trans temp guage ??
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Corpus Christi, TX
They all do that. The gauge isin't really a gauge at all! The gauge will read normal as long as the temp is between two ranges (like...50F and 200F, I don't know the actual min & max.) I've had my temp gauge stay below normal at startup during the winter, but I've never seen it move above normal (example, I drove for a good 20 miles through deep soft sand, I darn well KNOW the trans was hot, but the gauge still read dead center.) Actually, some have reported that when the temp gauge does move, your trans is way past the temp that damage occours. So, a good aftermarket tranny temp gauge is an excellent idea if you're going to be towing or working the snot out of your truck!
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 775
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From: Northern Va
Lots of OEM's install idiot gauges. They look pretty and are a good advertising point, but they do none of us any good.
The only gauge I have that isn't in the middle all the time is the fuel gauge.
I know why they do it, if they had the trans temp gauge indicate the real situation, people would be coming in screaming that their trans was running "hotter than it did last year" all the time, even though there is really nothing wrong.
Why does Ford waste their time. Give us real gauges readings or go back to idiot lights so you will charge less and we can spend the cash on gauges the tell us something.
The only gauge I have that isn't in the middle all the time is the fuel gauge.
I know why they do it, if they had the trans temp gauge indicate the real situation, people would be coming in screaming that their trans was running "hotter than it did last year" all the time, even though there is really nothing wrong.
Why does Ford waste their time. Give us real gauges readings or go back to idiot lights so you will charge less and we can spend the cash on gauges the tell us something.
Posting Guru
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From: Port St. Lucie, FL
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: NJ ... the garbage state
yea, makes sense from a factories stand point i guess. anyone thought of making a replacement controler for the gauge to make it mroe accurate? Gotta be an electrical engineer around here somewhere that wants an accurate factory gauge. If only i had paid more attention in those required electrical classes at engineering school!!
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Northern Va
Originally Posted by iskybantilus
yea, makes sense from a factories stand point i guess. anyone thought of making a replacement controler for the gauge to make it mroe accurate? Gotta be an electrical engineer around here somewhere that wants an accurate factory gauge. If only i had paid more attention in those required electrical classes at engineering school!!
It's not the gauge, it the PCM. The PCM controls the guage and is what is causing the reading to work like it does. If there was a direct link, you might be able to change the sensor or gauge to make it read correctly.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: NJ ... the garbage state
yea, but couldnt we use the split off the signal the pcm is using, and setup a stand alone controler for the gauge? o well, guess its a pillar mount cluster for a real trans temp guage ... I like that the factory gauges are in there, wanna find a way to use them if possible. Like for the 03 cobras, a guy make a panel that fits into the cluster, and u cut off the needle pin, and it shows accurate readings up to 16psi, instead of the lowely 10 psi factory gauge. turned out, the gauge was accurate enough up in that range, just stopped cause it was hitting the pin. granted, thats a bit different, but the principle is the same, work with whats there to make it more usefull.
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New User
Joined: Sep 2003
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If you happen to have the electronic odometer you can read the trans temp. Push and hold the odometer stalk while you turn the key to the ON position. It cycles thru a check gauges step then you can start the truck and monitor a whole bunch of stuff while going down the road. Damned if I can figure out what all the information is telling me but there sure is alot there. This is on my '03 F250 V10. Other years and models could be different I suppose.
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Elder User
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From: NJ ... the garbage state
yea, u can do that with any ford with an electronic gauge cluster, but its the principle, i want the sweeping guages in factory format to be accurate. i know oil pressure and temperature and what not fluctuate with season and driving conditions, and i dont care if john Q. Public doesnt understand that, so ford has to make the gauges like that. It just annoys me to buy a XX,000 dollar truck, adn there is a guage that you thought was nice cause it was there, and its on the verge of useless. i dont care if it was the most accurate thing in the world, but at least if its sweeping motion relative to normal running location would tell u if its heating up excessivly, and not idiot warn you at over 230 degrees. just venting i guess, i know its no ones fault here, just wanna see if we can come up to a solution.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,553
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From: Corpus Christi, TX
I feel your pain iskybantilus! I had a '98 Isuzu Hombre (S-10 clone), and it's gauges were dead on, everything moved like it should (oil pressure, etc). I just wish Ford would have the same caliber of gauges as GM does.
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