Installed a digital transmission temperature gauge

[mastacox]

I've been needing a tranny temp gauge for a long time now. Since I'm going on a pilgrimage to Glamis this weekend, I decided I needed to pull the trigger.

After looking around I decided most of the gauges I was finding were either a) too expensive, or b) didn't have the resolution I was looking for. It seems like all of the "budget" analog gauges have small dials with a 90 degree or so sweep, and poor resolution on temperatures. Basically, you would be able to see you're somewhere between 200 and 280 for example, but who knows where exactly. As for the more expensive ones, sure you can get a 270 degree sweep gauge with even spacing across the temperature range, but you end up spending $200 on it.

So, after many hours of looking at gauges and weighing pros/cons I decided to get an AutoMeter digital gauge. It has the range I want, and you can easily see what temperature you're running with a quick glance.

Those of you with 3rd gen 4Runners (especially the supercharged guys) know that gauge space takes some creativity if you want several engine metrics, especially after you fill up the 2-gauge a-pillar pod. After prioritizing locations I found the perfect place to install this new one. Overall I'm very happy with the install and and more comfortable knowing how the transmission's doing temp-wise. Dunes here I come!

Installed picture of the gauge:


Installing the gauge was very easy. For the hole I used a 2" hole saw; the gauge fits very snugly in it.


Closeup of the gauge:


Picture of the sender installed:

[DHC6twinotter]

I like that! Nice clean install.

I may have to do this too.

[slosurfer]

That's nice! I just got a little jealous. Have fun at the dunes!

[Seanz0rz]

[me=Seanz0rz]adds another thing to the list.[/me]

looks great!

[Scuba]

Very clean install man !! Have fun at the dunes !

[mastacox]

Thanks for the feedback guys! Now the next gauge I try to put in is going to get interesting, I'm out of places to stuff one!

[Erich_870]

Very nice!

Did you look at Cyberdyne Gauges? I really want to install a temp gauge and tranny cooler, but I want it to be green digital to stay with the green stock theme. AutoMeter only makes red and blue.

Just wondering.

Erich

[mt_goat]

I like it Let us know what your temps are running. Do you have a VB mod done?

Just in case someone needs to know the hot line and cool line for an A340F

[mastacox]

Very nice!

Did you look at Cyberdyne Gauges? I really want to install a temp gauge and tranny cooler, but I want it to be green digital to stay with the green stock theme. AutoMeter only makes red and blue.

Just wondering.

Erich

I looked at Cyberdyne gauges, their problem is that their senders are single-wire, which means you have to ground the block that they screw into which is a PITA. The AutoMeter gauges use a 2-wire sender, which means the sender shares its ground with the gauge and the coupling the sender screws into doesn't have to be grounded, so you can just put it in the middle of the rubber line and call it a day.

[mastacox]

I like it Let us know what your temps are running. Do you have a VB mod done?

Don't have the VB mod done, I plan to shim my accumulators in the not-so distant future but that's about it.

My temps are trivial right now, about 95 with the torque converter locked while driving, and 120ish with the TC unlocked. Mind you, the ambient temp when I was reading the gauge was about 20 degrees F.