Help - Where do I put a trans temp sesnor?

[sean3073]

Need some help. Where is the best place to put a trans temp sensor in a 02 with an automatic? Sean

 

[DieselDoghouse]

I had always been told to put it in the pressure line to the cooler leading from the transmission as this represents the hottest oil leaving the unit. Sensors in pans may reflect 'stagnant oil' and NOT critical temps. Mine is in such a line by swapping the stock hose for a Mopar line with sensor port. I find the reading changes promptly to reflect stop/go, OD off etc. I can only say this has worked for me. hort of multiple sensors…

 

[bmoeller]

That is what I did as well. The line is for '94-95 truck. Cost ~$100 from the dealer. A trans shop might be able to do better on the price.



Do a search here on my user name. I have the p/n listed in several posts.

 

[Hoefler]

In the pan is where the available fluid for cooling temp is. It is considered the core temp of the transmission as a whole. If you look under the a class 7 or 8 truck ( over the road trucks ) you find the sender is in the bottom of the unit, manual or auto, covered in oil.

 

[steved]

I will only add that while some might think the oil in the pan is "stagnant", you get readings that follow trends as you'd expect... if the converter is unlocked, they increase... if you are locked and on the highway, they drop... if you are sitting in traffic, they increase...



No granted the gauge probably reacts slower and reads less than what is being pumped to the cooler, but you an still get a good feel for condidtions.



And I also found the pan to provide a better reading than the "test port" some people use.



steved

 

[Joe G.]

I had mine in the accumulator test port (line pressure) for a while. I moved it to the cooler line. The temps at the cooler line read a little bit higher than the test port. Pan temps are a lot cooler and change slowly. I don't trust that.

 

[SKargo]

Get a BD X-monitor, and you can use your trans' internal sensor via the pcm harness.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

I'm with Joe G (a safe bet! ) on this one - I wanted the highest possible reading as a worst case indication before I fry friction surfaces, etc. I have been pleased with the readings i'm getting.

 

[Fishin Guide]

Where the temps are measured is always a hotly debated issue.



And I think taking a look at the temps actually entering the trans via the pan has some merit. BUT... .



Only by monitorin the temps in the HOTTEST location can you get a real picture of the condition of your fluid. The temperature swings within the pan are far too slow to show the spikes you can see on the gauge. A few moments of overheated fluid absolutely ruins it. The pan gauge may still say things are "ok".



So, do what you feel is best for you. But I know that monitoring the temps in the hottest location is the best information available.



Dave

 

[JRBurn]

I placed mine in the hot line out to the cooler,

with this http://www.dieselmanor.com/dm_products/DM-CLG3.asp

 

[smd]

Awsome

Get a BD X-monitor, and you can use your trans' internal sensor via the pcm harness.

I like this gauge and set up very much!!! I had Carson Dodge install it for me, I bought mine for Geno`s Oo. Oo.

 

[SKargo]

I like this gauge and set up very much!!! I had Carson Dodge install it for me, I bought mine for Geno`s Oo. Oo.

I like mine too. I wasn't sure I would, but it's a great, unobtrusive way to get some of the needed readings.

 

[ScottLewis]

I just finished installing Isspro gauges and struggled with placement of the temp sending unit. I ultimately pirated an idea from "allnew2me" and fabricated a saddle tee out of a brass 1/2"compression tee and fastened it to the cooling line where it exits the transmission. The sender screws into the tee which is clamped on to the line with hose clamps. I used heat sink compound to enhance heat transfer to the sender. So far it works very well. Response time and accuracy seems to approach in-line sensor placement and exceeds in-pan reaction times. All this without opening the pan or lines and at virtually no cost.

I don't know how to attach documents to this forum but will relay my results and photos to those who e-mail me a request.



Dan

 

[DBF]

I put in three senders, one in the output line from the trans to my first under-bed fan-equipped cooler, another one after that cooler but before the second under-bed fan-equipped cooler, and the third one in the pan.



Run the lines to a three-position switch and watch what you want to watch.



Regards, DBF

 

[JimBob24]

I put in three senders, one in the output line from the trans to my first under-bed fan-equipped cooler, another one after that cooler but before the second under-bed fan-equipped cooler, and the third one in the pan.



Run the lines to a three-position switch and watch what you want to watch.



Regards, DBF

How do the different temps compare??? I have been looking at the under-bed fan type cooler and was wondering how well that worked?

 

[DBF]

On my old grey mule, towing a 7500# 5er, in 88* heat, on the level, at 62mph, I was seeing 190*-200* out of the trans, 170* out of the first cooler, and 150* in the pan.



I have removed the engine-coolant to trans-fluid heat exchanger so the order of coolers is: Dodge/Mopar Superduty Cooler (under-bed with fan), then a Derale (under-bed with fan) cooler, then the small cooler on top of the radiator, then back to the pan of the trans.



I'll update my gallery to show the new configuration when I return from a current trip.



Regards, DBF

 

[Extreme1]

There have been post from members with the pan mounted sender that killed their trannys without ever getting the pan temps high. On my '94 (it needs the sender in the line for winter driving) I replaced the anti-drainback valve and rubber hose on the stock line with a T fitting mounted to the block mounted cooler and a piece of hose to the line up from the trans. Fast response depending on where I'm driving.

 

[Black Ram Alpha]

Easy way -On the right side of the trans (pass side) there is a pressure testing port plug that removed works very nice for the temp probe to fit into. I'm not sure if its the "best" place but it cant be too far off . I've built several of these trans and don't see any prob with it there as it acts like the plug that was removed . Only prob would be is if was too long and interfered , which it don't.

 

[V Baker]

Oil Cooler Tube,part# 05011244AA this is a Mo-Par part#.

 

[rweis]

The '99 transmission hot line has a sensor port WELDED into the steel line. That is why I went with the '99 hot line.



Then:

There is an anti drainback check valve in the water heat exchanger (rearward port I think). That check valve restricts the fluid flow by 50%. I took that out BUT: BEFORE YOU PUT THE transmission IN GEAR YOU HAVE TO WAIT 20 SECONDS FOR THE CONVERTER TO FILL AND HAVE FULL FLOW FLUID. IF you are willing to do that, that is the second thing I would do.



Then (3) add a under bed cooler WITH A FAN. Why with a fan? transmission temps are not a prob if you are going 50 mph, the prob is when it is unlocked and especially if you are backing up an RV (no air flow across the OEM cooler), or stuck in traffic.



A larger transmission pan helps not only with more cooling, but with a larger volume of fluid as well.



Bob Weis.