Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Trans temp sensor locations

[JohnBoy5]

I am just wondering where are most folks placing their tran temp sensors on their trucks and why they chose that location. I am not trying to start any arguments and would prefer if every one respected every ones choice for their location and lets all be nice.



mine was in the pan where magtech drilled the hole. i have moved it to the trans line that flows the oil from the trans to the heat exchanger. i have a temporary setup in place but am working on a more permeant solution. I do not want the fluid flow to be restricted at all but i want the most accurate readings i can obtain. here is a link with a note about why and how its going to work for me.



Trans Temp Sensor block

 

[wb6tkr]

They make and sell a sensor that installs in the output line of the torque convertor that goes to the cooling exchanger in front of the radiator. It is easy to install and measures the transmission temp from the torque convertor before it gets cooled. The temp of the oil in the transmission pan is much lower than that coming out of the torque convertor. I believe you can still order one from Geno's Garage. It is not expensive. It gives you a real reading how hot the transmission is.

 

[JohnBoy5]

are you talking about the front most line coming out of the trans or something different?

 

[wlowe]

Dodge sells a transmission output line for your truck that has a port for a temp sensor, I installed one on my truck years ago. More accurate and reactive than putting the sensor in the pan. I believe the part number is 05011244AA, but double check with the dealer. Here is a link with some more info:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...8-5-2002/190632-transmission-temp-sensor.html

 

[THoltz]

Mine is in the pan. My thinking is I want to see the temperature of the fluid that the pump is supplying to the transmission instead of the fluid which has already left the transmission.

 

[Road Dog]

Dodge sells a transmission output line for your truck that has a port for a temp sensor, I installed one on my truck years ago. More accurate and reactive than putting the sensor in the pan. I believe the part number is 05011244AA, but double check with the dealer. Here is a link with some more info:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...8-5-2002/190632-transmission-temp-sensor.html

Sadly that part is no longer available and it was expensive too -- around $180 wholesale. On my last truck I used a hose clamp to attach the sender to the [metal] transmission cooler line and wrapped it in insulation. Seemed to work ok. On my current truck it's attached to a test port, which almost works, but that's how it was when I bought it.

 

[JohnBoy5]

have yall seen the block i made that i am going to weld in the line? i am trying to also figure out a way to make the block where the line could be cut, pushed in and sealed to not leak or come out. i am going to install this right below the heat exchanger on the passanger side.



Trans Temp Sensor block



it was prerry easy to make i am going to try adn weld it in this weekend if i have time and will post more pictures when its in...

 

[Midnite]

Accuracy has nothing to do with where your sender is located--it has to do with whether your sender is good, or if it's a basket case and giving you incorrect readings. You just need to locate the sender where you want to read the temps. You can have it in the pan or in the output line, and if the sender is good then you're getting accurate temp readings regardless of where the sender is.

Most of us I think want to know what the temp of the hottest fluid is. Others want to know what the temp of the fluid in the pan is. Neither one is wrong, they just reflect different desires of different people. There's nothing that says you can't run multiple senders to the same gauge and a switch so you can look at them all.

Mike

 

[JohnBoy5]

i agree 100% with you, this may seem a little over board but i brought both senders to work with me (i calibrate nuclear test equipment). took some reading and trimmed them up with some resistors to read ±1°F lol. i bet my gauges are some of the most accurate reading ones in a truck. lol... my manager laughs at me for this. my pyro is within ±5°F across the entire range of 100 to 1500°F Boost is with in ±1 PSI and fuel PSI is dead nuts everywhere.



I guess when i was saying accuracy i was meaning of how accurate is the location going to reflect what is actually going on in the trans. to me to understand load, driving style and outside temp and what effect its going to have and how much it will affect it you would maybe want it in a line. but you would also need to know what the temp the fluid is starting at thus the pan temp...

 

[wb6tkr]

The transmission temp is much higher than in the pan as it comes from the torque convertor and is nice to know how high the oil has been heated. I have both, one in the pan and one in the line from the convertor. If you really want to know what is going on with the oil temp in your transmission install both. It is worth it. Especially if you pull a heavy trailer.

 

[Midnite]

I guess when i was saying accuracy i was meaning of how accurate is the location going to reflect what is actually going on in the trans. to me to understand load, driving style and outside temp and what effect its going to have and how much it will affect it you would maybe want it in a line. but you would also need to know what the temp the fluid is starting at thus the pan temp...

Agreed. That's why I had my sender in the output line on my old '92. By the time you notice the pan temps climbing, the output line temps could be pretty toasty.



I like that block too, btw.



Mike

 

[JohnBoy5]

it would be interesting to put one on the line before it get back to the trans to see how effective the cooler is. i might put on there also just for testing. might be interesting to watch.

 

[Road Dog]

Nobody mentions cutting the rubber hose at the transmission cooler and inserting a T with some barbs and a 1/8 fitting for the sensor. At that point you're measuring the 1st cooler output or the 2nd cooler output (return to transmission).

 

[JohnBoy5]

I think thats because the line that goes to the heat exchanger is all aluminum there is no rubber parts in it. it goes from the trans to the head exchanger to the air cooler then back to the trans. the only place that has rubber is at the air cooler.