Cheap and Easy Transmission Temp Reading

[UConnMRB]

Hey Guys. A little while back, I bought a device for giving me a more advanced reading on my truck's performance (not towing related). I am sure some of you are aware of this, but to those who are not, it is a little device that plugs into your diagnostics computer (usually under the dash).

A typical OBD Device is similar to this:

Via a smartphone and bluetooth you can get an app (I use torque pro) that will give a completely customized reading of anything you want (Engine Torque, Horsepower, Oil Temp, Fuel Pressure, Air Intake Temp, etc). I mount my phone to the dash, just like I would if I was using it as a GPS.

The reason I am posting this here is because my truck does have a transmission temp sensor, but it does not display it in any onboard gauges....so for towing I find this device very helpful to make sure I am not overloading anything.

It is pretty neat and it ends up looking something like this on my phone:

The OBD device and app are pretty cheap (about $20 for both).

 

[bruceb58]

What truck do you have?

I have a 1/2T 99 Silverado and I sent my instrument cluster to a speedometer shop and had them add one to my cluster. Mine now looks like a 3/4T cluster which comes factory with the gauge.

 

[UConnMRB]

Well I call it a "truck" but its a Ford Explorer. I would love to have one installed in-dash, but this is a cheap alternative. It also doubles as a diagnostic tool if your car/truck throws a code.

 

[SDSeville]

Very cool! Does it use GPS or cell data or is it only blue tooth? I am just wondering if I could use one of my older iphones (no longer connected to cell service) and just leave it in the truck.

 

[UConnMRB]

Mine uses only blue tooth, so an older phone should work....but you need to down load the app somehow with that older phone..so I guess you could do that via wifi.

 

[jkust]

This is cool...since I don't have a trans temp on either of my suv's and would like one. Call me crazy but I don't see the read out for the trans temp on the example screen? I wonder then if my suv even has the ability to measure the trans temp?

 

[UConnMRB]

Yeah sorry that was just a sample photo pulled from google. Once in the app you can add any readouts you want as long as your vehicles computer tracks what you are looking for...you can even elect to have it read as digital or tach layout or both...you can move them around to make each read out larger or smaller or whatever you want.

 

[bigdee]

Very cool! Does it use GPS or cell data or is it only blue tooth? I am just wondering if I could use one of my older iphones (no longer connected to cell service) and just leave it in the truck.

You can also get it in WiFi instead of bluetooth. I use OBD Autodoctor software on my desktop and laptop for more mobility, can monitor from inside house or in the vehicle. I don't use the phone app.

 

[H20Rat]

I use bluetooth ODB connections for all kinds of things... I recommend the 'torque' app on android, one of the best out there. And no, you don't need any cellular connection. In fact, an old tablet with bluetooth works perfectly for this!

 

[oldjeep]

You can also get it in WiFi instead of bluetooth. I use OBD Autodoctor software on my desktop and laptop for more mobility, can monitor from inside house or in the vehicle. I don't use the phone app.

I use the WP8.1 phone app version of OBD AutoDoctor with a cheap Bluetooth module, works great. Great thing about OBD Auto Doctor is that they have a version to run on just about anything.

 

[jayhanig]

No Title

I use a ScanGauge to do the same thing. It plugs into the OBD port on my truck and I have it mounted to my rear view mirror. These pictures are representative and not of my actual installation. Both the selected gauges and the color scheme are completely configurable. I've got mine showing MPH, MPG, volts, and transmission fluid temperature with Ford green back lighting.

 

[jimbo_jwc]

My Chevy Tahoe has temp sensor because until its warm it won't shift to Over Drive