transmission Temp Light

[KrustyKruiser]

Last weekend I was towing my car trailer and the transmission temp light flashed on very briefly - so briefly that I had to pull over and turn my ignition on and off to see what it was. I had only been driving (from cold) for maybe 10 minutes. I checked the transmission fluid level and all was good - the transmission fluid is a bit on the brown color - not terrible though. I bought the stuff to do a complete fluid change yesterday so that I can change the fluid this weekend and install the transmission temp gauge sensor bung in the transmission pan. I just bought the truck about two months ago and have just got the EGT, boost and transmission temp guages. The transmission temp light flashed again last night on the way to the store - again only running a few minutes from cold.



I have 65K on the clock so am not too far away from being out of warranty. Appart from changing the fluids, is there much I can do with the transmission to keep it alive?



Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.



Andy



2003 5. 9 CTD, HO, Ext Cab, 4X4, Auto, 4" Exh, Edge Box

 

[KrustyKruiser]

Oh, I did a TDR search and note that by the time the transmission warning light comes on the temp is at 260* so that it spells trouble. I do not notice any slip or soft "shifts" - most of the time it shifts pretty "crisply".



Andy

 

[CBrabec]

Transmission light

Andy

Just this morning when I was out plowing snow, I noticed that my transmission light came on and stayed on the entire night. No wierd shifting or anything. My trans. guage said that my temp wasn't even 170*, so I'm not sure why my light came on. I had changed my fluid about a month ago and used AMsoil, so I know my transmission is protected by a good fluid. Anyway, I shut my truck off and went to my other job, so the truck sat for about 6 hours and when I got back in my truck to go back out and finish plowing, the light still was on. Not sure if there is a sensor issue. I've seen 220-230* before on my transmission guage, and never had the light go on. Has this happened to anyone else? Should I be concerned?



Chris

 

[KrustyKruiser]

Chris:



Thanks. That is interesting, and encouraging. I had not thought about a sensor or wiring malfunction. I thought back to when the light flashed on, and in both cases I was making a hard right turn. Hmmmm... I should check the sensor unit and wiring, just in case.



Andy

 

[GaryCarter]

I remember a post where someone had similar lamp on in cold weather. I think it turned out to be a trans temp sensor problem or moisture in a wiring connector.

Don't recall for sure if that was TDR or not.



Gary

 

[MCecil]

I checked the transmission fluid level and all was good - the transmission fluid is a bit on the brown color - not terrible though.

I remember reading somewhere, a TSB I think, that ATF+4 is constituted with a temporary dye that will allow the fluid to darken over time. Also, this is not necessarily an indication that the fluid has been overheated and deteriorating.

Enjoy your day and God Bless,
Merv