Transmission Temperature Gauge/Fluid Change

[Dan Acosta]

I am sure this has been brought up a few time, but I cant seem to find the correct thread on this.
I just bought a travel trailer and did my first haul this weekend. It did great, no issues. I am however concerned with keeping trans temps down, or at least being able to monitor them.

I know the Eskys & HD2500s had temp gauges. I dont really want to do the entire swap, so can I solder in a temp gauge stepper motor to my existing gauge cluster and add the face trim? Has anybody done this and are there any tutorials/parts lists floating around?

Secondly, I have never done a fluid change, Dont know if the previous owner did. I know the flushes can cause some problems, but how about a simple fluid (partial fluid) & filter change at 125k miless?

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Yes, you can add the gauge. The sensor is already there. Depending on you MY, you may need a tech II to turn the feature on in the cluster. It seems to be hit or miss starting somewhere in the 04s.

Use the trans lines to the radiator to pump out your fluid. Change you filter, and then fill, pump, fill, pump, etc until you are pumping clean fluid.

 

[Dan Acosta]

My tahoe is an 05, So I just need to get the face, needle & stepper?

 

[HiHoeSilver]

My tahoe is an 05, So I just need to get the face, needle & stepper?

Most likely an 05 will require the "dealership" to turn it on.

 

[swathdiver]

If the fluid looks normal for its age, isn't burned, no issues, then change it.

 

[Z15]

Change your ATF fluid, and change it every 50,000 miles or sooner if you are towing. And change all of it, just dropping the pan leaves up 6 qts of used and probably worn out ATF to mix with the new fluid. Contrary to what some think, ATF does not last forever.

Also I would take a good look at the bottom of the transmission pan. If there is any sentiment in the bottom of the pan, that's a sign of future trans problems (cutch material) and towing will accelerate it.

What this...

If your trans checks (no pan sentiment) out, I would use this fluid ►100% Synthetic ATF

 

[southboundchicken]

I’ve got a 03 and had the guy who rebuilt the cluster install a trans temp gauge while he was in there working his magic then once it was returned to me I installed said cluster and BAM!! Trans temp worked with no other adjustments or programming

 

[HiHoeSilver]

I’ve got a 03 and had the guy who rebuilt the cluster install a trans temp gauge while he was in there working his magic then once it was returned to me I installed said cluster and BAM!! Trans temp worked with no other adjustments or programming

Common for 03. 04.5+, not so much. AND the programming is in the cluster. e.g. Digital dash solutions will send you a programmed cluster.

 

[TM98]

I was in the same boat as you for not having a transmission gauge. Instead of adding a gauge in the cluster I ended up getting a scangauge. It will monitor four different things at once.

https://www.scangauge.com/products/scangauge-ii/

 

[norcalboon]

I swapped my cluster when we started towing with an denali version from Digital Dash - plug and play it works great and gave it a nice upgraded look to boot. Also had trans fluid flushed and installed a trans cooler .