to remove dash panel, Hopefully I will be able to post pics by the time Iam done.

[tomvoy]

http://gallery.trailvoy.com/showphoto.php/photo/5480/cat/506/ppuser/8916Installed trans gauge, I haven't installed the sending unit for the gauge yet, I'll do that when I add the trans cooler.

[Threader]

Wow thanks for a great and practical upgrade idea. I have a useless nubby hole in my RWD Envoy center stack where the 4WD switch would be. Looks perfect for a Trans Temp Gauge. I would add the gauge first.
Then if I noticed high trans temps could follow up with a higher capacity than stock trans cooler later on.

[MichEnvoyBoy]

TOM! get some pics for us :D inquiring minds would like to know (and see!) lol

[tomvoy]

TOM! get some pics for us :D inquiring minds would like to know (and see!) lol

I have pics in my photo gallery, I can't figure out how to put picks on thread page.

[lifeboatdriver]

dangit...there is no good place to put one in my 4x4 Trailblazer....:(

[Threader]

I have pics in my photo gallery, I can't figure out how to put picks on thread page.

Go to your gallery open picture up. Right click over it and get properties.
Copy paste address into thread using picture function from thread task bar

http://gallery.trailvoy.com/data/506/trans_gauge.jpg


:yes:

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Looks great! :yes: What kind of temps are you showing with regular driving? Im going to do this real soon, it will be very helpful when I tow my boat.

And your next upgrade will have to be a GM Navigation radio! :cool: I did a nice write up on the upgrade itself. I'll pm it to you, if you are interested.

[tomvoy]

Looks great! :yes: What kind of temps are you showing with regular driving? Im going to do this real soon, it will be very helpful when I tow my boat.

And your next upgrade will have to be a GM Navigation radio! :cool: I did a nice write up on the upgrade itself. I'll pm it to you, if you are interested.

I haven't hooked up the sending unit on the gauge yet, I haven't figured out where I'm going to tap into the trans line for the sending unit and the cooler, due to cold weather and no garage. Nav radio isn't really in my budget, hopefully I can save up for a tune someday.

[tomvoy]

Looks great! :yes: What kind of temps are you showing with regular driving? Im going to do this real soon, it will be very helpful when I tow my boat.



I just installed sending unit yesterday, Drove around stop and go, highway, ect for an hour and a half and I'm looking at 110 degrees.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/2530000-2530999/2530272_9.jpg

[topprolmc]

I just installed sending unit yesterday, Drove around stop and go, highway, ect for an hour and a half and I'm looking at 110 degrees.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/2530000-2530999/2530272_9.jpg

Having it sit out by the radiator is not exactly telling you the temp IN your tranny. think of it this way. Your radiator is full of hot water and steam at 210 degrees and your tranny fluid runs thru there. No way is it 110 inside your tranny.

The only thing that Gage will tell you is that your tranny already cooked

[tomvoy]

Having it sit out by the radiator is not exactly telling you the temp IN your tranny. think of it this way. Your radiator is full of hot water and steam at 210 degrees and your tranny fluid runs thru there. No way is it 110 inside your tranny.

The only thing that Gage will tell you is that your tranny already cooked

The sending unit is on the t-fitting hooked up to the trans line, It shouldn't be that far off from the actual temp, It's sensing the same fluid that was in the trans two seconds ago.

[topprolmc]

The sending unit is on the t-fitting hooked up to the trans line, It shouldn't be that far off from the actual temp, It's sensing the same fluid that was in the trans two seconds ago.


generally an automatic transmission will run between 195'-215'....so 100' is low......

so either you didin't warm it up enough or your sensor is in the wrong place. the latter is my guess...

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Having it sit out by the radiator is not exactly telling you the temp IN your tranny. think of it this way. Your radiator is full of hot water and steam at 210 degrees and your tranny fluid runs thru there. No way is it 110 inside your tranny.

The only thing that Gage will tell you is that your tranny already cooked

Actually some trans temp gauges only come with this installation method, so it cant be that whacked out. I guess they figured some people would rather install a T-fitting in the cooling line vs. draining/dropping/drilling their trans pan. Apparently people out there with the 4L60E can also purchase a trans temp kit that comes with a sending unit that you can thread into the "test port" of the transmission.
Really, as long as the sending unit is inline going TO the trans cooler, the temperature will be pretty darn close to accurate. Its just leaving the trans and its under pressure. It doesnt have much time to cool down by that point.

After doing some research (i.e. google search, lol) GMT800 owners with the dash trans temp gauge report average temps of 110-160 in mixed driving. 110F (on the pretty cool side, IMO) would seem to represent cold weather highway driving and 160F in the city in cold weather. Of course, some people reported it going past 200F while towing. Basically anything around 210-220F+ would be starting to enter the danger zone. :eek:

[MichEnvoyBoy]

generally an automatic transmission will run between 195'-215'....so 100' is low......

so either you didin't warm it up enough or your sensor is in the wrong place. the latter is my guess...

In my last post, I was trying to get at this politely without killing your buzz, Tomvoy :D

Where did you order your the gauge from anyways? I want one now..lol

[topprolmc]

After doing some research (i.e. google search, lol) GMT800 owners with the dash trans temp gauge report average temps of 110-160 in mixed driving. 110F (on the pretty cool side, IMO) would seem to represent cold weather highway driving and 160F in the city in cold weather. Of course, some people reported it going past 200F while towing. Basically anything around 210-220F+ would be starting to enter the danger zone. :eek:

That's where I got my numbers...Google.

I know from all my experience with a 450hp Camaro, a 300 HP K/5 Blazer a stock S-10 Blazer and a few other stock cars, that I have yet to see 110 on a tranny that's been drivin around town for 10 minutes.
I drive 4/10ths of a mile to my job right now and my tranny lines are to hot to grab....

you also have to factor that most of the fluid is Inside the Hot transmission, and the pan, so for me having the sender at the tranny is more accurate, more reliable and most desired.
After all,your coolant sender is not on the radiator, now is it??:undecided

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Oh yeah, no doubt 110F doesnt sound right for 1.5hours of driving :confused: Im still trying to figure that out myself..lol

Update: You know, looking at the gauge Tom bought (the AUTOMETER SPORT COMP SERIES), there isnt a line for 110F. So maybe he accidentally misread it for the 125F mark?


You can reference the same gauge here to see what Im talking about:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AUTOMETER-SPORT-COMP-SERIES-TRANS-TEMP-GAUGE-3357-BNIB_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ38660QQhashZitem79 89520127QQihZ019QQitemZ7989520127QQrdZ1QQsspagenam eZWDVW

[tomvoy]

I've been trying to figure this out too, just drove around for 40 min. and the gauge is just getting to 100 degrees, got home felt my trans pan and it isn't that hot, tranny lines in front by radiator are warm. It is only 15 degrees outside, I might have to find another place for sending unit.

[topprolmc]

[quote=tomvoy;258786]It is only 15 degrees outside, [quote]

This might be a factor....
What does your Coolant temp read (even though it's not accurate)?

Is the top Radiator hose tight, like it has pressure inside?

[tomvoy]

[quote=tomvoy;258786]It is only 15 degrees outside, [quote]

This might be a factor....
What does your Coolant temp read (even though it's not accurate)?

Is the top Radiator hose tight, like it has pressure inside?

My coolant temp reads just under 210, the top radiator hose is tight and hot, but the lower hose isn't hot at all.

[topprolmc]

My coolant temp reads just under 210, the top radiator hose is tight and hot, but the lower hose isn't hot at all.

the Tranny cooler sits inside the radiator at the bottom. If you are cooling that efficiantly, perhaps it is correct, but like your motor which is at operating temp Internally, you see how heat is removed very quickly.
so if you read coolant temp at the lower hose, you are way off.
:m2:

YMMV.

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Tom, Im ordering my trans temp gauge today. Im going to tap mine into the test port on the side of the trans though. I have hope for you though! Double check your wiring.

This morning when I got to work I grabbed my trans cooler line and it was only warm, my drive to work is about 4.5 miles though. Both trans lines felt about the same temperature which I thought was strange. It was about 20F this morning.

[Gary UT]

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/2530000-2530999/2530272_9.jpg

If I remember correctly the line on the drivers side of the radiator is the return line, if it is then the sender is on the return line from the factory cooler.

Gary

[blandmiller]

Where is the tranny fluid temperature sensor that reports to the PCM located? I saw 200-210 degree temperatures alot this summer when logging with EFILive. They went down to ~180-190 in similar conditions after I removed the JETShift module .

[MichEnvoyBoy]

I ordered mine today :) Cant wait to get it and install it. It'll be a huge relief to me to be able to see my trans temps this summer when I tow my boat.

[tomvoy]

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/2530000-2530999/2530272_9.jpg

If I remember correctly the line on the drivers side of the radiator is the return line, if it is then the sender is on the return line from the factory cooler.

Gary

I noticed this morning that I hooked the sender to the wrong line,will have to cap t-fitting and hook sender to other line, hopefully I will get some better readings from there.

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Tom let us know how it goes. Based on your thread, I bought the same gauge today :D Cant wait to hook it up!

[tomvoy]

Tom let us know how it goes. Based on your thread, I bought the same gauge today :D Cant wait to hook it up!

sorry I just noticed in a previous post, you asked where I got the gauge, I purchased it from jegs, hopefully you got it for a good price. Good luck on the install !! Can you reach the test port on the side of trans ? Where are you going to mount the gauge ?

[MichEnvoyBoy]

sorry I just noticed in a previous post, you asked where I got the gauge, I purchased it from jegs, hopefully you got it for a good price. Good luck on the install !!
I bought it on ebay :D I paid $49.95 and $10 for s/h which included insurance. Was that a good deal?

Can you reach the test port on the side of trans ?
I dont know yet, Im going to have to pull the 'Voy in the garage and put it up. I hope I can :confused: If not, im not afraid to use the cooling lines.

Where are you going to mount the gauge ?
The same place I recommended to you :cool: I cant wait. The pic of the gauge you posted looks nice. I also am excited to hear what trans temps you will be reporting.

[tomvoy]

Now my gauge works, what a difference!!! The gauge was only going up to 110 degrees, so I moved gauge to other trans line. Drove around for 40 mins. and city driving the gauge sits at 150 degrees, on the highway 125 degrees. I pull a 6 by 10 enclosed trailer for work hopefully trans doesn't heat up to much. Does any body know what temps start to get dangerous?

[topprolmc]

Now my gauge works, what a difference!!! The gauge was only going up to 110 degrees, so I moved gauge to other trans line. Drove around for 40 mins. and city driving the gauge sits at 150 degrees, on the highway 125 degrees. I pull a 6 by 10 enclosed trailer for work hopefully trans doesn't heat up to much. Does any body know what temps start to get dangerous?

Now that's more like it:)

Here is a chart to help you:
http://www.txchange.com/heatchrt.htm

[MichEnvoyBoy]

:cool: I cant wait to get mine... I will definately be posting my progress.

Now my gauge works, what a difference!!! The gauge was only going up to 110 degrees, so I moved gauge to other trans line. Drove around for 40 mins. and city driving the gauge sits at 150 degrees, on the highway 125 degrees. I pull a 6 by 10 enclosed trailer for work hopefully trans doesn't heat up to much. Does any body know what temps start to get dangerous?

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Tom, hows the gauge working out? Is it reporting anything unusual or intersting you'd like to share? :D

I havent gotten around to installing mine yet. The garage is a mess and its been really cold out. :rolleyes:

[ssscarpone]

On my 2002 fullsize chevy truck, I did not have a tranny temp guage. So I just installed escalade guages and it had a tranny temp built in to the dash.

Cant we just get a guage that would read voltage that the pcm gets?

I thought the 5.3 truck had the same tranny as ours?

[MichEnvoyBoy]

It does, but there is no option whatsoever for our gauge cluster to have a trans temp gauge, even on the Envoy Denali it isnt an option.
Engineers probably assumed that the full size trucks/SUV's would be towing a lot more and the people buying them would be more interested in their trans temp than in a 'lil ol GMT360 :D

The good news is, YES - it is the same transmission. The 4L60E has seen service is a wide range of GM's and our Envoys/Trailblazers arent any exception. There is a service test port right above the linkage. and its plugged with a threaded 1/4 plug from the factory. Im planning, like many others, on removing it and installing my trans temp sending unit right there. :woot:

[ssscarpone]

So there is no chance that there is already a sensor in the tranny? Why would chevy put a sensor in my truck's tranny if it never had a cluster with tranny temp. It was a plug and play with clusters and I never installed any temp sensors. It seems like a waste of money putting sensors in chevy trucks that never had tranny guages from factory, but mine had it.

[Gary UT]

So there is no chance that there is already a sensor in the tranny? Why would chevy put a sensor in my truck's tranny if it never had a cluster with tranny temp. It was a plug and play with clusters and I never installed any temp sensors. It seems like a waste of money putting sensors in chevy trucks that never had tranny guages from factory, but mine had it.

There is a sensor in the transmission, the PCM monitors the temperature. There are guages that plug into the OBDII port that will show the transmission temperature, but the are over $200.

http://www.aeroforcetech.com/

Gary

[ssscarpone]

I wonder if you could tap the wire that goes from the tranny temp to the pcm, and find a tranny guage that reads millivolt or milliamp.

[tomvoy]

Tom, hows the gauge working out? Is it reporting anything unusual or intersting you'd like to share? :D

I havent gotten around to installing mine yet. The garage is a mess and its been really cold out. :rolleyes:

I haven't seen anything unusual but, when I pull my 6x10 enclosed trailer the temps have gotten up to 185 degrees when it was 20 or 30 degrees outside.I will defenitally will be putting a trans cooler in this spring.:undecided I might also have an idea for something, if I put a another sending unit on the other trans line and then have a two way switch hooked up to the wire going back to the gauge I could look at how much the trans cooler is working.:crazy:

[sharpy]

Glad to hear you got it working OK. I'm gonna do the same as you for the sender unit. Can you let us know where you got the T fitting/s or did you make it up. If so, what parts did you use and where did you install it ?
best regards, Sharpy.

[tomvoy]

Glad to hear you got it working OK. I'm gonna do the same as you for the sender unit. Can you let us know where you got the T fitting/s or did you make it up. If so, what parts did you use and where did you install it ?
best regards, Sharpy.

I picked up all the parts from the local hardware store. I used (1) 1/4 npt T- fitting, (2) 1/4 npt x 3/8 compression, (1) 1/4 npt to 1/8 npt adaptor. I installed the T-fitting on the hot side of tranny line before it goes into radiator, passenger side of radiator.

[envymyride]

ooooo my name is tom i am so cool I can do mods to anything!

[tomvoy]

ooooo my name is tom i am so cool I can do mods to anything!

http://www.cbrforum.com/upfiles/smiley/gears.gifhttp://www.cbrforum.com/upfiles/smiley/youreright.gif

[petey]

There is a sensor in the transmission, the PCM monitors the temperature. There are guages that plug into the OBDII port that will show the transmission temperature, but the are over $200.

http://www.aeroforcetech.com/

Gary

Does anyone know of any scan tools that can do this? I have the Actron CP9145. I don’t remember seeing if it tells that.