temp guage for automatic gearbox.

Thanks Peter I am really looking at a guage or a computer readout type rather than a warning light that I know is there already.I want to know actual temperature before it gets too hot. Fitting this guage the mecahnic said is the problem and where they get the pick up from or tap into the gearbox from without upsetting the onboard computer. I'll let him know about the temp sensors that you suggested . And are these physically large units as I am limited to where I can put it in console of car with all the other gizmos I already have. The mechanic is wiring up the fan so I have a switch to turn it on when towing and also wiring to work off ignition when key is in the ignition so I can't leave it on when I stop car and flatten battery. We had a look and there is no where to really put this readout gizmo in the 100ser dash. The fan switch was easy . So at least I will have the fan installed but I would like to know the temp readout of my gearbox. The guage is the only problem ,the fan was easy.

Peter
Simplistic solution---You are going to install a fan with a switch anyway so why bother with a probe, switch the fan on when you are towing the van, the fan will not be a drag on the battery and you will have less gauges to watch and worry about.

Bob

Hi Kevin I know I am a bit over cautious here but I have already burnt one auto gearbox whilst 4wding at stockton luckily it was under waranty. And I have spoken to some others with similar problems.I don't know if its a common thing or not Toyota won't say There are alot of factors in everyone circumstances I suppose so they can't blame one thing. But overheating was the common thing . I for one am changing my gearbox oil more often every 40K as a precatuion and now a fan. I have a 2003 model with the 5spd box.
. I am just covering my ar#e . As with my luck it would probably happen out in the back blocks somewhere. cheers Peter

Hi Norm , Yeh I will be towing something in vacinity of 3.3tonne hopefully fully laden which would be okay when on the tar but offroad may heat up gearbox more. I will weigh van when everything on . So by keeping everything cool and changing oil will keep gearbox and oil in top condition. I will let ya know when I find a guage to suit. My cruiser came with a toyota auto cooler which is about 12 inch width and so the 9 inch thermofan I am putting in would suit nicely. I prefer to turn it on when gearbox heats up. I know what too much heat does to a torque converter but if too cool is theregoing to be any problems. Cheers Peter

Hi Norm
Have a look at the TM2 engine watch dog.
I have one for engine temperature but can be use to monitor
any thing you want very easy to install.
They did advertise on this site but follow the link for more info
http://www.sig.itel.net/
Rob.

Hi Norm,
I have a scangauge fitted to a 2/2003 V8 cruiser and it seems to work quite well. Haven't found the codes to use for the auto trans. temp though

Cheers

Hi Peter,

Am I missing something here. Having fitted a pair of fans to my external Auto Cooler, I also tow but the fans are only used when in Low Range doing either sand or steep hill work with low air flows over the cooler. When towing, natural 80kph air flow from vehicle momentum should push air over the cooler faster than the fan anyway.

True but they are incompatible with most 100 series before 2006

I am with you Rocky Boy, Use a hose clamp to hold the probe on the cooler pipe. It may not give you a really accurate gearbox temp reading but it will be a good indication. You will see the fluid temperature rising when the engine is labouring and cooling when everything is running well. Just a few days ago I was with several vehicles and we did a very long steep hill climb to about 1500 metres, a couple of vehicles were not using the right gears and had their transmission lights come on. Others using lower gear and higher revs had no problems. Also, a couple of vehicles switched off their engines at the summit. The heat retained in the system continued to 'soak' through the system and you could hear the radiators bubbling. Those people that left their engines running for a few minutes kept the fluids circulating and cooling. A temperature gauge would have been very handy to indicate if you could simply switch off or needed to let the engine 'run down' before shutting down. I will be fitting a transmission temp gauge very soon.