Notices
Excursion - King of SUVs 2000 - 2005 Ford Excursion
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tranny Gage

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 1, 2006 | 09:54 AM
  #1  
7.3L-Excur's Avatar
7.3L-Excur
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Tranny Gage

Does anybody know if the transmission gage that is in the instument panel that comes from the factory, can it be converted from an "idiot gage" to a real gage? Now it stays locked in the middle of the temp range, it never moves. Can it at least be converted to that it at least moves?

I've seen oil pressure gages that instead of a sending unit, they just have a switch and a fixed resistor so the gage stays "locked" in the middle of the range and never moves unless the oil pressure basically goes to zero.

If the tranny gage can't be converted to a moving gage, is there an extra hole in the tranny to mount an aftermarket sending unit for a new gage that actually displays in degrees F? Or can a aftermarket gage be "piggy backed" off the existing sender? I'm sure the current sending unit is used by the vehicle computer, so it probably can't just be removed and another one added. Or can it?
 
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2006 | 02:12 PM
  #2  
Toreador_Diesel's Avatar
Toreador_Diesel
FTE Leadership Emeritus
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,258
Likes: 771
From: Houston, Texas
Club FTE Gold Member
The existing sender on the transmission (MY 2002 and up) acutally reads temperature (i.e 120 degrees, 200 degrees and so on). The gage on the dashboard just looks for a certain amount of heat (not very much) and rises accordingly. So now might be a good time to get some aftermarket gauges in.
 
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2006 | 03:50 PM
  #3  
7.3L-Excur's Avatar
7.3L-Excur
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thanks Toreador.

Do you know if I can just Piggy back off that stock sending unit with the aftermarket gage? Or will I have to add an additional sending unit for the aftermarket gage?
 
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2006 | 09:47 AM
  #4  
Casey's Avatar
Casey
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,210
Likes: 2
You'll need to add a sender. There is a port on the driver's side of the trans, above the pan, towards the front. There is a black hex head plug in it. That's a good place to install a sender for a gauge.
 
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2006 | 01:32 PM
  #5  
jschira's Avatar
jschira
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 20
From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by 7.3L-Excur
Does anybody know if the transmission gage that is in the instument panel that comes from the factory, can it be converted from an "idiot gage" to a real gage? Now it stays locked in the middle of the temp range, it never moves. Can it at least be converted to that it at least moves?
The gauge works off of the ECM, not off of the sender unit. So the gauge says what the computer tells it to say. There is no direct connection between the sender and the gauge.

Originally Posted by 7.3L-Excur
I've seen oil pressure gages that instead of a sending unit, they just have a switch and a fixed resistor so the gage stays "locked" in the middle of the range and never moves unless the oil pressure basically goes to zero.
You've not only seen one, you have one. The factory oil pressure gauge reads "Normal" at anything above 6 psi.
 
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2006 | 03:58 PM
  #6  
7.3L-Excur's Avatar
7.3L-Excur
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thanks Casey.
 
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2006 | 05:02 PM
  #7  
Toreador_Diesel's Avatar
Toreador_Diesel
FTE Leadership Emeritus
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,258
Likes: 771
From: Houston, Texas
Club FTE Gold Member
[QUOTE=jschira]The gauge works off of the ECM, not off of the sender unit. So the gauge says what the computer tells it to say. There is no direct connection between the sender and the gauge.[QUOTE]

That's what it was!

I'm not sure where read it, but I think that's something to the effect of what they said. They said something about the ECM and whatever else, I'll have to dig up the article and post the link.
 
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2006 | 07:40 PM
  #8  
7.3L-Excur's Avatar
7.3L-Excur
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thanks jschira.

That makesperfect sense and clears up a lot. Thanks very much for the information.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

 Brett Foote
story-2

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-7

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 2, 2006 | 07:46 PM
  #9  
7.3L-Excur's Avatar
7.3L-Excur
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Toreador,

If you find that article, I'd be very interested in reading it.

Thanks
 
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2006 | 11:38 AM
  #10  
Toreador_Diesel's Avatar
Toreador_Diesel
FTE Leadership Emeritus
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,258
Likes: 771
From: Houston, Texas
Club FTE Gold Member
I finally found it!

Here it is: http://www.itpdiesel.com/store.php?transgauge=1
 
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2006 | 07:54 AM
  #11  
7.3L-Excur's Avatar
7.3L-Excur
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thanks for spending the time to find this web site on tranny gages.

I worked for Ford for 17 years and participated in what was called customer inspection studies. Basically they would bring in owners of a particular vehicle and ask what the customer liked and didn't like. Then Ford would get a score for various categories like "gages". Based on those scores Ford would make changes to those vehicles.

One of the things the "average" customer liked, was gages, not "idiot lights". However the "average" customer didn't like the fact that the gages moved. The customer perceived that gage movement as poor quality. So they turned functional gages into "idiot gages". Once Ford turned the gages into idiot gages, their score for gages improved.

Sad but true.....
 
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2006 | 03:36 PM
  #12  
jschira's Avatar
jschira
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 20
From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by 7.3L-Excur
Thanks for spending the time to find this web site on tranny gages.

I worked for Ford for 17 years and participated in what was called customer inspection studies. Basically they would bring in owners of a particular vehicle and ask what the customer liked and didn't like. Then Ford would get a score for various categories like "gages". Based on those scores Ford would make changes to those vehicles.

One of the things the "average" customer liked, was gages, not "idiot lights". However the "average" customer didn't like the fact that the gages moved. The customer perceived that gage movement as poor quality. So they turned functional gages into "idiot gages". Once Ford turned the gages into idiot gages, their score for gages improved.

Sad but true.....
AutoJim told a similar story from his DCX years. People would see the temp gauge moving up and down. They figured that something must be wrong, so they took their car into the dealer. The dealers figured that it must be the t-stat so they changed them out. DCX paid for 1000s of new t-stats on warranty.

DCX then "dumbed" down the temp gauge. Made it an idiot light. Warranty claims went to zilch overnight. And yet, no one blew their engine.

The human race is not as smart as it thinks.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mdc9966
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Dec 6, 2016 10:22 AM
CheckEngine
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
3
Oct 1, 2015 07:04 PM
MrPleasant
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
Jul 26, 2015 10:29 AM
1979 300i6
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Mar 28, 2015 08:35 PM
Ford Breakdown
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
4
Apr 4, 2011 06:18 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:53 AM.

story-0
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

Slideshow: 10 ways Ford is losing to the competition

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 09:52:01


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

Some great targets in today's expensive world.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 09:35:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-4
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE