Has anyone installed a trans temp guage? I am planning on buying an analogue model from faze guage, and installing it on the line exiting the transmission to the cooler. Is this the best place for the sending unit or is there some port that I can tap into directly on the trans that might work better? I have an 02' v6 with the heavier duty tow package, and I pull a 2600 pound tent trailer with it. Everyone says, that the trannies are the weak link on these vehicles, but so far at 93,000 mi, and several major vacations towing said trailer around,I have had no problems with it. Yet what I have read makes me paranoid, so I have the fluid changed often but I would like to monitor whats happening while towing so I can take action before it should burn it self out. Does anyone have a guage already installed so you could tell me what the normal operating temps are while normal driving and while towing? Also, would there be any advantage to adding an additional cooler or a bigger cooler over the stock model? Thanks for your reading and input.

 

There's an old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"...after all those miles and the tranny is okay, leave well enough alone...just keep doing the fluid changes, OFTEN!

 

I also tow with an '02 and would be interested in how to install a transmission temp gauge. Especially I would like to monitor the temp when driving through hilly terrain. I can never decide whether I should just leave the O/D turned off or not.

 

most of the time when towing u should leave OD off only use it on long flat roads making the trans shift all the time will heat it up that much more making it work harder than it has to is not good for anything

 

That's kind of what I figured. Some of my towing is real flat (down I-95 to the Upper Chesapeake Bay) but a lot of it is real hilly through the Poconos and into central NY. I don't think leaving the O/D turned off will hurt fuel economy since its pretty meager anyway when I tow and durability is my primary concern. O/D stays off in 2006.

 

If I am not mistaken, my '03 Escapes Owners Manual states that the OD should be turned OFF while driving in CONTINUOUS stop and go conditions and while towing...and at other times be left on for the best fuel economy...

If find if I am continually driving in that 40 to 50 mph range, turning the OD off prevents the constant locking and unlocking of the torque converter...

 

My Tribute owners manual doesnt' address the O/D issue while towing - go figure. Most of the time I am towing in the 65 mph range on the highway.