How would I install an Autometer Trans Temperature gauge? I figure it would be useful down here in texas, especially in the summer time.

 

:lurk:

 

There should be instructions with the gauge, but basically you put the sensor in one of the cooling lines and run the wire to wherever you are going to mount the gauge.

 

I thought you put the sensor in the tranny pan? :confused:

 

It doesn't really make a difference, but I would put it inline on the line to the radiator... probably easier to do. It should come with all the fittings you need.

 

mine went in the pan. The meter comes with the install instructions and was pretty straight foward

 

Persehone: This is one of the best mods that you can make to extend the life of your tranny. I have an autometer guage installed on a pillar pod. I must vote that you put your temp sensor in the trans pan because that is where mine is. If you don't have a cast aluminum pan then you can order a trans pan drain kit from Jegs or any other car parts mag the sensor should thread right into this fitting. when I first got my car the trans went out, I replaced it with a level II from bowtie overdrives, they will not let you have a warranty until you have a temp guage with a sensor in the pan. their recomended max temp is 150*. They have alot of good info on these transmissions their site is 700r4.com

after i installed the guage and the new transmission, I noticed max temps reaching 210* This was BAD for me, so i temporaroly installed a tube/fin cooler i had laying around until I got exactly what I wanted to keep my temps down. I now have a B&M super cooler with an Aux fan mounted to it and an internal temp swithch with a manual switch and an indicator light next to the guage on the pod. The cooler was a $200 investment. I know that is high but it has its own fan and sensor. These are not required items, just remember if you see temps that you don't like that any cooler at all is much better than none. If you get a cooler remember to put it in line after the heat exchanger in the radiator.

Back to the question that you asked. Put the temp guage in the pan. and i do have a reson for you not a guess. Do this because you want to know the temp. of the fluid that the tranny is using i.e. picking up from the filter, not the temp when it goes into or out of the heat exchanger. One more thing to note, having a sensor in line could pose as a restriction and that is the last thing that you want.

You figure correct it would be good to have a temp guage.
If you need anything else or some pix let me know.

 

Mine is inline only because that is where B&M told me to put it.

 

Is it in the line coming OFF the tranny, or going IN to the tranny?

 

:iagree: And I think it was TO the cooler. But automatics are for great-grandmas, so I really don't remember. :p:

 

depending on your financial situation and how much you care, you could put in three different sensors Inline, Outline and pan then hook them to a three position switch and then you can know all of the temps at any time.

and welcome to the forum. :seeya

 

how about getting an extra oil temp sensor the same as the one that threads into the side of the block, and put a connector on the pan to mount the sensor. then install a switch inline with the original sensor, then wire up both sensors to the switch,then you could read both temps with the same readout on the dash .

 

I'm just curious about this - how would the use of a premium grade of synthetic tranny fluid such as Amsoil work? It supposedly withstands higher temps better than conventional oil. Anyone have any experience with syn oil and a simple, conventional trans oil cooler?
Glen