Transmission Temp Sending Unit - Where to Place

[swexlin]

Getting ready to install my transmission temp sender. Perusing threads, there seems to be conflicting info out there. Where, really, should the sender be placed?



Should (or can?) the STOCK pan be drilled and tapped, or is that not prudent? I've heard that can only be done with an aftermarket pan, which I am not planning to get. And what would be the reason?



Or, some have placed the sender in the cooler line? What kind of adapter do I need, and what are the risks (like leakage, or blowing out the line?)



Sorry for the silly questions, I just don't want to screw up my new high $$ truck, or blow transmission fluid 50 miles down the road after installation. I'm a *bit* of a dufus when it comes to mechanical things, so please excuse my ignorance.



Thanks,



Scott

 

[majora]

If you get the X-Monitor gages you can use the existing transmission temp wiring. There may be some other gage sets that use the same wire but I do not know about them.



Cheers

Gordon

 

[swexlin]

you can use the existing transmission temp wiring

Exisiting? Please expand on this. Although I have the DiProcal which uses a temp sender, so it probably wouldn't matter.



I downloaded some instructions, where it says to replace one the plugs in the transmission, but some on here say that is NOT a good place? Hence my question.



I'm a bit confused.

 

[Bertram65]

I put mine in one of the test ports on the passengers side on the transmission. I probed it first and there was nothing it there that the Autometer probe would contact. It works great, it responds fast, when I have towed or tried to build a little boost at a red light by holding the brake while giving it a little pedal it has moved right up, nothing drastic, but it does respond quickly in the test port I have it in. I have a picture in my readers rig on the probes location.

 

[DFrank]

Brtram65: how long have you had your transmission probe in this test port? I put mine in a different (higher) one and get poor readings. I asked my service tech about it and he said none of those ports were good to use (he did not expand on the reason) The one i used read 50+ degrees lower than the OBD computer he hooked up.



If the one you used really works, I would much rather move mine to it than tap and weld to the pan, as he suggested.



How high do your readings get?



Anyone know about tapping into the factory sender? I vaugely remember reading about someone wiring into that, but couldn't find it using search.

 

[swexlin]

I put mine in one of the test ports on the passengers side on the transmission. I probed it

That's what DiProcal suggests, and it seems quick, easy, and no mess. But, as DFrank says above, some do not seem to recommend. I believe this is probably the way I will go.

 

[JEly]

Bertram65------which test port did you use there is 3 on the passenger side? I tried to ground mine in the cooler line still no luck so I put it back in the front test port pass. side and it works so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.



JIM

 

[swexlin]

JEly, was that a pretty easy install? Sounds like it from the directions.

 

[Bertram65]

I have had the probe in for about 8K miles. Mine has read as high as 180, but I have only towed 4500LBs and it was cold out. It usually takes a good 15 minutes to move to around 150 were it usually runs around town, highway driving it runs about the same just takes longer to get to 150 if I get right on the highway. The first time I went down to Jersey with the gauges I did not think it was working correctly as the temp stayed at 150, once I got the the Tapenzee bridge and hit all the traffic it went right up to 170. Once I was past it back down to 150. It is possable that it reads lower than other probe locations, but it gives me a good baseline so if it goes up higher than I am used to seeing I can try to adjust my driving to get it down. The Autometer probe is fairly short, I do not know if other brand probes are longer. The port is the rear most test port on the passenger's side.

 

[swexlin]

Bertram, that's a good picture of your install. Thanks.

 

[majora]

swexlin

the 04. 5 has a temp sensor already in the transmission. All that has to be done is tap this wire to send a signal to the x-monitor. Mine was tapped just before it enters the ECM or whatever that computer on the side of the engine is.



Cheers

Gordon

 

[swexlin]

All that has to be done is tap this wire to send a signal to the x-monitor.

Except I'm not using the X Monitor, I'm using a DiProcal gauge, which requires a sensor. Unless there's a way to use that gauge with the wire.