What tranny temp gauge for my 97 T4R?

[Surfcaster]

Hey gents. I'm looking to install the B&M 70264 tranny cooler and figured I would put a gauge in to monitor my temperature. I do some boat/trailer hauling in the summer months and it has been known to hit 100F around here.

What's the best gauge for my 1997 4Runner LTD (3.4 V6)?

 

[A.Wilson013]

Hey gents. I'm looking to install the B&M 70264 tranny cooler and figured I would put a gauge in to monitor my temperature. I do some boat/trailer hauling in the summer months and it has been known to hit 100F around here.

What's the best gauge for my 1997 4Runner LTD (3.4 V6)?

Lately I have been hearing a lot about the Ultra Gauge... Cheap, and can monitor quite a bit of things. Instant MPG, distance to empty, are the ones that stand out to me.

I read a few days ago of a user who had a stand alone tranny gauge and the ultra gauge and they did not have corresponding readings. He thought that the Ultra was more accurate, reading a higher temp than the stand alone.

I myself am going with the stand alone because I like how they look installed in the shifter console. I currently have my AF gauge there, but I will move it and put that in a pillar pod when I get my tranny temp gauge. I know it's reading lean. My truck is not even on in that picture.

 

[mattman]

I'm interested in doing the same ... does the B&M cooler have a threaded insert for the temp sender? Or do you tie in to the factory sensor?

 

[4-Ripcord]

I'm interested in doing the same ... does the B&M cooler have a threaded insert for the temp sender? Or do you tie in to the factory sensor?

Me and another guy used the autometer4357 tranny temp gauge. Both installed in that same spot.

Chech my build (in my sig) bottum of page 4.

Or bigfishallday's build page 6.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/68346-i-found-one-2001-sport-ed-trd-scd.html

 

[mattman]

cool - thanks ripcord - that looks great!

 

[MAD 69]

The Ultra Gauge (or any other gauge) wont measure tranny temp, there is no tranny temp sensors in the 96-98 4Runners for it to pull info, the '99 and later models come with the sensor.

 

[Surfcaster]

The Ultra Gauge (or any other gauge) wont measure tranny temp, there is no tranny temp sensors in the 96-98 4Runners for it to pull info, the '99 and later models come with the sensor.

Thanks everyone, great info. MAD69, thanks for that info too....I was wondering where the sensor was that the Ultra Gauge or Scan Gauge would use for the tranny temp???

I think I will go with the inline "t-fitting" sensor and gauge that Ripcord and BigFishAllDay used. Great write-ups by the both of them.

 

[Pikeman]

I am running a Scangauge in my 98 and wont run the tranny temp. There is a sensor but no code to put into SG to have it read it. This is one of the kits i am thinking of getting. Just need to take a look on where I can mount the additional filter.

Remote Transmission filter kit for 3/8" lines *Premium kit w/ Temp Gauge | Temp. gauge & Filters | Bulkpart transmission parts

 

[Surfcaster]

I am running a Scangauge in my 98 and wont run the tranny temp. There is a sensor but no code to put into SG to have it read it. This is one of the kits i am thinking of getting. Just need to take a look on where I can mount the additional filter.

Remote Transmission filter kit for 3/8" lines *Premium kit w/ Temp Gauge | Temp. gauge & Filters | Bulkpart transmission parts

Thanks Pikeman..any idea where that sensor is?

 

[MAD 69]

That sensor/gauge kit looks good and for a decent price too. That will be one of my next mods.

 

[blcktpgsr]

I am running a Scangauge in my 98 and wont run the tranny temp. There is a sensor but no code to put into SG to have it read it. This is one of the kits i am thinking of getting. Just need to take a look on where I can mount the additional filter.

Remote Transmission filter kit for 3/8" lines *Premium kit w/ Temp Gauge | Temp. gauge & Filters | Bulkpart transmission parts

Subscribed,,do a write up too if you can..pretty please?:hungry:

 

[01KY4R]

Sorry to thread hijack, but I have an Auto Meter 4357 tranny temp gauge that I'll sell anyone for $20 shipped. It only comes with what you see in the pictures. Absolutely no damage and works perfect. PM me if you are interested.

Auto Meter 4357 - Auto Meter Ultra-Lite Analog Gauges - Overview - SummitRacing.com

 

[legokcen]

I have an UltraGauge in my RX-8. Great little thing, but it only reads what the OBDII sensors pick up. The RX-8 computer and sensors have a LOT of info so it's pretty useful.

It won't pick up tranny temp on my '97 T4R since it's just a thermocouple saying "too high" and not giving an actual temperature to the computer. If you all want, I can hook up the UltraGauge on the '97 and scan through all the sensors that DO work.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Sorry to thread hijack, but I have an Auto Meter 4357 tranny temp gauge that I'll sell anyone for $20 shipped. It only comes with what you see in the pictures. Absolutely no damage and works perfect. PM me if you are interested.

Auto Meter 4357 - Auto Meter Ultra-Lite Analog Gauges - Overview - SummitRacing.com

$20 for a $55 gauge. Now that's a good deal.


..unless it doesn't come with the sender unit...

 

[01KY4R]

$20 for a $55 gauge. Now that's a good deal.


..unless it doesn't come with the sender unit...

Exactly. The sender unit is still welded into the tranny pan of my truck. I'd rather practically give things away to forum members who are going to use certain items.

 

[Martinjmpr]

It won't pick up tranny temp on my '97 T4R since it's just a thermocouple saying "too high" and not giving an actual temperature to the computer. If you all want, I can hook up the UltraGauge on the '97 and scan through all the sensors that DO work.

As with other OBD-II gauges, it only reports what the computer reads and tranny temp isn't one of those.

Mine says it will read 33 gauges, but I haven't written down what they all are. A lot of them are things I don't really care about like "Bank 1 fuel trim" and that sort of thing. :shrug:

I mainly use mine for MPG and DTE (Distance to Empty), IOW, as my default gas gauge, since the 3rd gen 4runner gas gauge is so inaccurate.

Dumb question, where do you put the sensor for a tranny temp gauge? Do you measure it at the cooler or somewhere inside the transmission itself? I've already got the B&M external cooler bypassing the factory cooler, but I would eventually like to add a tranny temp gauge as well.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Make a brass t-fitting with the sender unit, cut the rubber hose leading to the cooler, and tie in the sender unit to the hose.

Once again, can be found on my build. Bottom of page 4.

 

[Pikeman]

Some of the gauges come with senders that are to be drilled and mounted into the Transmission pan. I highly recommend against this location, as potential for leaks is high. The preferred method is an inline as mentioned by Ripcord. You can either make your own as he did or spend $15 for one. The external filter and gauge combo has a place to mount the sensor in the filter bracket. Just make sure the sensor is pre-cooler and not after.